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Whether
you're driving, flying or hanging at home, this week
marks the start of the summer travel season.
And it
can quickly become a budget-buster.
"It's
easy to underestimate the cost of a vacation," said
Dave Jones
, president of the
Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling
Agencies
, adding there's a lot of pent-up craving for a vacation
coming out of this recession. But the last thing anyone
needs, he said, is "a one-week vacation that takes
one year to pay off."
When
glitzy theme parks charge gazillions and cheap airfares
are harder to come by, maxing out a credit card can
happen all too quickly.
The
average family of four will spend
$4,000
on a vacation this summer, according to a recent
American Express
survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers. Only half of those
surveyed — 51 percent — planned to take a summer
getaway, but the vast majority said they're devising
strategies to cut costs while traveling.
Here are
some how-to tips:
KNOW WHAT
IT COSTS
Don't get
blindsided by the daily
parking-lunch-souvenir-drinks-dinner-nightlife routine.
If you haven't set aside vacation savings, try planning
a trip you can pay off completely within three months,
recommends Jones. That way, you're not dipping into your
emergency reserves or overloading credit cards.
GETTING
THERE
For a
family of four, traveling by car will almost always be
cheaper than flying. But distances and logistics don't
always make that possible.
If you're
making airline reservations, take note that planes are
flying fuller and filling up faster. If your travel time
is flexible, booking flights during off-peak hours or
midweek can be a money-saver.
Try
websites such as Airfarewatchdog.com or Kayak.com, which
search for the lowest rates among dozens of carriers.
For
instance, the cheapest one-week round-trip ticket from
Sacramento, Calif.
, to
New York City
leaving
Friday, June 11
, is
$566
on
JetBlue
, according to Kayak.com. If you're willing to depart on
a Wednesday, the price drops to
$373
on
Delta
. (Note: The cheaper fare includes two stops, compared
with
JetBlue's
faster, nonstop route.)
Compare
those prices with your favorite airline's reservations
site. Before booking, be sure your comparisons include
all taxes and fees, and take into account the
number/duration of stops.
BEYOND
THE BOX
Look for
alternatives to pricey hotel rooms: vacation cabins,
staying with friends or family, bed-and-breakfast inns,
even a local hostel.
For
instance, if you're visiting
Seattle
near the
University of Washington
campus, a single room at the European-style
College Inn
— breakfast included, bathroom down the hall — is
only
$55 to $60
a night.
Nightly
rates at
Sacramento's
downtown hostel start at
$28
for a shared dorm or
$55.75
for a single private room.
Another
option is renting a vacation home with family or friends
from sites like VacationRentals.com or Vacation Rentals
By Owner (www.vrbo.com),
which lists homes, condos, apartments and cabins. If
you're a B&B enthusiast, sites like
BedandBreakfast.com let you sign up for free, weekly
e-mail alerts for last-minute, discounted B&B rooms.
GAS UP
AND GO
Sites
like www.traffic.com
show you real-time traffic congestion and give estimates
on your arrival time at destinations within major
cities. The AAA website, www.csaa.com,
shows travel tips and driving routes across the country
with the nearest stops for lodging, restaurants, gas
stations and more. GasBuddy.com lets you find the
nearest, cheapest gas stations in cities nationwide.
AVOID
FOOD FIGHTS
If you're
driving, bring a cooler and blue ice that you can
refreeze. If you're staying in a hotel, try booking one
with a kitchenette or complimentary breakfast. If it has
a fridge, a stash of fruit, cereals and breakfast snacks
can be a huge savings over eating out every morning.
Whether
it's in a new city or a foreign country, the local
grocery store often yields affordable foodie finds,
including local breads, coffees, wines and baked goods.
And loading up at a supermarket salad bar can be just as
filling — not to mention healthier — than the nearby
fast-food joint.
For an
alternative to expensive dinners, look for happy-hour
deals that offer small plates at enticing prices. Or eat
your bigger meal of the day at lunch, rather than off
the pricier dinner menu.
BACKYARD
GETAWAY?
Taking a
"staycation" may sound trite, but vacationing
in your hometown can be a refreshing, low-cost way to
get away without going far.
Check
your local newspaper and online listings for free fairs,
outdoor events and low-cost shows. Local visitor bureaus
have free travel guides, often with discount cards. Or
explore your local trails, bike paths and waterfronts.
Plan a
series of weekend outings to state or national parks at www.parks.ca.gov,
where daily parking rates start at
$8
and overnight camping at
$35
.
Involve
the kids, suggests Jones. Have them look up free things
they'd like to see or do in your region: The winner for
a given day is the youngster who finds "the most
fun thing to do" that's the cheapest.
In these
times, splurging on a vacation can be tempting but
financially disastrous. "Even though it may feel
good at the time, you risk the financial security of
your family if you use up all your savings on a
vacation," said Jones.
Instead,
seek the fun-but-affordable vacation.
———
10 WAYS
TO SAVE ON GAS EXPENSES
Gas
prices likely aren't going to drop this summer. Here are
some ways to curb your car's gasoline consumption:
1. Avoid
high speeds. As your vehicle speed increases, so does
the aerodynamic drag. Driving 62 mph vs. 75 mph will
reduce fuel consumption about 15 percent.
2. Don't
hit the gas ... or brakes. Anticipate traffic ahead and
accelerate/brake slowly and steadily; your fuel economy
can increase by as much as 20 percent.
3. Stay
inflated. Keep tire air pressure at manufacturer's
recommended levels. A single tire, underinflated by 2
PSI, increases fuel consumption 1 percent.
4. Use
air conditioning sparingly. Air conditioning puts an
extra load on the engine, increasing fuel consumption.
5. Close
the windows. Open windows, especially at highway speeds,
increase drag and decrease fuel economy by up to 10
percent.
6. Get it
serviced. Regular maintenance helps eliminate poor fuel
economy due to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low
fluid levels.
7. Use
cruise control. If your vehicle is equipped, use cruise
control to save gas by maintaining a constant speed over
long distances.
8.
Lighten up. A heavier car puts a drag on mpg; pack
lightly.
9. Avoid
long idles. If you'll be stopped for more than one
minute, shut off the engine. Restarting uses less fuel
than letting it idle.
10. Buy a
gas-sipper. If you're shopping for a new vehicle, check
fuel-efficiency ratings. A small manual-transmission
vehicle usually has the best fuel economy.
———
HITTING
THE ROAD
Eighty
percent of those surveyed in April by
American Express
say they're stretching their travel dollars this summer.
Here's how:
—Driving
instead of flying: 33 percent
—Planning
a shorter stay: 30 percent
—Spending
less on activities: 27 percent
—Hunting
for hotel/airfare deals: 24 percent
—Downgrading
accommodations: 12 percent
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