Save big on
transportation
One of the best opportunities for staycation savings is
transportation, since domestic airfares average more than $380, and international flights
cost even more. Keep in mind that seats for children typically aren’t discounted;
so flying may run you more than $1,500 for a family of four.
Taking a staycation cuts out those expenses can reduce
others dramatically. Attractions within walking or biking distance don’t
involve any transportation costs at all, and if your area has good public transit
systems, you won’t have to dish out lots of cash to reach destinations a little
farther afield.
Even when driving is your only option, you’ll probably still
come out ahead. With gasoline averaging $3.67 a
gallon in the U.S., a 125-mile drive with the whole family will only cost about
$18 for fuel in a vehicle that averages 25 miles per gallon.
Save on other travel
expenses
The average vacation was forecast to cost $1,145
a person last year, and prices generally haven’t gone down. Airfare isn’t the
only culprit. A U.S. hotel room averages $131 a night, and
renting a car can burn through $45per day, plus fuel. Chances are you’ll also have to eat at in restaurants,
inexpensive or not. Taking a staycation lets you to eliminate or reduce most of
these costs, leaving you with the cash to splurge when you choose to, or not.
Factor in kids and
pets
If you have a family and plan a vacation without taking the kids
and pets, you’ll pay even more. Babysitters get about $14 an hour, on average,
and more in larger cities. That can really add up, especially if you have to
hire someone for 24-hour care. Pet hotels and kennels can cost from $35 to $90 a
day. Even taking a few “adults only” excursions, child and pet care will be much
more affordable during a staycation than if you took a long-distance vacation.
Now you can splurge – or not
Residents of Florida’s Atlantic coast don’t need much cash
to take an amazing staycation. The region has plenty of beautiful beaches as
well as other attractions, including amusement parks, raceways and museums.
With your staycation savings, you may want to partake of a
few luxuries – a dolphin cruise, parasailing above the ocean or a jaunt to the
Bahamas for a day. Enjoy a spa massage or treat the entire family to dinner at
a fancy restaurant. If your budget needs a little boost to make your time off outstanding,
your local credit union may offer personal loans that accommodate your budget.
Still undecided what to do with your time off this summer?
If your budget isn’t as loose as you’d like, taking a staycation may be the
best way to go.
