FREE Travel Guides

Do you have a trip planned, are you considering going some place fun!?!

Request FREE Travel Guides Here.

Guest Post - Vacation on a Budget

With many Americans either losing their jobs, or have had their hours cut, taking a vacation has often times taken a back seat. Many people are opting for the "Staycation" type of vacation. Others have simply just not done anything. Yes, saving money is important, however taking a vacation is also important. A vacation is time meant to reset your Brain, and relax. It shouldn't cause you additional worries. There are many ways that you can save money when on vacation, no matter if your going away for several days, or do like my family does, take multiple day trips spaced out throughout the course of the Summer.

If you've decided to do a day trip to a local amusement park, one great way to save money is on the cost of food. Bring a cooler packed with the makings for grinders. Cut up your veggies, the night before and store in small containers, pack all the condiments that everyone likes. and only buy enough lunch meats to accommodate everyone's sandwiches. Buy 1/2 or 1/4 pound sizes of different meats. Pack sodas, juice and chips for everyone, and come lunch time, have yourself a tailgate party with the family out at your vehicle!

If you have smaller children, another way to save at the amusement park is to make a trip to the Dollar store ahead of time, and pick up a few small toys, and pack them, so when you are in the park, and there are toys that they see that they want, you will be able to pull out the ones you brought prior to. Just remember to pick something out that travels easily, and isn't too heavy for them to carry!

Often time’s travel clubs like AAA have discount passes for many amusement parks. Check your local office if they have passes for an amusement park that's in your area.

If a longer vacation is your way of relaxing, there are many ways to save here as well. Try staying at a National Park. They tend to be much more reasonably priced than your traditional hotels. The National Parks Association (www.npa.gov) has listings of beautiful parks all throughout the country. If your bold enough, you can even look into staying at a Hostel. These are dormitory like rooms, with a single bathroom a short walk down the hall.

When my family and I go on longer vacations, we often drive to our destination. There are several reasons that I like to drive more so than flying. The first is always, that we get to see more of the country, then we would if we flew. Another reason is that if we are planning on a longer trip, we plan way in advance. Since gas is a big part of our expense, I will purchase a pre paid Visa card and put a set amount each week on the card. This card is used to purchase the gas when we are on the road.

Before you leave on your trip, try looking to see where your children eat for free. A great website to see if one or several are in an area where you'll be vacationing is www.mykidseatfree.com. You can also save on meals for yourself if you order an Entertainment book for the area in which you'll be staying. Before you buy the book, you'll want to make sure that the cost of the book will benefit your trip. You won't want to purchase a book, and only use it for a $5.00 coupon. Go to the Entertainment website (www.entertainment.com) and view the book before you make a purchase.

Thanks, Brandy at Brandy's Big Bargains.

FREE Travel Guides

Do you have holiday trips planned? Are you thinking about future vacations for 2010? Browse destinations, pick travel guides that you'd like, receive guides FREE by mail or download. Get your FREE guides Here - There is no cost to you!

Target - Hungry Hipps Travel Game $.99

LOVE this game! Get Hungry Hipps Travel Game for $.99 at Target. This game is normally priced $4.99 but using this $4 coupon Here, get it for only $.99! Thanks, Thrifty Jinxy!

Unlimited Flying for $599 from Jet Blue

JetBlue is offering a pass for unlimited flying for a month from Sept 8 to Oct 8 2009 for only $599! More Info Here.

Thanks, Mummy Deals.

Travelocity - On the Spot Deals

Alaska and Beyond Sale: Summer Adventures from $99+ Each Way! (Expires 8/23/09)

Red Roof Inn – 1 Cent Nights

Stay at Red Roof Inn for 1 Cent!  Red Roof is offering 1 cent nights at select locations. It appears these locations are changing and filling up fast so keep checking back if you don’t see a location you want – if you if you see a location you want, snag it fast!

More details Here. Thanks Thrifty Girl.

Bed & Breakfast - Save $50

Right now, Bed and Breakfast is offering $50 off of two-night stays at any property that offers online reservations on thier site. The discount works like this:

1) Book a two or more night stay at any online reservation property on our site.
2) Enter promo code BBFAMILY50 into the "Reward Code" box
3) Save $50!

This promo ends on September 8th

More Travel Deals - Priceline

JetBlue Flights from $29 one-way*! (ends 8/5)

.
Virgin America U.S. Flights from $49 OW*! (ends 8/11)

.
$20 off Weekly Car Rentals with Avis! Book before the 8/12. Enter promotion code: MUWA007

.
Flights Under $200 Round-Trip -- No Booking Fees on Priceline.com. Valid until 8/7

.
Round-Trip Flight + Mid Size Rental Car from $264 on Priceline.com! Valid until 8/12

.
Delta U.S. airfare sale from $98 RT*! (ends 8/14)

There is Still Time for Travel...

From Expedia


August Hotel Sale: Over 6000+ deals. Hurry before the summer ends! Expires 8/31/09
.
From Travelocity


Save $25 on 3+ Night Hotel Stays! Use Code 25STAY at Checkout! (Minimum $400 Spend)
(Expires 10/31)
.
Take $100 Off 5+ Night All-Inclusive Vacations! Use Code 100AI at Checkout! (Minimum $1800 Spend)
(Expires 10/31)
.
Summer isn't over yet! Squeeze in a last-minute vacation under $250 before class is in session!
(Expires 9/1)
.
Save BIG on family vacations before the kids go back to school!

(Expires 9/1)
.
Pack Your Bags, Not Your Books! Back-to-School Deals to Jamaica from $260 Round-Trip!
(Expires 8/31)
.
Get Behind the Wheel for Less! Take 5% off a Compact Car or Midsize SUV with Thrifty Car Rental!
(Expires 8/20)
.
Budget Carrier Prices, Top-Notch Service! One-Way Flights from $29 on JetBlue Airways!
(Expires 8/5)
.

Bed and Breakfast

Exploroo Travel Resources

Exploroo for Travel Reviews, Blogs, Articles, Photos, Events and More. Free Registration.

Go Here.

Lessons I Learned While Traveling on Vacation

My husband and I had a great weekend down on the coast Emerald Coast of Florida (the panhandle area.) We really enjoyed our time of doing what we wanted on our “own clock.” I have to say I learned (scratch out learned) was re-taught some valuable lessons about spending.

.

1) I am the frugal mom, my husband IS NOT the frugal dad. I must admit the bedding at the Inn was as antique as the Inn itself, so my husband needed some pain medication for the kinks in his back. I couldn’t blame him. We made our way to the local grocery store (not a chain) and the 20 count bottle of Aleve was $7! What was I do to, without a coupon nearby, no sales advertised, I put my tail between my leg and bought them. LESSON: When you husband has a sensitive back, always bring supplies from home including your stockpile of pain medicine – especially when your husband takes them like candy (not really.)

.

2) There were adorable beach chairs down by the shore. They looked so appealing we decided to rent them. I quickly learned, they were not the chair made for a very pregnant lady. We had to go back to our local grocery store and buy some chairs – I could have gotten these SAME chairs at Walgreens for 1/5th of the price. Once again, tail between my legs with my aching back and belly, I bought them. LESSON: Consider needs for your trip. I was at the beach, a secluded one and was spending the day in the sun (on the sand) – what else did I expect to sit on. I should have pre-bought these chairs at Walgreens or Wal-Mart back in town.

.

3) I was so happy because there was a restaurant I really wanted to visit. It has Floribbean food (Florida food with a flare of the Caribbean). I was thrilled to find a b1g1 ½ coupon. I proudly carried my coupon to the restaurant during dinner time(for peats sake, I AM the Frugal Mom). It was after I ordered that I read the coupon and saw it was good for lunch. LESSON: Read your coupons fine print – haven’t I learned this one already?

.

4) So with all my journeys to the local grocery store I realized that a pregnant girl likes to snack. I bought a six pack of water or $2 and a package of cookies for $4. So I was only $6 in the hole but I would have loved to also by a bag of chips, some gummy worms, perhaps a few candy bars, etc. What can I say, the beach makes you hungry? LESSON: With $6 (at home) I could have gotten all those things. Instead I got the needs – water and chocolate and waved goodbye to the rest. Bring groceries from home. Had a I planned better, the past 2 -3 weeks of grocery shopping would have included me sneaking VERY CHEAP, on sale items into the cart for the snacks I would desire this weekend.

5) Don’t go out of town during Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day (or FREE Slurpee Day) – especially when they only thing you have been craving is Chick-fil-A for the past 7 months. LESSON: It is not that that big a deal, Ashley.
.

Are you traveling soon? If so, make sure you plan ahead. Think about medicines, snacks, and basic every day needs. I would definitely research restaurants in the area on the internet. You might even be able to find a gift certificate to a restaurant on restaurant.com - just make sure you read the fine print!

FREE Travel Guides

Bed and Breakfast Special

LINK IS NOW WORKING!

.

Next weekend my husband and I are headed to a local Bed and Breakfast for our 5th anniversary! We did not want to go too far (a 31 weeks pregnant lady must stay close to home) and I could not be more excited. In honor of this special occasion, I though I would share with you a Bed and Breakfast special for maybe your own special getaway.

.

Deal Steps
-Click the icon above

-Book online for two or more nights at any B&B featuring the green Book It button.
-Enter the code BBSIZZLE100 into the "Reward Code" box.
-Save $50 on a two-night stay, $75 on a three-night stay and $100 on a four or more night stay

*This promo ends on July 22nd, so don't let your site visitors miss out.

.

Travel - Hotels, Car Rentals, Plane Fares

I have received a number of email about summer vacations and a need for cheap hotels, car rentals, and plane fares. While traveling cheap is not my area of expertise, I do have a few links to websites I used to find discounted hotels, car rentals, and plane fares. I hope this helps a bit.
.

.

.

.

FREE Travel Guides

These are always nice, especially if you are not a member of AAA.
Get a FREE Travel Guide Below

(click on the icon.)