Quick Tips for Planning a Budget-Friendly Weekend Trip

Guest article provided by Leslie Campos

A weekend getaway is a perfect opportunity to take a break from the chaos of the world, clear your head, and simply have some fun. However, a glamorous vacation filled with luxurious restaurants and five-star hotels isn’t always possible from a financial perspective. Don’t stress: There are many ways to plan a weekend trip without breaking the bank.

Fork Trip is all about helping people discover the joys of travel, whatever their budget may be. Read on for a quick guide to planning an affordable weekend getaway.

Plan in advance to reduce stress

The key to an affordable vacation is planning in advance. Accommodation and flights are usually more affordable if they aren’t booked last minute. When preparing for your trip, also remember what needs to be taken care of at home. For example, if you have a dog, find an affordable sitter or walker using an online platform.

There’s also your work to consider. If you have a business of your own, you want to make sure it will run smoothly while you’re gone. ZenBusiness notes the importance of delegating to employees. They recommend sticking to the 80/20 rule. If the worker can do a task at least 80% as well as you, it’s acceptable to delegate it to them.

Select an affordable location

Once you’ve got the administrative business taken care of, it’s time for the fun part—planning your actual trip. Start by tackling the location. While cities like New York and Los Angeles may be glamorous, they are also not the cheapest. Scope out more affordable locations, like Kansas City, Missouri; Salt Lake City, Utah; and San Antonio, Texas.

If you’re on a tight budget, you might also consider a wilderness vacation. Find your nearest national park and go on a camping adventure. You can enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors for free and you won’t even have to stress about paying for a hotel. You can also keep food costs low by preparing your own meals over a campfire (don’t forget the s’mores)!

Cut travel costs where you can

Once you know where you’re going, the next question is how to get there. Ideally, your target location will be within driving distance, since a road trip tends to be more affordable than flying. If you’re driving, download free apps to help you find cheap gas, like GasBuddy, Route4Me, and Gas Guru.

If flying is your only option, strategize to cut costs. Nomadic Matt offers a comprehensive guide to finding affordable flights. For example, if you’re flexible with your dates, you may be able to save significantly. Other ideas include comparing search engines, joining cheap flight mailing lists, and searching in other currencies. Budget carriers are also a great option.

Look for budget accommodations

Once you get there, you’ll need a place to stay. Accommodation can make up for a significant portion of travel expenses, so this point requires careful strategizing. In general, skip hotels and opt to stay in vacation rentals. This can cut costs significantly, especially if you’re in a group. Plus, you can stay together—not spread out over hotel floors.

Vacation rentals can also save you money in other ways. Many rentals have fully equipped kitchens, for example, allowing you to cut on the cost of dining out and prepare food at home. Vacation rentals may also offer free laundry facilities or perks like free bicycles for use included with the rental. Finally, if you’re traveling with pets, vacation rentals are easier.

Find affordable activities in the area

So, what are you going to do when you get to your vacation destination? Reader’s Digest offers a list of the best free tourist destinations in every state to get you started. Check out the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Alabama, for example, or take a peek at Maymont Park in Richmond, Virginia, which features 100 acres of gardens and a petting zoo.

You can also use a tool like Eventbrite to look up activities in the area that may be worth checking out. This is a great platform for finding activities that aren’t specifically for tourists but geared towards locals. From drag brunches to wine tastings, you’ll find all kinds of activities to suit all kinds of tastes.

Online platforms like Viator and GetYourGuide are great options if you want to see some more tourist-friendly sights. You can browse tour options based on your target location and generally find affordable options catering to groups. Groupon is another option and offers deals on everything from spa treatments to restaurants.

Make your own souvenirs to save money

You don’t want to leave your trip without some tangible memories. Unfortunately, souvenirs tend to be overpriced and can quickly drain your travel budget if you aren’t careful—especially if you’re buying them in “tourist trap” shops. On this trip, resolve to skip the pricey knick-knacks and make your own memories instead.

Pack the selfie stick and make sure to take at least one great photo of your travel group. You can then have that picture transformed into a souvenir like a t-shirt, paperweight, or printed photograph to frame. If you manage to take a bunch of great photos, you can even print your own wall calendar. This is a unique way to memorialize your budget adventure.

A fun weekend getaway doesn’t need to drain your bank account. The above guide provides plenty of tips to help you plan a trip that’s both fun and affordable.

For more travel tips like this, check out Fork Trip.