It’s no secret that the economy has people tightening their belts and cutting out extra expenses.  Many families are getting rid of luxuries like summer vacations in an effort to save money.

But after long months of school, homework, and extracurricular activities, a summer vacation can be a welcome (and much needed) respite from the day to day grind of real life.  Family vacations are about seeing new things and enjoying time with the people you love.  A rocky economy doesn’t make that quality time any less important.

With a little creative thinking and some small sacrifices, you may be able to save your summer vacation.

6 Summer Vacations You Can Afford

1.  Visit Friends and Family

Do you have friends and family that live in another city or state?  Now might be the perfect time for a reunion!  Offer to pitch in for groceries in exchange for a guest bed or couch and you’ll likely find that your loved ones will gladly open their homes to you for your summer vacation.  At the very least, they’ll probably say yes to be nice.

When asking to stay with friends or family for your vacation, assure them that you don’t expect them to take time off work or play tour guide for you.  Rent a car if you’re flying to your destination and make it clear you don’t need a chauffeur.  Don’t make yourself a nuisance, but do get the inside scoop on local tourist traps to avoid.

2.  Take a Long Weekend

If your budget or work schedule won’t allow for a week long vacation, consider taking a long weekend instead.  Of course we’d all prefer to be able to spend weeks globe trotting, but there’s no reason you can’t work within your own limitations.

There’s plenty of fun to be had from Friday afternoon to Sunday night.  My family rarely gets to enjoy a week of vacation at a time, but we make up for it with a handful of weekend getaways spread out over June, July and August.  Taking weekend vacations might also allow you to visit more than one place.  If weekend getaways are good enough for girlfriends and romance, they’re good enough for your family!

3.  Investigate Vacation Destinations Within Driving Distance

Often times I hear people lament the fact that they can’t afford to fly to a glamorous location across the country.  But every state in the United States offers something for tourists.  Take out your map and discover the hidden vacation destinations within driving distance that you’ve overlooked.

You can easily cover hundreds of miles in a few hours by car – much less expensive than air fare for an entire family.  Many times you can also save money by visiting lesser known tourist attractions or taking advantage of a state resident discount.

4.  Consider a House Swap

Do you live some place that other people might consider a vacation destination?  Offer up your house to other budget conscious travelers in exchange for the right to stay in their house.  In some cases, you’ll even be able to use the other family’s vehicle (if you’re willing to offer up yours), saving you the cost of a rental car.

HomeExchange.com is a web site that helps people interested in house swapping connect with each other.  It’s only $99.95 for a year membership and that includes unlimited exchanges.  Worried that your home isn’t exotic enough?  Remember that one person’s “everyday home” is another person’s brand new place to see!  Check out the Travel the Home Exchange Way blog for even more tips on house swapping.

Go Camping

Camping is an excellent low cost option for a family vacation.  Most state parks have camping areas with reasonable rates and plenty of activities available for the family.  You can swim, tube, hike, fish, or just hang out around a campfire.  Our biggest expense when we camp is usually food – hot dogs and marshmallows as far as the eye can see!

Play Tourist At Home

Last summer, the travel buzzword of the season was “staycation”.  Families took advantage of their paid time off and school breaks – and stayed at home.  A staycation is still a viable option for a family vacation if you commit to doing more than catching up on your laundry.  Make a concerted effort to live like you’re on vacation and play tourist in your own city.

If you’re stumped for ideas, head to a local hotel.  You’ll find dozens of pamphlets for nearby attractions, some of which might offer discounts for locals and state residents.

I may have mentioned once or twice here that I am cheap.  I take road trips to save money.  I almost always name my own price for a hotel on Priceline.  I’ll stay on a couch whenever I can.

I love to travel and I’m not a Rockefeller.  I have had to master the art of cheap vacations.

It’s because of this budget consciousness that I avoid souvenir shops like the plague.  I abhor the idea of spending $20 on a T-Shirt that I’m never going to wear again simply because it bears the name of some city I was in on it.  I refuse to bring my children plastic trinkets from my travels, because I know will end up in pieces under someone’s bed.

But even I, frugal as I might be, understand the joy of having a memento of your vacations.  It’s nice to have something you can look at later that will transport you back to the happiness of a great trip.  It’s also nice, I’ve been told, to have a traveler bring you something back as a sign that they were thinking of you while they were away.

How can you reconcile traveling on a budget with the need for souvenirs?

4 Budget Travel Tips For Cheap Souvenirs

1. Buy something you’d buy (and use) anyway.

My husband says that I use this as an excuse to go shopping while I’m on vacation.  Clearly he does not appreciate my frugal nature.

$35 souvenir: Chinatown, New York City

I bought this purse for $35 in New York City.  I love it.  I use it constantly.  And every time I do I remember my trip to New York City in October of 2008.  I get a heck of a lot more use out of it than I would a mini replica of the Empire State building.

The other thing I love about buying things I’ll use when I’m on vacation is that it gives me opportunities to share that trip with other people in the future.  Every time I carry this purse and someone asks me where I got it, I end up telling them how crazy Canal Street is and about taking the subway in New York City.

The same thing goes for the gorgeous cocktail ring I bought on River Street in Savannah.  Or the cute scarf I picked up in Charleston, South Carolina.  Or the red stiletto slides I got in Las Vegas on my anniversary trip.  See how frugal I am?

2. Pictures make the best souvenirs – yours or someone else’s.

Remember that the point of souvenirs is to have something you can remember your vacation by later.

The "Rocky Steps" in Philadelphia. Which I climbed.

While I was looking through my own collection of vacation pictures on FlickR, I found myself reliving adventure after adventure as I flipped through the pictures.  Even the fuzzy shots had the power to transport me.

Of course, everyone takes pictures on vacation.  Turn them into souvenirs by printing out your favorites and framing them.  Hang them on a wall or set them on an end table – but put them out where you can enjoy them.  They’ll make much more interesting decor than the tacky plastic memorabilia you can pick up at a gift shop.

And if you don’t manage to capture the city skyline or ocean view just right – buy yourself a postcard.  For about $2.00 you can have frame worthy memories that really capture the feeling of the place you enjoyed so much.

3. Bring back pieces of the scenery.

For the love of God do not buy sand in a bottle.  Sand?  Is free.  Pick some up and put it in a baggy that you can put in a mason jar when you get home.  And while you’re at it, pick up some sea shells that you can stick in that jar along with the sand and Voila!, you’ve got yourself a pretty neat, homemade souvenir.

Sea shells by the sea shore

But what if you’re not taking a beach vacation?

Look for things in the environment around you that are unique and representative of that location.  Maybe you’ll pick up some branches from the Redwoods in the Pacific Northwest.  Or bring home some of that famous red clay of Georgia.  Pick up a few of the fall colored leaves that you can press and display as art.

4. Shop flea markets and local markets or fairs.

Whenever I have guests visit us in Florida, I make sure to take them to a flea market before they leave.  I give them strict instructions not to buy any souvenirs until they’ve hit the flea market.

Hand blown glass at City Market in Charleston

My most recent house guests walked away with t-shirts fo $1.88.  And a scarf for $3.00 (see tip number 1!).  And a Daytona Beach picture frame for $6 (to put tip number 3 to good use!).  While flea markets aren’t immune to overpriced junk, they also offer a lot of great finds at rock bottom prices.

Of course, not every city has open air flea markets available year round.  But the locals shop somewhere.  Find the markets and shopping districts that don’t cater to tourists and you’ll find your best bargains for souvenirs to bring home.  You’ll also find an opportunity to experience places off the beaten path and see new cities through the eyes of the people who actually live there.

Some experts will tell you that if you have to worry about money when you’re traveling, it’s just not worth it.  But I think that anyone who has a desire to see the world should find a way to do just that.  And it is possible to have a great vacation on a budget if you’re creative!

Just stay out of the gift shops.

Blue Springs State Park

Every winter, Blue Springs State Park offers Central Florida visitors a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with some amazing natural phenomenons.

First is the spring itself, around which the park is designed.  The Blue Spring is the largest natural spring on the St. John’s river.

If you’ve never seen a natural spring before, you’re in for a treat!  Which is cliche, I know, but true.  The entrance to the spring is actually a large underwater cave that feeds out into what can best be described as a large creek.  Eventually the creek widens and flows into the very large St. John’s River.

The water is 73 degrees year around.  Even on the coldest January days, visitors to the park can feel free to swim in the warm waters.  Of course, you’ll want to bring a towel and something warm to get into as soon as you get out of the water and step into the much colder air.

If you do venture into the spring waters and head toward the mouth of the underwater cave, you may see professional divers who explore the spring’s opening almost daily.

Swimming with divers at Blue Springs State Park

You may also see an alligator or two.

Yes, it’s true.  Blue Springs State Park has signs posted up and down the water way warning visitors to watch for alligators.  In fact, the last time my family and I went we were pleased to see three very large alligators in the water – about five minutes after we had gotten out of it.

It's a marsh in Florida - of course there are alligators!

Blue Springs State Park, which is located in Deland, Florida (about 25 minutes outside of Orlando), also features several walking trails for hiking, bird watching, and romantic hand holding.

Walking in Blue Springs State Park

But the most popular attraction at Blue Springs is the return of the manatees each winter.

The spring serves as a natural warm water haven for the manatees when the temperature of the St. John’s River plunges in October or November each year.  On some cool mornings, visitors can see more than 100 manatees swimming along the spring run in Blue Springs State Park.  As the weather (and water) warms up in the spring, you’ll find fewer and fewer manatee.  However, even as late as March you may run across a few refugees from Sea World’s rescue and rehabilitation program.

Annie and Rocket - Sea World Refugees

These two manatees, Annie and Rocket, had been released last March back into the wild by Sea World.  They were equipped with tracking devices to help trainers and scientists monitor if they are joining the other manatees and returning to the river to feed.

Manatee from Sea World's rescue program - injured by boat props

swimming at Blue Springs State Park

What makes Blue Springs State Park unique from other Central Florida attractions is the ease with which visitors can interact with nature.  Although park rangers forbid swimmers from approaching and/or touching the manatee, it’s not uncommon for the manatees to approach the swimmers and bump humans with their large noses.  They’re harmless, and swimming with them truly is a unique, calming experience.  Even the spring itself is easily accessible via wooden walk ways, piers and docks.

Blue Springs State Park is open 365 days a year from 8am until sundown.  Admission is $5.00 per vehicle, or $1.00 for bicycles and pedestrians.

All photos by Britt Reints

I hate zoos.

I blame it on the fact that my mother adores the cheap entertainment that staring at animals provides and insisted on spending most of my childhood wandering from one animal exhibit to another.  You can only watch monkeys eat bugs off one another so many times before you start to become apathetic towards the miracles of the Animal Kingdom.

But even I, along with my two kids, enjoy the heck out of The Central Florida Zoo.

This is what "enjoying the heck out of the zoo" looks like.

Although I’m certain the Brevard Zoo would argue that they have equal claim to the name, The official Central Florida Zoo is located in Sanford, Florida.  As Google Maps will tell you, it’s located on Highway 17/92 – but the entrance is easy to miss with the small sign and massive overgrowth of roadside vegetation in the area.

The zoo is small.  It doesn’t begin to compare to a larger attraction like the San Diego Zoo.  And maybe that’s why my family enjoys it so much.

You may only spend a couple of hours walking along the clearly marked paths, or your kids could spend the entire day participating in hands on demonstrations and petting live animals that the staff bring out.

Petting a very old turtle at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford

The zoo is located in Florida, which means the ample shade, air conditioned buildings and water attraction for the kids are especially appreciated in the hot summer months.  (Yes, water attraction.  Let the little ones wear their suits to the zoo!)

Another added feature exclusive to Florida zoos is the massive alligator and crocodile exhibits.  Bring hot dogs!  The crocodile displays are equipped with tubes that you can send food shooting through so that you can watch the animals snap at the airborne meat.

The zoo is open year-round, seven days a week (excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Admission is $10.95 for adults, $6.95 for kids over 2, and FREE for kids under 2.  Which means my family of four can enjoy the Florida weather for less than $30 – including the cups of Cocoa Puffs to feed the lamas in the petting zoo!

Feeding goats cocoa puffs in Sanford, FL

Photos by Britt Reints

With around 46 million annual visitors to NYC, Times Square and its surroundings have become one big fat tourist trap, focused on squeezing every last dollar out of naive tourists. Hotel rates, especially, are way out of control, with average nightly rates zooming up to over $300 (it was around $250 last year). What are Joe and Jane Six-pack supposed to do to find some decent and cheap hotels for New York trips? For starters, continue reading…

In addition to listing out the most desirable cheap hotels for the Big Apple, I’ll also be listing out some New Jersey hotels which are making a real and sustained effort to reach out to NYC visitors and tourists. Plus, NYCvisit.com -the City’s official tourism portal – has come up with an innovative deal offering 1 night free at major hotels. But first, let’s get started on the cheapskate NYC hotels.

The Pod Hotel – From bunk beds to single and double ‘pods’ and a swanky Townhouse Studio, the Pod Hotel in Turtle Bay, on the eastern edge of midtown, is a good example of how space challenged hotels in NYC can make up for it with cheap rates and a funky sense of style. They have a summer special going on now for $139. Standard rate for a Double Pod is around $200. More details here. All said and done, the rooms are small, even by NYC standards, but if all you’re looking for is a place to sleep, then the Pod is an excellent midtown base for an extended stay in New York City.

Two decent hotels near the Empire State Building are the Herald Square Hotel with rates from $89, and the Wolcott Hotel which comes highly recommended as one of the best budget hotels in New York City. Then there’s the New Yorker with rates from $129 and the Chelsea Savoy (its a bit far from the usual tourist haunts) with rates from $99. And the Park Savoy, just off Central Park, with rates from $145.

Now these were all decent enough and quite cheap, by NYC standards. But if you want something more out of a hotel, without having to pay through the nose, then check out the NYCVisit.com Sunday Stays program, which offers 20–30% off at participating hotels, along with free room upgrades, discounts on room service and restaurant dining, complimentary breakfast and other freebies.

Lastly, you can go one step further and entirely avoid the hassle and high prices in NYC by opting for a hotel in New Jersey, most of which are way cheaper and more spacious and luxurious. Here’s a full list (pdf file) of NJ hotels within 14 miles of New York City. This list might come in especially handy if you’re driving to New York City, where you’ll likely have to sell your car to get hold of parking space for a couple of days.

Photo by p_a_h via flickr (creative commons)

New York City is the second  costliest city for travelers in the United States, according to the AAA. But that doesn’t mean you can’t manage New York vacations on the cheap. While major hotels in and around Times Square charge upwards of $250 per night, you can cut that down to about $25 to $40 per night, if you can make do with a hostel.

End of the day, if you’re talking about a 3 day trip to NYC, you might just have saved in excess of $700. There’s lots of decent hostels close to Times Square, Central Park and in Chelsea. And there are tons more hostels, even cheaper, in Brooklyn and Queens, but let’s just stick close to the touristy attractions for now.

Central Park Hostel – One of your best options – Its clean, cheap, has excellent reviews, and located in a safe and convenient area one block from Central Park, and a stone’s throw from the subway. Clean rooms, both co-ed and male/female dorm style options, with 4, 6, 8 and 10 beds per room, depending on your choice. Its air-conditioned and private rooms with 2 beds are also available.

There’s a lounge area with use of a common kitchen and a dining room, a TV room, internet facilities and a pool table. For those who are loking for something a bit more upscale, the hostel provides studio apartments with hardwood floors, private bathrooms, color TV and some with their own kitchenettes. Dorm beds are available for rates between $28 to $45. More details here.

Chelsea Center hostels -  Two locations – One in Midtown Manhattan close to all the main tourist attractions, and the other one in the East Village, if you really want to explore New York City. Offers free breakfast, luggage storage for the duration of your stay, use of a kitchen and is likely the best choice for backpackers and/or if you’re traveling alone. Charges $35 per night, and the dorms accommodate 6-12 people. Both co-ed and women only dorms available. More details here.

Other hostels worth considering include the American Dream Hostel, the Big Apple Hostel, the Jazz on the Park hostel  and the HI New York hostel – All of these offer dorm rooms at rates from $25 to $50, in addition to costlier and more private rooms with additional amenities.

Please note that these recommendations are based on current rates and currently available facilities, which might change depending on when you are reading this article. You are advised to call and confirm rates and facilities before booking.

Photo copyrights – Central Park Hostel

Stuart Schuffman, aka Broke-Ass Stuart, is the author of the critically acclaimed book Broke-Ass Stuart’s Guide To Living Cheaply In San Francisco. Stuart has been busy the past year writing another ‘living cheaply’ guide – for New York.

He lived in NYC and tramped the streets, put up with friends, hunted down cheap eats and bars with happy hour drinks and free food, and in general, experienced how it feels to be ‘young, broke and beautiful’ in the Big Apple. The book is due out in November. I asked him a few questions which might help you out if you’re stuck in a bad spot in NYC. Even if you have no such problems, follow his tips and your New York vacations will be memorable, to say the least. Read More »

From guest blogger, Stefania Pomponi Butler, of City Mama

It’s the holidays, a time to over-do-it in more ways that one! We over-shop, over-eat, and over-commit ourselves, but one thing we don’t have to do is over-spend on fun holiday activities. The San Francisco area is rife with festive ways to enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank.

In San Francisco, it doesn’t cost a thing to walk around Union Square and enjoy the decor. From the tree in the middle of the plaza to the fancied-up holiday windows, there is plenty to see and you don’t have to spend a dime. I love window shopping around the square then stepping into St. Francis Hotel for a drink in the lobby where they serve cocktails from the Michael Mina bar. From there, you can head over to Justin Herman Plaze and ice-skate on the outdoor rink. Around $10 buys you 90 minutes on the rink. If you don’t want to spend the money, you can always grab a warm drink and watch ice-challenged Californians slip and slide their way across the ice.

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