Economy

When possible, Disney owned hotels tend to offer the most variety in packaging, although not always the best choice in pricing.  Not to mention they are the closest to the parks, which means you will spend less time commuting and more time having fun.  Disney also has a ‘Good Neighbor’ program where they have partnered with neighboring hotels to offer various lodging options to Disney vacationers as well, that may just be where you will find your best Economy deal.

3 good ones that offer great deals are Anehiem Quality Inn and Suites, Jolly Roger Hotel, and Motel 6 Aneheim Maingate.  All three offers affordable economy lodging for your Disney stay as well as other amenities.

Moderate

Moderately priced lodging is available all over the place, including some really great Disney owned hotels.  Some of the best options include Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Port Orlean’s Resort French Quarter, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.  All three offer some really great amenities at affordable pricing as well as a great Disney experience with many perks you might not find at neighbor hotels.

Of course there are many other options than just those three, you can search Google for Disney hotels and be taken to many different websites with many different options for lodging, it is all a matter of taste and what you can afford.

Deluxe-

Finally, you can find deluxe lodging instead of moderate or economy and really accentuate your Disney vacation.  Granted it is a bit more money for deluxe lodging, but if you can afford it, well worth the extra costs.  You will enjoy extras such as extra magic hours, bell services, and arcade time, as well as multi bedroom units, and table service dining.

Some options for deluxe lodgings are Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Polynesian Inn, and Disney’s Beach Club Resort, among several others.  All of these resorts offer superior amenities and perks, and luxurious stays perfect for your next vacation.

Premium

As a premium option you can also explore Disney Vacation Club resorts and villas.  Some options include Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Boardwalk Villa’s, and The Villa’s At Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.  All offer first class luxury, and offer a lot of the same benefits of a Deluxe hotel, and also offers rooms with kitchens or kitchenettes, as well as Character breakfasts, which is not something you will get with a Deluxe resort package.

It all depends on your personal tastes, the needs and desires of your family, and what your wallet can handle.  A Disney vacation doesn’t have to break the bank if you don’t want it to, but you need to know you have options on how luxurious an experience you want to have.  After all, the Magical World Of Disney is all about atmosphere and experience right?

Visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdwi/en_GB/resorts/resortOverview?id=ResortOverviewPage for a one stop overview of the many Disney Resorts you can stay at.

Image via Wikipedia

1. Reservation. Plan before you go, try reserving a room at a hotel, most will have extra benefits like free breakfest, free internet connect, and many extras. Another benefit is discounts, if you reserve your room a while before leaving to your location you will be heading, you might save a little extra money since many hotels increase room prices for tourist season.
2. Food from home. Most food in tourist attractions cost more than where you live. Bringing your own food from home will prevent you from spending your extra money on overpriced food.
3. Gas. Again, gas prices around vacation areas are probably more expensive than they already are. Leave to your vacation spot with full gas, and gas containers with gas in them. This will surely save you some extra money.
4. Coupons. Check your local papers, they might be that overlooked coupon that can help you at your vacation location. Some may save you certain percentages, so if you spend big, you’ll save big.
5. Kids. If you happen to be traveling with kids, be sure to bring the right supplies for them too. Like I said earlier, try bringing all supplies from home, diapers, strollers, etc.

Hopefully you will save some extra money on your trip. If this guide did not help you, I’m sorry, these tips may have helped me, but it might not help you.

1. Buy your food at Giant Eagle. Giant Eagle cardholders get cents ticked off of gas when food is bought. If you’re driving with several people in a van, by the time you’re heading home you could save 30-40 cents per gallon.
2. Buy food that can be used for multiple things. Bread, noodles, rice, these are things that go with most dishes. Bread and peanut butter can last one person lunch for a week. This is better than buying those instant meals or veggie packs that fill you up for a single meal.
3. Sleep in your car or van. If people in the 60’s could do it, what’s stopping us. A light sleeper or someone on lookout might be ideal. Look for rest stops where your vehicle isn’t the only one in the parking lot.
4. Take photos of maps. If you’re traveling from state-to-state, it’s difficult to get a country atlas that shows smaller roads. Instead, go into a Speedway or Sheetz where local and state maps are kept. Bring a digital camera, and take pictures. You’ll get an updated, detailed map every time you need it. Even if it sounds a tad unscrupulous, I’ve never been stopped for this before.
5. Avoid sit-down restaurants. Anymore, fast food is almost as expensive as some smaller venues. However, tips can really drain the wallet fast.
6. Put up the windows and turn on the A/C. Several recent studies done by gas-conservation groups have shown that due to wind resistance, a car will actually benefit more from having its windows up. The gas guzzled by turning A/C on low isn’t enough to offset the extra power needed to drive through the wind.
7. Avoid driving more than the speed limit. Every car has a point where its gas use is the most efficient. It’s the point where any slower, and gas is used for too long, and any faster, gas is burned up too quickly to keep the vehicle moving at high speeds. The average for most vehicles is around 55 mph. Every time you think of going too fast, think of either your fuel tank or the highway patrol.
8. Find out the tax laws for different states. Pennsylvania has no tax on clothing, while Ohio has no tax on food bought to go (which includes food bought from drive-throughs as well as convenience stores). If you need to buy a shirt, kerosene, or a new tire, see if there isn’t a way to avoid that extra cost.
9. Never pay for your internet unless you have to. Have a laptop? Then don’t go to an internet cafe, or even pay the extra fee sometimes charged by hotels. Instead, coordinate a meal with an establishment that has internet. Or better yet, camp out in a hotel’s parking lot that does have it.
10. Only make phone calls when it’s free. My phone plan costs extra out of state, unless it’s after 7 PM at night. Figure out if there are special times covered by your cell phone plan, then wait out updating friends and/or family. Also, avoid sending pictures via cell phone. Remember that friends back home will see the pictures you’ve taken on your camera.

Life would be very much easier if your family has more than enough to tide you through your studies, throw in a car or two and allow you to live in a higher end apartment. However, for some students, I’m sure things are a tad complicated where their family has just enough to cover the tuition fee and offer a decent, or slightly below comfortable standard of living.

So what do you do if you find yourself more often than not settling for playing PS3 at home instead of joining your mates living in the high society and catching the next Mraz concert? Here’s a couple of tips to save you that dollar or two.

    •    Seek out some clubs and societies that offer free meals. These normally come along the lines of ‘overseas christian fellowship’, ‘campus ministry’, ‘asian students gathering’. We all know the generosity of religious groups and the Chinese’s love of food. You just have to attend the gatherings, pretend you are so into whatever is being preached, and the food may just be mediocre.
    •    When gathering at a friend’s place for dinner, offer to cook 1) any vegetable dish 2) any egg dish or 3) wash the dishes. Both dishes are way cheaper than any kinds of meat, and like my friends always say when we eat out, if you’ve got no money to pay, you can always stay to wash the dishes.
    •    Depending on how you see it, the local casino could be your ‘bank’, or your worst nightmare. The literal Chinese translation would mean ‘no home to return to’ when you’ve burned your rent money thinking you could get the next blackjack.
    •    What’s the worst that could happen renting a cheap garage? Couple of cockroaches, spiders and creepy crawlies climbing onto your bed at night ain’t so bad.
    •    What’s the worst that could happen renting a living room? You just may find out why your your beloved XXXX beer in the refrigerator is disappearing overnight. Or you could post on Youtube that video of your housemate in his/her habit of sleepwalking with their hair in a ‘just-dropped an A-bomb’ state.
    •    Seek out and be good friends with those who drive. You get to save on transport costs, and get anywhere in half the time.
    •    Beware, these tips could make you lose half your number of friends in double the time.

Tip #1: Sometimes it pays to procrastinate.  It’s Thursday afternoon, the bills are paid, the house is clean, the work week is winding to an end… no weddings or graduation parties scheduled over the weekend, no pressing matters to keep you in town and the weather forecast is nothing short of perfection.  Pick a city within a two or three hour drive and hit the web.  Hotels and bed & breakfasts offer amazing last-minute deals.  Think of us like a cruise ship (another great last-minute vacation option – more in that another day).  We have a certain number of rooms and a minimum number of staff.  If percentage of those guest rooms are sitting vacant, we’re losing money.  We need your heads in our beds.  Chances are, if we still have several rooms available tomorrow night, you’ll get a deal.  There are tons of resources out there for last-minute vacationers.  Subscribe to www.BedandBreakfast.com’s Hot Deals for last-minute deals from B&B’s across the country, delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday.  

Tip #2: You catch more flies with honey… or something like that.  Not flies necessarily, but you’ll catch the good graces of the innkeeper, hotel concierge and anyone else you may bump into while making your vacation plans and along your travels.  I cannot tell you how many times I’ve taken a few bucks off a room rate or upgraded a guest to our nicest suite just because they smiled and thanked me with sincerity and kindness.  You can hear a smile on the phone, I honestly believe that.  And you know when someone is truly authentic, appreciative of your service and excited about their stay and life in general.  Don’t underestimate the power of kindness.  Not only can it save you moolah, it can get you reservations at exclusive restaurants, an insider’s scoop on the best local scenes, top-notch service, and maybe even a friend for life.  They will remember you when you come back, and you will want to come back again and again.

Tip #3: Where depends on when.  And vice versa.  Have your heart set on a charming boutique inn, spa or country B&B that caterers to special occasion travelers?  Those establishments are probably busiest on weekends.  So plan your getaway any Monday through Thursday for the best deals.  Chained to your desk and can’t get away during the work week?  Try a downtown hotel in a metropolitan area that is most occupied during the week with business travelers and you may score a great weekend rate.

Tip #4: Just ask.  Really can’t afford to pay the rack rate on that ocean-view suite but don’t want to settle for a street-side balcony?  Don’t be afraid to ask nicely for an upgrade or discount.  If you’re booking a room at a large chain hotel, there are definitely procedures in place for the front desk staff.  And trust me, offering a discounted rate right off the bat isn’t in the handbook.  But there is definitely some wiggle room and if you ask for a better rate, you may just get one.  

Tip #5: Stay the extra day.  Let’s face it – the economy has hit the travel and tourism industry pretty hard.  We want you to book that extra day.  Heck, if you’re lucky, we may just give it to you for free!  Countless properties are offering 50% off your second night’s stay or even a third night free.  So stretch that weekend out and savor every moment.   

Tip #6: Money-saving amenities.  Think you’re saving big with a budget motel/hotel?  Check the list of room and property amenities included at no extra charge before you punch that credit card in and click book.  Many hotels are taking a page from the B&B book and are now including complimentary breakfast.  Always a bonus and you’ll save on eating at least one meal a day in a restaurant.  If your room or suite offers a refrigerator and microwave or kitchenette, bring your own snacks and drinks to avoid the temptation of the over-priced mini-bar.  Is there a pool, fitness center or game room on the property for some down-time activity? Do the innkeepers offer a complimentary welcome reception with wine and cheese?  Save on that pre-dinner bar tab and enjoy happy hour at the inn instead.

Tip #7:  Fun Freebies.  Before you go, check out your destination’s CVB or state tourism website.  You would be amazed at how many museums, attractions and hidden gems offer free admission on certain days of the week, free concerts in the park, and free open-air movies.  Check out 50 free things to do in Baltimore.  There may be freebies in your own hometown that you never thought to explore.  Visit your own state website and take advantage of the countless experiences that can be yours at no additional charge.

The project centres around the novel idea of members asking fellow members for free accommodation, in the form of a spare room, a couch or even just a space on the floor.  It’s free to sign up to, and there’s no obligation to ‘host’ before you can ‘surf’.  The idea grew out of an experience by American founder Casey Fenton who booked a cheap flight for a weekend in Iceland.  Deciding that he didn’t want to stay in a hotel and fall into the tourist trap, Fenton came up with the idea to email over 1500 students in Reykjavik asking if he could stay on one of their couches.  The response amazed him, and he had a weekend packed with groups of students who showed him ‘their’ Reykjavik.  After coming home and reflecting about the great time of cultural exchange, he wanted to facilitate others to be able to do the same – And so, the Couch Surfing project was born.

More than four years on since the website was founded, there are over one million members from 232 different countries.  68,000 of these are from the UK and Ireland.  I am 23, and a student in the University of Ulster, Coleraine.  I signed up two years ago before going to Germany for the Football World Cup.  With so many people going to be in the cities for the matches, it was going to be a nightmare to get a place in a hostel, and even then everywhere was charging double the price.  So I signed up to Couch Surfing primarily as a way of getting free accommodation.  I was amazed at the warmth of my three different hosts, and was so thrilled to meet real Germans and chat about issues affecting them, and not to be stuck in a hostel with a load of tourists.  Impressed by my experience, I now open my house in Portstewart to would be surfers, and have hosted nearly 50 people from Australia, Finland and Canada amongst others.  I’ve had students, professionals, a father with his daughter, a film crew, and at the end of last month I hosted a couple and their baby – There is no typical Couch Surfer.  The meeting in the York Hotel bar bears witness to this.  After putting a message out on the website’s forums, Perri Jay and Claire of Belfast, Tobias from Cornwall and Margot from Lyon turn up for a night’s banter and get to know each other.  Margot, 24, has been working in Glasgow for the past 7 months and used the initiative there.  “I needed it in the beginning for a place to stay.  It ended up that I got on really well with the girl I stayed with and we’re now flatmates!” 

Everyone agrees the most common question they are asked is about safety.  “Couch Surfing has a reference system whereby if you stay with someone you leave a comment on your experience” says Tobias, 21.  “That way, if you take the time to look at someone’s profile you can see quickly how other people have interacted with them.” 

There is also a vouching and verification system for added security. 

So next time you book a cheap flight, and can’t find the cheap accommodation to match, think about staying with a local, and experiencing the real customs and culture.

To find out more check out www.couchsurfing.com 

For the adventurous souls, they have found new ways to create their own adventures and having their vacations for relatively less money.

It is all in taking charge, and knows where to look. If you are up for a challenge, take a look at these websites below, and travel the world.

image source

This website lists property caretaking, and house sitting jobs for people who are looking to have rent-free opportunities or want to explore other areas. These opportunities include estates, farms, mansions, ranches, resort homes, camps, lodges, vacation homes and private islands.

You have to subscribe to the newsletter at $29.99 for six months to access the listing. It includes 50 States in the US, Canada, and Mexico just to name a few countries.

Many homeowners need caretaker when they are on vacation to look after the property or animals at the farm, and in exchange you get to stay in their homes free of charge.

This website posts new house sitting and care taking jobs daily!

This is run like The Gazette, and the membership is $45 a year for sitters, but you will get unlimited updates. These jobs are available around the world, and throughout United States. You can nominate your own designated areas, and House Carers will email you when an opportunity comes up.

Do you remember the movie “The Holiday” with Kate Winslet, and Cameron Diaz? These two women found each other online, and exchanged their homes for the holiday.

The home swapping idea has become very popular and trendy. It is also economical since hotel rooms are much more expensive. You can exchange your home for a total different part of the earth, and have a vacation of your life.

Membership to the Home Exchange is $99 a year.

This is an interesting website, and it offers up to 31 countries for the home exchanges program. The membership for a year is $110, and offers English speaking staff in major offices around the world.

The HomeLink has been in business for over 50 years, and provide high quality home exchanges to its members. It also has been interviewed by The Today Show, and known for the best customer support.

Membership for this site is free for a limited time only! Once you joined, you can list the details of your home, and plan your vacation by picking out locations of your choice.

Along with membership, you will also benefit unlimited home exchanges, unlimited updates, access to other members’ listing, send them private messages, and living like local people.

image source

With this tough economy, people are even swapping their automobiles, boats, and houses to save money. Exchanging homes with others for vacation is a great idea. Staying in a home is always more comfortable than hotel room any time.

Couchsurfing.com is a site I joined in 2006 while traveling through central Mexico. I stumbled upon it one evening while surfing the web at a hostel somewhere in Michoacan. The premise of the site is simple… free housing exchange. People offer up their couch, futon, bed, cot, hammock, or floor space for people to come and stay who happen to be traveling by. Then when they go on a trip they can do the same and when the travelers settle down they offer up their couch for surfing. 

For those of us who are habitual travelers this is awesome. It makes trips and vacations possible that weren’t before by removing one of the main expenses of travel: housing. I am now able to extend my vacations by a week, sometimes more. If I don’t have the time then I have the money to get that souvenir that I was dying to have but felt was too expensive.

Safety is #1

Right now you might be asking yourself, “How on Earth is couch surfing safe?” and I would ask you, “How is staying at a conventional hotel safe?” Sure you may have your own private room and bath but it’s likely that over half the people working at the hotel have access to your room. The people at the front desk and cleaning personnel will for sure, yet somehow we still feel safe sleeping and leaving our valuables in this environment. 

On Couchsurfing.com there are multiple ways for you to determine whether or not it would be safe to stay with an individual or even to see if you would get along well with a certain person. Anyone can leave comments about other people they have met, stayed with, or spoken to making it easy to spot someone who may be a bad choice for couch surfing. Also, members of Couchsurfing.com have the option to get verified which means they have made a small donation via credit card so that Couchsurfing.com could verify their name and address. This way you know that a verified member is who they say they are and lives where they say they live. Finally, there is the vouching system where verified members who volunteer their time and money to improve the couch surfing community have the ability to vouch for other members they meet. If a person is vouched for by three of these couch surfing ambassadors it adds even another level of verification and security.  

Anyone Can Join  

Not much of a traveler and don’t have a couch? that’s okay, Couchsurfing.com wants you to join anyway. There is likely a community of people who are a part of this website in your area and there’s not doubt that they wouldn’t want to meet you.  The couch surfing community throws events, parties and get-togethers all the time so that everyone has an opportunity to meet on another and build friendships inside the community. This in turn creates a stronger and safer environment for anyone traveling to the area who needs a place to stay.  The number of people on the website as a whole also makes for a great resource of personal experience. I have received messages multiple times about teaching English in Central America because that’s what I did for a living. People have also asked me about the itinerary of their Costa Rican vacation and about what are the “must see” attractions while traveling through Panama. I, in turn, emailed others about my plans when I built the gate in my backyard. The resources are seeming unlimited because there are 771,524 members representing 1,219 languages with 1,334 new members joining daily.(on Oct 12, 2008) So before your next vacation sign up and fill out a profile and check it out. Help change our cultural paradigm by sleeping on someone’s couch. And if you’re ever in Oregon send me an email. My couch is always available.

It’s 3am and the hostel is still, silent. After an exhausting day of battling foreign public transport in Rome, we were finally sound asleep. But not for long. Chattering voices rise from the stairwell & wake us out of nowhere, drawing closer, and annoyingly, LOUDER. All of a sudden our door is flung open with a bang! Light floods the room as 4 German girls charge in and swing their backpacks onto the ground with a thud, all the while chattering away non-stop. I look at my watch. 3.05am. Are they SERIOUS? After a restless few hours of interrupted sleep, its dawn, and I trudge slowly to the shower, looking forward to the hot steam instantly soothing my nerves…only to find out there isn’t any hot water…in fact, the shower doesn’t even turn on at all….
* * *
Don’t be put off by the above story, it’s all part of the fun (believe it or not) of staying in hostels around the world. People have weird and wonderful notions on what to expect from staying in a backpackers, with stories and opinions a mile wide. But most of the time, all you need is a bit of patience and a smile to get you through your travels on a budget! Of course you will be sharing with other people at times; you need to expect this sort of thing. And of course not everything will always work properly or go according to plan. And thank goodness it doesn’t! Otherwise what a god-awful, boring, predictable world we would live in! I guarantee you, at the time, although I did want to cheerfully MURDER those inconsiderate German girls, I can now laugh at the memory. Backpacking is all about venturing outside the norm, travelling outside your comfort zone, and trying new things. True, it’s not for everyone, but the following “myths” commonly thought to be true should not discourage aspiring young travellers from venturing out into the world. (On the cheap!)

“The newest, most expensive gear will make for a more comfortable trip”

You don’t need your sleeping bag, extra doona, oh and that special contour foam pillow mum bought for you last year…..this is TRAVELLING not living at home in the lap of luxury! The whole point is to experience the unusual, the different and yes sometimes the strange. Most will be surprised to find how well equipped hostels are with often extra sheets provided, warm blankets and always a pillow. Some hostels in America I found will even have housekeeping staff come and change the bedding each day for new and fresh linen! And if there is something you need, just try asking the friendly staff – you would probably be surprised at how many items of use they keep behind the counter that you may borrow and purchase for a small charge; Phone chargers, international calling cards, spare batteries, sunscreen etc.

You also do not need the latest $400 backpack -remember, just because its new and slightly improved in some ways, does not make it any less heavy to carry!! Most middle of the range ones, like ‘Cuba’ from Black Wolf, retail for around $140-$180, and are more than suitable with easy to adjust straps. They don’t look half bad either. The point to remember is, no one cares about the brand on your back, only about the funny jokes and stories you tell at the end of a long day in the pub!

“Hostels aren’t safe!”

Some people have this image in their heads that hostels are cheap and nasty alternatives to REAL hotels. Well the first part is true enough, they ARE cheaper, which is a good thing, but the scary/nasty part? Not so true. I’m not going to sit here and say every single one I have ever stayed a night in was tops, but on the whole, they are more than acceptable. And if you do your homework before you go, you will find that the cities you are visiting will often have a top rated hostel voted the best in the business by fellow travellers – these are the ones you need to be checking out, and booking into. One I recently stayed at in Manhattan, New York actually had its own night security guard at the door! How’s that for added safety? Its usually not just a case of having he best location, cleanest rooms and top security, but also kick-ass hostel pubs & awesome staff to help you out with city maps, extra pillows, which nights they play trivia on and run the local pub crawl! Not sounding too scary is it? There is a great chance at these kinds of places to meet new people and make life long friends.

“It isn’t very glamorous to lug a big ugly sack around on your back…”

First of all, what many people don’t realise is that the amount of time you actually spend carrying your pack around is far less than what you might think. As soon as you reach your destination, whether it is your hostel in Greece, your seat on the eurostar to Paris, or crazy taxi ride from JFK to Manhattan -you dump it! Most hostels worldwide now offer locked cages to keep your backpack in under your bunk (just remember to bring your own combination lock – a key padlock will just not do) or if not, they will at least have a safekeeping area in reception that will fit your valuables like passports, wallets and phones. And the rest is really just clothes isn’t it? Not really such a big crisis to leave them ‘unguarded’ in your shared room! Think about it – would you steal someone else’s dirty jeans?? (Ok, well, maybe if they were Sass & Bide!)

No one will think any more or less of you if you arrive with a suitcase or backpack, in this day and age, no one bats an eyelid as it is simply only an indicator of how you are travelling. Not living. One summer I arrived in Florence with my friends to check in to our “hostel”, with our ‘ugly’ backpacks in tow, only to find that the supposed “hostel” actually translated into gorgeous, 1bedroom Italian pension…which is like an apartment fully furnished! This is the kind of thing you would never find in your Marriott’s and Hiltons, a traditional, old Firenze penthouse, in the heart of the city complete with a private balcony and all the creature comforts of home – we even had a washing machine and dryer in our very own laundry! So we suddenly went from being “aussie backpackers” to temporary Italian penthouse owners – not too shabby. In other words, backpacking is not just about the luggage – it is simply a means to and end – a way to discover the little treasures other countries have to offer. Don’t worry about looking like a struggling traveller, just because you are out and about without a gold studded suitcase.

Remember WHY you are BACKPACKING – in most cases, you are not heading off on a trip against your will. You are going for fun. So instead of getting worried about it, remember the reasons for why you are going and the goals you want to achieve, such as meeting new and interesting people, which is a big factor into why we choose to travel.

A perfect example of this is when I journeyed to Mykonos in the Greek islands with girlfriends, and was stuck on the ferry for 6 hours from Athens to get there…Not so fun. However, we found others in the same ‘boat’ as us (so to speak) who were also bored out of their brains, so we started chatting. By the time we had docked on the picturesque island, none of us wanted to split up, so we decided to all stay on the same part of the island at the same resort. That was 3 years ago – we still keep in touch and I have since visited them during subsequent travels to their own countries where we had a great time once again.

Going beyond your comfort zone is a key motivator for many backpackers. After all, it’s easy to sit at your nice, cushy, desk job all your life, -and then take that one plane ride a year to Disneyland where the tourists outnumber the locals and English is the first language spoken. Hardly the real world experience you were hoping for. So forget about all the ‘myths’ out there, throw your concerns out the window and go for it. Life’s too short not to.

…..And if your head is still full of worries, don’t worry, I’ll take your trip for you and let you know ‘terrible’ backpacking was!

Lauren Baldwin

It really depends on what type of a person you are and what your individual needs are. Some may say yes. Staying at home can be even more relaxing because staycationers do not have to worry about financial limits or the stress associated with traveling.

Others may find they need a complete escape from their every day lives in order to relax.

Before making this important decision, make sure to evaluate what type of a person you are and what your budget can manage. Here are five things to consider before you book your trip at home or away:

1. Is money an issue?

   Can you really afford a vacation? Will you be able to spend the money you need to in order to enjoy yourself at a location away from home? It is important to evaluate the expenses and prepare for hidden fees associated with your trip. If you do not feel a vacation is truly within your budget, you may want to consider planning a week of family fun and leisure at home.

2. Can you break away at home?

   

   If staying at home means doing yard work, checking work email, and doing laundry, then this is not a vacation. If you are trying to plan a real staycation, then you must separate yourself from the everyday stresses. This means you must create an atmosphere of relaxation and excitement in your own home. If you feel you cannot do this, you may want to plan a vacation away from home.

3. Do you get bored easily?

   If you are someone who needs new sites and excitement in order to let lose, then you may want to plan a trip to a place specifically catering to your needs. Staying at home and watching rented movies and playing board games is not enough for you.

4. Does traveling stress you out?

   

   Does the idea of flying scare you? Does the thought of a long road trip with your children give you an automatic headache? If you feel the stress of traveling outweighs the benefits of a vacation away from home, then you may want to consider a family staycation. Your family may have more fun camping in the backyard and going to a local water park than traveling to an exotic destination.

5. Will you have any regrets?

   

   Only you know what is right for you. After considering everything above, you must choose an option that is best for you and your family. Remember, that if you are planning either a staycation or vacation, the proper preparation is always necessary. Enjoy yourself and you won’t have any regrets!