Spring Break On a Budget

Thinking about taking a grown-up (or family-friendly) Spring Break trip? Believe it or not, you can make it affordable. Because Spring Break can vary between early-March to mid-April, there are a good 6 weeks when things are more expensive than normal. 

Unfortunately, Spring is a great time to travel, because the weather is warm, but not too warm and most kids are still in school, so the crowds are small if you avoid typical Spring Break destinations like Miami and Cancun. So, let's take a look at how to be a grown up and take a vacay that doesn't look like those old MTV shows full of sloppy-drunk, loud-partying, half-naked 20-somethings. 

Choosing a destination

Set your budget

Here's a thought. Instead of picking a place and planning your trip around it, decide on your budget and work around that. You may find that there are places you hadn't thought of before, but are just as awesome (or better) than where you first thought you might go. 

• Scour deals on Groupon, Living Social and other daily sites for affordable vacations that might work for your time off. 
• Use Kayak's Explore feature to find destinations that fit within your budget for the month/season of your choice.
• Look at BookIt's promos for vacation packages that are awesome and budget-friendly.

Visit non-beach destinations

There are a lot of places that don't really fluctuate in price for travelers throughout the year. Some even have beaches nearby, even if they're only lakes (which can be fun in themselves). 

• Washington, DC
• Phoenix/Tempe
• Palm Springs
• Austin, Texas
• Los Angeles
• New York City
• Quebec, Montreal (has a great European feel, with a much lower price tag)

Travel to less-popular beaches

Some destinations just draw college kids. You can avoid those large crowds so you can at least get a little strip of sand for yourself and not have to fight people to get to the bar for a drink.

• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Daytona, Florida (the small size makes it perfect for those looking for a bit of quiet)
• Puerto Rico (cheap accommodations and dining)
• Myrtle Beach (rent a condo for as little as $50)
• Costa Rica (stay way from the touristy spots)
• St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (no passport required!)
• Willemstad Curacao (stick to the all-inclusives here)

When to buy airfare

Usually, the perfect time to buy your airfare for domestic flights is right around 5 weeks out, but because the deals for Spring Break travel might be few and far between, look to book your flights 6-8 weeks out. If you have a stash of airline miles, this is the time to cash them in, even if it's just for one way of your trip. 25,000 points and $5 (on average) is hard to beat for a flight, but the earlier you book, the more likely you will be to find a reward seat. Start looking now. 

• Book airfare on Tuesdays, and Sundays for lower fares.
• Fly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays for the best rates. These are the least busy days to fly.
• Fly early in the day. The earliest flights out are generally a bit cheaper and have less of a chance of getting delayed.
• Travel light and skip baggage fees. 

How to choose a hotel

As nice as some hostels are becoming, I still don't recommend them for grown-ups and the U.S. doesn't really have many. Look into hotels that offer extras: a kitchenette, free breakfast, kids stay free, etc. I'd also suggest looking at both Airbnb and HomeAway at vacation rentals. You'll have a bit more space, the prices are comparable to hotels and you usually have both a kitchen and laundry facilities. If you're traveling as a group, this can really save you money.

• Sometimes paying up-front can score you an awesome deal on a room.
• If you haven't pre-paid, keep checking prices up to the day you leave, in case the price drops and you can rebook.
• Skip online booking and call the hotel to see if they can give you a better rate than what you see online.

Alternate choices

Not all vacations are traditional. If you can plan a great trip, but the airfare seems out of reach, look into driving instead. Is it possible that there are really sweet destinations within driving distance from home that you haven't been to yet? I'd be surprised if there weren't.

Looking for more tips? Check out this article that I contributed my expertise to on Cosmopolitan.com.

What are your Spring Break plans?

Review: Packable Lightweight Boots from Arcopédico

If you've been reading for a while, then you know I tend to travel in the off season, which usually means Spring, but mostly means Autumn. Packing for colder months can be challenging, because you need warmer clothes, which tend to take up more space in your carry-on. When you're trying to pack light, this is annoying, because you probably want to bring boots. Boots are bulky, but also the worst footwear for long-haul flights. Arcopédico is here to help you out.

Arcopédico makes a wonderful line of packable boots (and other shoes) in their Lytech line, that are also breathable, water resistant, machine washable, and super lightweight. I received the L8, which look like suede, but are actually vegan - another plus to me. I've been wearing them around, including to work, and I find my feet are still happy at the end of a long day of standing. 

Arcopédico has a patented dual arch support, which feels a bit funny when you first start wearing them, because most shoes have only one, and many don't have any. The support allows you to stand correctly and distributes your weight evenly. The top is non-binding, giving you a feeling of being barefoot. I also have wide-ish feet and have the issue of toeboxes being too tight for me  in a lot of shoes. I didn't have that problem at all in these boots, which is point. The top conforms to the shape of your foot, for more breathability and comfort.

I got these in black and they're perfect with skinny jeans, but I also wore them under a pair of wider legged pants and they looked just as good. I think they'd also look great with a skirt, and even shorts that's a look you can pull off. With my trip to Scotland coming up, where I'm going to need some good walking shoes that work with all my clothes, I'm excited to add these to my carry-on. There's enough room and stretch in these boots to allow me to wear thicker socks if I need to. I also like the slight heel they have, so I won't be flat-footing it across Edinburgh and London. 

The upper gives me room for my foot to move a bit, so I won't have the same problem I had when I went to Paris and lived mostly in a pair of tall, non-stretchy boots and then came home with a fractured foot from all the walking and stair-climbing. The fact that they are water-resistant will really help here where it's rainy most of the winter and on vacation where both places I'm going in September have similar rainy weather. 

The L8 is not the only profile of boot Arcopédico makes, but it was the one I thought would go best with everything I pack and fit my travel style. The Runa is a bit more sporty and the Liana is a tall stylish option as well. There's really something for everyone.

If you're looking for an eco-friendly, packable and pretty boot, Arcopédico is the way to go. Not only will you look great wherever you go, but you'll also be super comfy at the end of the day. Plus they won't take up too much room in your carry-on. And if you have a mom who loves traveling, Mother's Day is coming up!

More details

Where to buy them: On Arcopédico's website and on sites like Amazon

Cost: $125

Colors they come in: Brown Suede | Black (shown) | Black Suede | Bronze | Navy Suede | Violet Suede | Grey Suede

More info: Washable, vegan, removable insole, side zippers, non-metal twin arch support, made in Portugal since 1966

Learn more about Arcopédico by following them on social media: Facebook | Instagram 

Disclaimer: I was provided with the L8 booties for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine. This post contains an affiliate link, and if you make a purchase through it, I'll be monetarily compensated (and eternally grateful). 

Getting More From Your Hotel Budget

There are plenty of things to consider when finding a place to stow your belongings and close your eyes at night. Price may be the biggest factor for you, but that doesn't mean the less you pay the worse your stay. There are plenty of budget and moderate hotels that offer wonderful service and surroundings if you know where and how to look. It's important to weigh all your options when deciding on where to sleep. Does it have a restaurant? Is it close to fun activities? Is it convenient to public transportation? Does it offer free breakfast? Free Wi-Fi? Is it on a busy street? Do the rooms offer kitchenettes? All these questions are important and if the answer is yes, you could save big. The more inclusive extras you can get on a vacation, the further your money goes.

Track Hotel Rates

Use Yapta to track hotel rates. Find a great deal? Search for the hotel(s) you are interested in and then track those specific ones. Even if you have reservations with them already, keep them on your list and keep waiting for prices to drop. Yapta will alert you to any prices that are lower than what you’ve already booked. If the price goes down, get on the phone with the establishment and see if you can change your reservation to reflect the lower rate.

Get Rewarded for your Loyalty

Sign up for Hotels.com’s Welcome Rewards and get free hotel nights. For every 10 nights you book through Hotels.com, you get one free night. You don't need to stay 10 nights in a row, in the same hotel or even in the same year. Your credits just accumulate until you've reached 10 nights and then you are eligible to receive your free night. The price will be based on the average of the price per night you stayed for each of your 10 paid nights. If you wish to stay at a hotel that costs more than that, you will just pay the difference. If you frequent the same hotel or hotel chain, get on their loyalty program and start racking up points with each stay. You can trade these in for free nights and upgrades when you need them.

Avoid the Weekend

Hotel rates are almost always cheaper on Sunday through Thursday nights. Most people travel on the weekend. They know this, just like the airlines, so they make prices for Friday and Saturday stays more expensive. In some cases, they can be twice as much as on weeknights.

Stay in Business-Minded Hotels on the Weekend

Unlike most hotels, those that cater to business travelers don’t get much action on the weekend, so rates drop to encourage visitors to stay. These hotels are also ones to book over holidays, because they can be fairly empty and prices plummet.

Stay in Brand New Hotels

Hotels that have been newly built or totally remodeled often have an introductory period right when they open that offers rock-bottom rates. HotelChatter is a website that not only shows reviews of hotels, but they also list the opening dates of new hotels and update them if they change. The list shows hotels worldwide, so you can search before you book your room.

Go All-Inclusive

I know you’re paying to stay at these places to be entertained and well-fed; most of them also offer free activities in the form of non-motorized watersports and even have nightly entertainment. That’s a freebie in my opinion, though you may feel differently. I suggest pricing out what you would expect to spend on your trip if you didn’t go all-inclusive and see if the savings are significant enough to go one way or the other.

Stay in a Vacation Rental

If you have a large family, this may be your perfect solution. Rentals are booked per night, not by guest counts, so whether you have three people or eight people in your travel party you pay the same price. The other pluses to a rental are: having more space to stretch out, having a kitchen to cook your own meals in (or at least store some snacks and leftovers), there aren’t 20 potential neighbors waking you up at all hours and many rentals have a washing machine.

Look for Freebies

Free is always a great price, but if you don’t know how to get it, then it’s not really all that helpful. I love travel freebies and try to maximize them on every trip I take, because that’s less money I have to pay out of my own pocket. The more money I save, the better trip I can take or the more I can put towards a future vacation. There’s also the fact that if you save more, you spend less and suddenly a trip that was a little out of your reach is now within your budget!

Free Breakfast – Free continental or buffet breakfast is a fantastic saver! On the low end, say you usually only have coffee and a bagel in the morning, you can save $5 per person, but on the higher end, if you like to eat out and have someone wait on you in the morning, you could be looking at $12+ per person.

Kids Eat Free – If your hotel has a restaurant and they offer free dining for kids, this is another big savings. Usually, you can get free meals for up to two kids this way if you purchase an adult entrée. Assuming a kid’s meal is an average of $6, that’s up to $18 per day, per child.

Free Wi-Fi – I always like to stay in touch while I’m on vacation, so I tend to bring my iPad and netbook everywhere I travel. This way my husband and I can both check up on what’s been happening while we’ve been gone and also communicate with friends and family. Hotels and resorts sometimes charge for internet service, or you can wait in the lobby and use one of their computers free of charge for a few minutes. Your best bet on this is to find one of the many places that give you free Wi-Fi, because it can save you weekly or daily rates, or those per-minute rates charged by Internet cafés. You also can’t do much business if you’re on a time limit.

Laundry On-Site – While usually not free, it’s still a minimal charge to use the machines there compared to the local Laundromat or worse, the laundry services they offer where you leave your bag of clothing and then come back to fresh clothes and a bill. Generally, the machines off-site can range anywhere from $1.75 - $3.00 per load for both the washer and the dryer. If you do laundry out of the country, it can cost almost $8 just to wash your clothes. Anytime I’ve used the on-site facilities, they range from $.50-1.00 for each machine and most times they were free. It’s easy to throw clothes in while you’re resting from your day out walking.

Free Coffee and Snacks – Many hotels offer free coffee/tea and snacks (like fruit and cookies) in the lobby. There’s no reason to not take advantage of such things that are included in your room rate. Think about all the times you want to snack during the day while you’re sightseeing. If you had a banana or some other snacky thing that you snagged on your way out, you wouldn’t have to shell out any money again until lunch or dinner. The free coffee and/or tea provided, while not fancy, can save you a trip to Starbucks in the morning.

Free Alcoholic Beverages – If drinking is one of your favorite vacation pastimes, there are a few ways to get free drinks on your travels. The most obvious way is to stay at an all-inclusive resort where this is included. I consider it free, because you’re paying for your accommodations, entertainment and food all in one lump sum. Anything beyond that is a plus in my book. Another thing you can do is find a hotel that offers a free cocktail hour. They are kinda few and far between, but if you’re lucky you can find them.

While this certainly isn’t an inclusive list on all the ways you can save your dollars on accommodations, it’s a good start to help you travel within your means. Maybe that extra money you don’t have to spend is just enough to allow you to go to that one place that was just out of your reach budget-wise before. Every little bit helps when you have to pinch your pennies, so get planning and find all the ways you can lower your bottom line. You might be surprised at how all those little discounts can turn into one big one.

How do you stretch your hotel budget?