How to Spring Break on a budget

Sandra Pledger, Contributing Writer

Although the fall semester has just begun, Spring Break will creep up on you faster than you know it.

Hard thinking minds deserve a break, so ask yourselves, where do you want to spend your next mini-vacation?

Cancun, Miami Beach, perhaps a couple of days in the Bahamas; no matter where ever you decide to go, following some simple tips can help you save some money to put towards other future getaways.

For example, many super clubs such as BJ’s and Costco offer discounted trip packages for members. Other clubs such as AAA offer travel services with a price match guarantee. Others include Liberty Travel and Sundance Vacations.

And let us not forget our online agencies such as Kayak, Trip Advisor, Travelocity, Priceline, Expedia, and Trivago, just to name a few.

There is also a little known secret that hotels offer deals and exclusive packages on their own websites that are not publicly advertised.

Many hotels offer points and exclusive discounts that will build up towards future stays once you sign up with them. They may also offer discounts for surrounding restaurants, and activities as well. It is always a smart decision to ask.

Other money-saving tips include traveling with friends or signing up for travel tour groups. Often times, this way of traveling offers amazing savings, a lot of perks and safe traveling because you are with a group.

Additional tips include composing a list of events, restaurants, and activities that you know you want to participate in once you make your destination choice.

By doing so, you can begin to search for discount coupons and buy-one-get-one deals beforehand.

You can also be on the lookout for travel magazines depending on where you are.

For instance, Virginia Beach and many other beach resort towns have coupon books that are readily available. They are just inside hotel lobbies or in many of the souvenir or area convenience stores.

These books have tons of discount offers for everything ranging from local restaurants, activities, excursions, and shopping.

If you have decided on using a credit card for your traveling, try to use the cards that offer you cashback for flying, hotels, restaurants, and shopping.

And one more for the road, try to always book “all-inclusive trips.”

This means that no matter which way you are traveling or where you are staying, all of your activities and food are included in one price.

Even though shopping around for the best deals can be quite a time-consuming activity, it is worth it to get the best deals, save some extra cash and possibly earn free stays and flyer miles while you are at it for future trips.