Plan ahead to trim vacation costs

It seems that no matter how many leftovers you stomach in the months leading up to that long-awaited vacation, there is never enough money saved.

Sure, the savings account earmarked for vacation expenses looks impressive as it is converted to traveler's checks for the big event, but once outside city limits, it's astounding how quickly that seemingly endless cache of cash drains away.

Planning ahead combined with cutting corners here and there can easily result in extra money for fun activities. One easy way to save money is on transportation, said Mark Malmgren, owner of Small World Travel in Clemson, S.C.

"A lot of people get to the airport and think they have to take a taxi, but almost every major airport has alternate transportation," Malmgren said.

For example, a cab ride from the Newark airport to Manhattan could run about $50 (the same as an above-average dinner for two). Opting for a train or bus from the airport cuts this cost by as much as 94 percent.

"Don't always assume cabs are the only way to go. Find out ahead of time or get to the airport and ask questions," Malmgren said.

As many leisure travelers soon discover, meals consume a large percentage of vacation dollars. A family of four, for example, might easily spend $60 daily (a conservative estimate) for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- not to mention snacks or drinks in between.

To cut back on food costs, plan on fixing meals in your hotel room. Arrange for a room with a kitchenette for preparing lunch and dinner during a break from the hectic pace of vacation. Breakfast could be an easy -- not to mention portable -- piece of fruit and bagel grabbed on the way out the door to the theme park.

Gary Foreman, an editor of "The Dollar Stretcher," suggested an impromptu picnic of lunchmeat, chips and drinks from a local grocery store.

"That's more relaxing than the standard lunch, and it could be a great chance to let the kids run off a little energy after being cooped up in the car all morning," he said.

According to Sandy Hann, owner of Travel Pros in Anderson, S.C., all-inclusive travel packages alleviate the cost of meals altogether.

"We're getting fantastic prices for cruises and for land-and-air packages in the Caribbean," Hann said. "A lot of people who hit the beach could compare those daily rates to a cruise, and there's really no comparison. As far as saving money, if you go on vacation that's all-inclusive, you take advantage of that resort's activities that you've paid for. It's great for families and couples."

If family vacation plans include a visit to a national park, be on the lookout for savings from the purchase of a national-park pass if you think you might be coming back to visit, Malmgren said.

If visits to local museums and historic places are part of your plans, look into purchasing all-inclusive passes.

"Every country has those. For example, a British heritage pass is $54 for seven days and includes 600 historic properties such as Shakespeare's birthplace and Stonehenge," Malmgren said.

And don't be shy about utilizing the Chamber of Commerce of the area you'll be visiting, Foreman said. Simply call and ask its advice on local attractions (some might even be free) and low-profile places to stay. Something that's normally not a huge pull for tourists might sound like just what your family will enjoy.

"Checking with the travel agent, checking with friends and doing a little research ahead of time can save you a lot of money," Malmgren said.

Copyright C 2003 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.