Home Liz's Blog What I Have Wednesdays What I Have Wednesday - Holidays on a Budget Part Two

What I Have Wednesday - Holidays on a Budget Part Two

Wednesday, 09 July 2008 11:19

What I have is a holiday. And a budget. And yes, the two do mix. Last week I looked at accommodation and food. This week I'll look at transportation and entertainment. How you get to your holiday can set the tone for the trip. With the price of petrol these days, you may want to consider a holiday close to home. Two to three hours drive away from your home is usually sufficient to be in a different environment from home, without driving too far. Limiting how far you travel also allows more time for a leisurely trip there. You can stop and look at landmarks, have half a dozen toilet breaks and spontaneously stop and anything interesting you find without having to stress about getting to your destination by a certain time. Take advantage of any big fuel discounts you can get. If you're living in the city, you may find that petrol is cheaper there so fill up before you go, rather than getting halfway there and putting in petrol 20c/litre more expensive that it was at home! Also consider how much luggage you are taking. Taking too much results in a drag due to the weight of the car. Requiring roof racks or a trailer will only add to this, so packing light can save you a lot in petrol! Next on the list is entertainment. The best things in life are free, so try to find accommodation nearby some beautiful scenery. Think of beaches for free swimming and sand play, playgrounds for young children (which become more interesting because they are new) or national parks to go on bushwalks through. Also, in many tourist areas there are free attractions or portions of attractions that are free. Make those a priority and keep the pricey theme parks and the like to a minimum. Enjoy a relaxing holiday spending time together. Buy a new board game and learn to play it together. Bring some books (but not too many) for some holiday reading. Hire a DVD or two that you've been meaning to see. Take some time to enjoy one another's company and chat. Holidays don't need to be so busy you return home needing a holiday! Holidays can be done "on the cheap" and can be far more memorable than those filled with junk food and expensive attractions!