Getting Away, On The Cheap
I’m going away this weekend. It’s not something I can say I do regularly. Part of the reason is my sheer lack of organisational ability. The other would be the thought of cost. But is it really that expensive to get away with your lover, family or group of seriously fun friends? Or can it be done on the cheap? Here are some tips and tricks.
Last-Minute Deals
If you’ve decided that a weekend away is a necessity, and soon, then last-minute bargains are going to be your best friend. If you can take a flexible attitude about where you are headed or what kind of accommodation you will get, you might find yourself scoring a pretty sweet deal. This is probably a more achievable option for a couple, as opposed to a group of friends. In those instances, go in the complete opposite direction and book as early as possible, organising for the low season for cheaper prices.
Ask Around
Lots of people have holiday homes that are sitting vacant most weekends of the year. While you might think it’s a bit forward, they’d probably prefer to have someone in them, so if your grandparent has a shack on the beach or a friend’s family has some valley get away, why not ask if there is a free weekend you could head over there?
Off-Season, Off-Weekend
Booking for unpopular times will always save you money. One website I read suggested booking to destinations in hurricane seasons, because it’s always cheaper. I’m not sure I’d go quite that far. But if you’re looking to spend some quality time, will it matter if you get snowed in next to the fireplace? Or organise to have a mini-break mid-week. Hotels often have amazingly cheap deals- say 3 nights for the price of 2- should you stay mid-week when they’re quiet. You’ll have the hotel to yourself, have saved a lot of money and all it took was a bit of hand-greasing with your employer or organising with your schedules.
Stay Local
There is nowhere I would rather go than a couple of hours out west to spend a weekend. I don’t need mini-breaks to Melbourne or Cairns, I am totally happy to stay fairly close to home. It won’t feel like you’re at home, especially if you’ve chosen somewhere with lots to do or with a very different pace to where you live, yet you’ll save a lot of money on transport.
Road Trip
What better way to spend a weekend than seeing where the wind takes you? It used to drive me crazy as a child when my parents insisted on these spontaneous trips on weekends, but having grown older, I understand the appeal of just getting in the car and going. In financial terms, it’s not a bad idea to have a final destination in mind as you can then budget for the amount of kilometres you will be churning through, but with picnics in the car, stops in caravan parks or cheap roadside motels. you’ll get a sense of adventure and some special time with your pals or family, without having to spend huge amounts of money.
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