The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

Travel Tips & Tricks

Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

 Cheap Spring Break Travel

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Whether you’re a college student on a budget or a parent who needs to afford a trip for the whole family, cheap spring break travel options are always a great idea. You want to have fun without spending a fortune! Here are a few ideas to help you create that perfect but affordable spring break vacation.

Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas:

Avoid the Most Popular Beaches – Cancun, Daytona Beach, and South Padre Island are among the most popular spring break choices for college students, which means that most of the time, the prices for hotels, airfare, and other accommodations are going to be more expensive. Consider Biloxi, Pensacola Beach, or Myrtle Beach for cheaper alternatives. There are still plenty of things to see and do in these cities, but it won’t cost you nearly as much to do them.

Plan a Staycation – There is no rule that says you have to fly somewhere for spring break. Consider booking a hotel room somewhere close to where you live to escape the everyday routine of home. You can take this time to see some of the local attractions that you haven’t had the chance to visit yet.

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How to Plan a Thrifty Road Trip

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Thrifty Road Trip
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Road trip! Are you planning a getaway with the family, a trip back home from college or just some fun with friends? If so, you might want to plan a thrifty road trip to help you save during your travels. Gas prices are higher than ever and this makes many people afraid to get into their cars and travel out for visiting friends and family.  Don’t let the high price of gas and expensive of travel keep your from enjoying the world.

So what are some things you can do to have a thrifty road trip? I have 5 tips to get you started.

How to Plan a Thrifty Road Trip:

Get a tune-up: Doing some simple maintenance on your vehicle can make a big difference when it comes to traveling long distances in it. For example, keeping the tires properly inflated, using the right kind of gas and replacing air filters and other parts regularly will help you get more gas mileage from your vehicle, reduce wear and tear and get the most from your car.

Rent a car: Depending on the make, model and year of your vehicle, it might be best for you to just rent a vehicle to make your road trip in. Most rentals today come with unlimited miles and you can just pay by the day. You don’t have to worry so much about how far you’re going, what damage or extra mileage you might be putting on your vehicle.

Slow down: Driving slower can make your vehicle more fuel-efficient. This means you can save a lot of money on gas by driving slower. But how slow? According to www.fueleconomy.gov, for every five miles per hour you drive over the rate of 60 miles per hour, you will pay 25 cents or more for each gallon of gas. Rapid acceleration and sudden braking can make you lose more on your gas mileage.

Bring things with you: Another way to have a thrifty road trip is to pack up the ice chest and bring as many things with you as you can. You can bring snacks and drinks and avoid buying things on the road. It’s really easy to do some pre-trip shopping and pack your car up with snacks and goodies before heading out on the road.

Bring a friend: Next, remember to bring a friend or family member along with you. You can’t have a thrifty road trip without bringing along a great friend and some rocking car tunes. The best part of a road trip is blasting your favorite songs and singing along at the top of your lungs with your bestie.

Do you have any tips to add for taking a thrifty road trip? Who would you bring along? How would you save money on the trip?

*The picture above is from a road trip my family took a few years ago up through the Blue Ridge Mountains.  There are so many stops you can make on the way to get gorgeous views like this one!

You might also like 7 Tips for Family Travel on a Budget or 8 Simple Tips to Plan Road Trip & Pack Smart!

Air Travel Packing Tips

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Air Travel Packing Tips

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When you decide to take an airplane to your destination, packing immediately becomes a priority. No longer can you simply throw things in a bag and be on your way. Space is at a premium with baggage fees, additional over-weight fees, and getting your items past security.

These air travel packing tips will (hopefully) help you prepare properly.

Air Travel Packing Tips:

Snake your belts and scarves – Make sure you take all long items such as belts, scarves and ties and wrap them around the outer perimeter of your clothes in the suitcase. This will ensure that they will not take up bulk in your suitcase and will stay unwrinkled as well. This quick and easy step can make a huge difference where space is concerned.

Always keep all your valuables in your carry on – This seems like a rather obvious tip but every year, countless people lose jewels, important papers, and various other valuables in lost luggage. Keep them with you and you have a much better chance of keeping them safe.

Label everything that you can – When you are going to stow away your luggage, it becomes very important that you label it. Luggage gets lost and a good labeling system can literally save you. Label the outside, inside, and anywhere else you can find with your contact information, flight number, destination, and your departing airport/city. This is the minimum amount of information. It is far better to be safe rather than sorry with this data.

An item that will help with having these important labels are these Travel Smart Leather Luggage Tags. They allow you to have your personal information on a tag with a protective flap for privacy.

Reconsider that shampoo – When you fly and have to pack luggage, the last thing you want is to have your clothes and things ruined by leaky shampoo or conditioner. Consider buying these things when you reach your destination or at least bag them in an air-tight container.

Film stays with you – With film you should always put it in your carry on. Film can be absolutely ruined by their scanners and x-ray machines. Always let them know when you have film and are passing through security.

Use the week-long list method – How often do you head out and forget something important on a long trip? If you are like most folks, it is a regular thing. Instead, start making a packing list a week out from your flight date. Add to the list every time you think of something new, and when the day comes you will have thought of everything.

What are your air travel packing tips?

You might also like my Five Reasons to Use Travel Size Food article.

Suggestions for Travel Food

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Suggestions for Travel Food

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I’m always on the hunt to find new suggestions for travel food.  Traveling can be expensive enough without the added expense of over-priced food.  Not only does flying and driving all increase your food budget, but airport food and fast food restaurants are full of salt and fat – completely unhealthy.

Deciding what type of foods to pack will be determined by when you’re traveling, how long you’re traveling, and how you will be traveling.  Will you be traveling during dinner?  Flying or driving?  Do you need snacks?

I remember flying to Disney World with my parents last year.  Our flight didn’t take off until about 4:30 (which meant arriving at the airport at 3pm), so I knew the kids would be starving even though the flight was only 1.5 hours.  I packed subs, chip, and a cookie for each of us.  I’d asked my Mom if they wanted me to pack extra for them, but they declined stating they would eat once we arrived.

BIG Mistake

Just before the plane took off, a huge storm passed through.  Lightning and pouring rain meant that we were stuck sitting on the runway for about 45 minutes.  My parents (and other passengers) were sure envious of our dinner on the plane!

How I Pack Travel Food:

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7 Tips for Family Travel on a Budget

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Family Travel on a Budget
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Family travel on a budget is not the easiest thing to do if you don’t plan ahead. Vacation spots are not exactly set up to be inexpensive after all. They want your dollars and the system is set up against you if you go to a tourist type area. Fortunately, there are ways of having your vacation cake and eating it too.

If you plan ahead, saving money is possible. In fact, you can vacation like royalty.

7 Family Travel on a Budget Tips:

Try to Purchase Everything in Advance – This is the one tip that is relatively universal in the travel industry. If you want to save money, you will need to purchase things ahead of time. This includes reservations, tickets to theme parks, museums, concerts, water parks, and countless other things that you might do on vacation. If you can buy ahead, you will be well on your way towards saving on your vacation.

Stay Outside the Tourist Area – Some people avoid tourist sites like the plague. If you are one of those families that enjoy the bigger tourism sites, you can save a ton of cash by sleeping just outside the center of activity. You may have to travel just a little to get to the “main attraction” but you will save a ton of money.

Rent a Home Instead of Hotel – If you can possibly do so, renting from an individual will be much cheaper. Homes are usually much more comfortable as well.  We’ve used VRBO several times and have always stayed in great locations within our budget.

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