A Little Change Goes a Long Way
Plan and save for your next holiday.
by J.J. & Paula Montanaro
J.J.: Like all things financial, your next vacation does require some planning and preparation. The first question to answer is whether or not taking a vacation makes financial sense. So, don’t break the bank just for a little relaxation. Save up for your vacation in advance and if it doesn’t make sense, remember there are alternatives.
Paula: Exactly. We actually decided that a “staycation” made sense for the Montanaros this past Spring. With our schedules and two big vacations last fall, we felt a staycation was ideal. We made a big production out of planning our days with the kids, visited some local attractions and didn’t spend a whole lot of money.
Timing is Everything
J.J.: If you’re not traveling during peak season—and the difference between peak and off-peak can be just a matter of days—your vacation will cost a whole lot less. Last year we actually revisited Disneyworld with my brother-in-law and his family during the same week.
Paula: Unfortunately, we had to take the kids out of school a week early, but had we waited, the whole trip would have cost a lot more and been a lot less fun.
J.J.: Timing can also you save you money when it comes to buying your tickets. Take a look at leaving a day early or staying a day late…for example, departing on a Monday instead of a Sunday (with the masses) to save a few bucks.
Paula: And last minute deals can also be a bargain if you have some flexibility and can leave on the spur of the moment.
J.J.: Talk about spur of the moment, if you’re active-duty you could head to the local airbase and fly Space-A…you could fly for free, destination to be determined, and use what was set aside for airfare to soup-up the rest of the vacation.
Take Advantage of the Bennies
Paula: Well, we’ve never traveled on an Air Force plane, but I know we’ve benefited from a number of cool deals tied to the military. On our Disneyworld trip that Joe mentioned earlier, we got two condos, each with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, for seven nights – all for less than $1000 through Armed Forces Vacation Club (www.afvclub.com).
J.J.: And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to some of the programs and services that are available for military families. By now, I’m sure everyone is aware of Disney’s 2009 military promotion—free entry for the servicemember and discounts for his or her family to the Disney theme parks and discounts at Disney resorts. Anheuser-Busch continues its “Here’s to the Heroes” promotion, so if one of their parks is near your destination…free is good! Look to organizations and associations you belong to. Many offer discounts when you book travel through their travel partners.
Paula: Most people have heard of the military’s resort hotel at Disneyworld, the Shades of Green. But, there are also other Armed Forces Recreation Center Resorts including locations in Virginia, Hawaii and Europe, where you can find a good deal and a whole lot of fun for the entire family.
J.J.: Even though the point of your vacation may be to get away from your base or post, don’t forget about the availability and reasonable prices you may find at other military facilities throughout the world. We took advantage of on-base quarters on a recent trip.
Paula: Yeah, during our trip to Washington, D.C., we actually stayed at Fort Belvoir and took the Metro into the city during the day. The price was very reasonable and it turned out to be a great trip.
Paula and JJ’s best trip planning advice:
Use the 5-gallon jug approach. Put all your spare change in a “trip jug.” Once it is full, take it to the bank and cash it in for bills and use that money exclusively for your trip.