Do you find yourself sick and tired of the cold? Dreaming of a tropical destination? If so, you are not alone. February is typically when I’ve had just about enough of the dark, dreary days of winter and am dreaming of a getaway to somewhere warm. Tropical destinations are always at the top of my list for family vacations. The beach is my happy place, and I’m excited to share some of my tips for planning an affordable beach vacation. This post is sponsored by Gain at Walmart. All opinions expressed are my own.
It doesn’t take much to get me dreaming about the surf and sand. Something as simple as the tropical scent of Gain laundry detergent will transport me from doing laundry to a sunny beach, and make me eager to plan our next trip to the beach.
You’ll never catch me complaining about washing the sand out of beach towels!
Tips for Planning an Affordable Beach Vacation
Set your budget and start saving now. When budgeting, be sure to plan for all expenses, including lodging, travel, meals, and activities. It’s always a good idea to pad your budget with some miscellaneous funds. You never know what unexpected expenses will arise. There is still plenty of time to save and budget for a summer vacation. Pick up a few extra hours at work if you can. Hold a yard sale in the early spring. In the past, I’ve even opened a separate ‘vacation fund’ account at the bank, and setup an automatic transfer. Tossing all of your change into a jar can help fund your vacation activities.
Find the best location for your budget. Choosing the right location can be the hardest part of vacation planning. Often the best beach lodging deals can be found off the beaten path. I’ve found some great bargains in the Florida Panhandle, and if possible avoid peak times such as major holidays and weekends. Take your vacation off-season for the best possible deals. Also, renting a house or condo can be much more affordable than staying in a hotel, especially if you utilize the kitchen for meal prep.
Plan ahead for your activities. Make a list of the things you like to do on your vacation, then take some time to search for deals. Check sites like Groupon and LivingSocial. Find out which restaurants have a ‘kids eat free’ night. If you have annual passes to places like your local science center or zoo, check to see if your membership benefits include free or discounted admission in other cities. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce or tourism board to see if a City Pass is available. Better yet, spend your days on the beach which is absolutely free!
Have a “staycation” beach vacation. If you are lucky enough to live fairly close to a beach, you can avoid the cost of a hotel or beach house all together. Pack a picnic lunch, grab a towel and some sunscreen and make a day of it.
Enjoy a tropical themed party at home. If none of the above is an option, you can still have lot of fun by throwing a tropical themed party in your own backyard. Toss around some beach balls, and fill up the kiddie pool or turn on the sprinkler. Put pretty umbrellas into colorful drinks and serve your snacks in beach buckets.
Maybe you can’t escape the dreary weather to experience an exotic land in person, but with a short trip to the laundry room, you can have a mini-escape when you pop the top to your favorite Gain Laundry Detergent and smell a Tropical Sunrise, White Tea Lavender, or a Moonlight Breeze.
You can save money for your actual vacation while doing laundry this February when you buy your Gain at Walmart. For a limited time, Gain 150 oz. Liquid Laundry Detergent is on Rollback at Walmart for $13.44 (regularly $14.94). In addition, there is a coupon available in print and on pgeveryday.com to help you save even more:
Watch for the RedPlum coupon book in your 2/11 Sunday paper or pgeveryday.com for $2 off Gain Liquid Detergent (valid through 2/24) to bring the price on your “getaway” down to just $11.44 for 150 oz. of Gain, or less than $.08 per ounce.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Gain at Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.
It’s been a tough winter, I can’t wait for warmer weather and a beach vacation. We always think about costs but we are pretty lucky we are able to enjoy our time away.
I have so been wanting to take a trip to the beach. Thanks for the wonderful tips.
These are all great tips on how to make a beach trip more affordable. My grandsons have been begging to go back to the beach again!
Those are great tips for any vacation. Thank you for the heads up on the coupon.
These are great tips. I think I am long overdue for a beach trip!
Lovely tips to ensure a nice vacation and trip. I think that the beach is a great destination for young and old
These are good rules for just doing things in life. I love to plan and save money.
These are good suggestions. We went to the beach all the time as kids, nice vacations, I don’t know how my parents did it.