SUMMARY: Learn practical tips for planning a memorable summer vacation without overspending. Destination recommendations include Cody, WY; Fayetville, WV; San Luis Obispo, CA and Philadelphia.
When you factor in transportation, accommodations, entertainment and food, taking a vacation can be a big expense for families trying to get away this summer and make some everlasting memories. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average vacation can cost anywhere from $581 for an extended weekend spent stateside to more than $3,000 for a longer jaunt overseas.
But there are ways to extend your vacay budget, cut unnecessary travel costs, and plan a summer getaway around your desires and your means. Making a dream trip a reality simply takes a little planning, a little saving, and few travel tips to map out a summer vacation to remember.
First, you need a budget. Whether you’re saving the total sum beforehand or splitting costs across savings and credit, the best practice is to find a number that you can comfortably pay off in a relatively short amount of time. Most American households budget 2% toward vacation – but be realistic about how much you can spend.
As with any budget, create expenditure lines for transportation, food, accommodations and entertainment. Transportation tends to be the biggest cost when planning a vacation. Compare flights, gas, or rail service costs for a few weeks to monitor price trends.
Keep other factors in mind. If you’re paying down debt currently, allocating 5% for a getaway could be considered a costly adventure. And remember to factor in costs for emergencies.
Budget-Conscious Option: Cody, Wyoming
Wyoming’s “Rodeo Capital of the World” is named after co-founder Col. William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. With its canvas of rivers, mounters, and iconic parklands, the town offers one of the most family-friendly, affordable, and tourist trap-free Old West getaway destinations out there.
Stampede Park is home to one of the country’s most prestigious and longest-running Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events with its Cody Nite Rodeo (June 1-Aug. 31), capped by the Cody Stampede Rodeo (July 1-4). Cody’s remarkable Buffalo Bill Center of the West is in a class of its own for Western and Native American art and history, offering entry to all five of the Center’s museums with a general admission ticket that’s good for two full days. Storied landmarks like the 1902 Irma Hotel (built by Buffalo Bill and named for his daughter) and the remarkable frontier re-creation of Old Trail Town provide an even more comforting sense that the ever-evolving West still has a firm grasp of its roots here.
Savvy summer recreationists get the best deal of all in Cody – the area’s most cost-effective home base for neighboring Yellowstone National Park. Hikers and mountain bikers have easy access to northwestern Wyoming’s epic hiking trails and singletrack. Paddlers and anglers are right on the Shoshone River flowing right through town.
There’s a way to save without killing the fun of your summer vacation. Cutting costs on these big-ticket travel items takes a little planning:
Food: Consider stocking your hotel, house rental or bed and breakfast with food and drinks to cut on meal costs. Load up a cooler for the beach, pack a sack lunch before you trek the mountain trail, and enjoy a nice restful dinner in your room on occasion.
Travel: Opt for a road trip to cut summer flight prices from your trip budget. And remember that using public transportation or a car rental can save you money if you consider all the taxis fees and Uber trips you’ll likely take.
Lodging: Research the best lodging options online. A bed and breakfast or home rental could be more cost effective than booking that hotel downtown. Enjoy a little more space and unique amenities that come with a local residence.
And remember, by avoiding peak times – like the weekends – you can be saving across the board.
Cost-Cutting Option: Fayetteville, West Virginia
Fayetteville is a magnet for paddlers, anglers, rock climbers, and other outdoor escapists. On Dec. 27, 2020, neighboring New River Gorge was named the latest national park in America – and one of the few that doesn’t charge an entry fee. A pair of stunning nearby state parks (Babcock and Hawks Nest) are also free to visit.
Thrill-seeking Bridge Walk visitors can clip into a safety cable and stride across the longest single-span steel arch in the Western Hemisphere at the 3,030-foot New River Gorge Bridge. Try world-class whitewater rides on the New and Gauley rivers (check out family-friendly Ace Adventure Resort, where kids raft free) and guided SUP trips with Mountain Surf Paddle Sports, specializing in the area’s most spectacular waterfall-adorned hideouts.
The summer’s biggest events include First “Friday of the Month” (May through October) festivities featuring live music and food vendors. Check into the 14-room, Queen Anne-style Historic Morris Harvey House for a historic hideaway with reasonable rates even during high season.
Participating in loyalty programs pays off when planning a vacation. If you’ve earned Connection Points™ using your American Airlines Federal Credit Union Visa® Platinum Rewards, Starter Rewards and Business Platinum Rewards credit cards throughout the year, redeem them online for travel gift cards and merchandise¹. AAdvantage® miles are also a great way to subsidize costs of flights.
Hotels, car rental service, restaurant chain or entertainment brands frequently offer programs for free. Start earning loyalty perks by simply signing up and earn free nights, upgrades or discounts on your travels by accumulating points.
To plan out your trip itinerary, check out entertainment deals on sites like Groupon or check out Citypass, which operates in more than 15 U.S. cities (and Toronto) and is a great resource to help you access the best activities of what your destination has to offer.
Benefits-Based Option: Philadelphia
America’s birthplace and is an ideal destination for history buffs, sports fans, and comfort food afficionados looking to enjoy a big city at smaller costs. According to Kayak.com, visitors also benefit from some of the most favorable hotel rates and flight fares among top travel destinations.
Home to Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, Betsy Ross House, and so on, Philadelphia’s lineup of seminal sites predate those D.C. memorials, offer low-priced admission (if not free) and can be experienced in record time before running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art like Rocky. Philadelphia’s myriad summer attractions range from cutting-edge science exhibitions at The Franklin Institute to one of the most raucous ballfields and skyline-scenic bleacher seats in the MLB at Citizens Bank Park.
Summer vacations are memorable. You don’t want to travel to your dream destination and then not do the one thing that makes that place special.
Book that boat adventure, sign up for that personal museum tour, or make reservations at that James Beard-rated restaurant overlooking the sea at sunset. Find the one or two things you know will be special and meaningful.
Remember to track spending – you can find areas where you can trim for the remainder of your trip.
Treat Yourself Option: San Luis Obispo, California
Tucked between LA and the Bay Area on California’s Central Coast, San Luis Obispo (aka SLO), is a mellow coastal college town with Poly-priced cafés, music joints, and brewpubs (along happening Higuera Street). You can also enjoy the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market (tapped as one of the finest in the state) Thursday evenings and visit the lovely Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa for casual Cal-historians.
There’s a wealth of largely free, or close to it natural wonders and adventures nearby, including surfing at neighboring Pismo Beach, paddling Morro Bay Estuary, watching magical sunrises at Guadalupe-Nipomo Sand Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, and exploring one of California’s loveliest hiking and mountain biking coastal bluff hideaways at Montaña de Oro State Park. Day-use parking is free and a campsite will set you back $25 per night.
If you’re looking to splurge a little, try the guided wine tour at the Hearst Castle, William Randolph Hearst’s estate-turned-museum situated on 250,000 acres of ranchland. The Grand Rooms Tour is recommended for first-time visitors navigating the majestic institution. A private tour accommodates up to six people for four hours with access to any of the public areas.
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