I’m going to let you in on a secret: I almost didn’t write about going to Puerto Rico at all. I don’t want people to think we’re living some kind of luxurious lifestyle, when we really aren’t.
We’re lucky to be able to live comfortably — that fact was only made clearer this past weekend when the blizzard hit and we witnessed it from the centrally heated cocoon of our condo. But this trip to Puerto Rico is the result of a couple of weeks’ worth of research and price hunting. If you’re thinking of escaping the cold, it’s totally possible to have an amazing vacation on a budget. Here’s how we did it:
Don’t fall for the resorts. While it sounds great not to think about what you’re spending on food and drinks while you’re on vacation, the reality is that you’re paying for all of it and then some. It’s almost always a bad deal. We found a great hotel with a pool and four restaurants for about a third of the price of the nearby resorts — and on top of that, we have access to those same resorts because our hotel is a sister property. (What’s that? Cake? And we can eat it too???)
Read lots of reviews. The hotel and resort websites make everything look beautiful, but the reviews will tell you what’s behind it all. The one with the sleek pool may have terrible rooms or dangerous bathrooms. We almost booked one hotel, then read a handful of reviews that said the rooms smelled of mold.
Fly during the week. This is equivalent with buying fashion off season — the fewer people you’re competing with for the prices, the better. Avoid flying out on Fridays and returning on Sundays, when prices are bound to be more expensive because of commuters and weekenders. My favorite comparison tools are Kayak and Bing’s travel function. And in case you’re wondering, Bing didn’t sponsor this post (but thanks anyway, Bing!)
Search outside of packages. Sometimes packages are great deals. Other times, you’ll do a lot better booking the hotel and flight separately. This time, we got a much better deal by booking our flight through Jet Blue directly.
Look for specials. Hotels often have discounts for holidays and special occasions. If you don’t see one on the website, call and ask if they’re running any. We’ve gotten everything from free parking to 20% off to meal credits just by asking what deals the hotels have going on.
(And, yes, I know “expensiver” isn’t a word. But it should be.)
Have any travel tips of your own to share? Let’s hear ‘em!
I love your frugal approach, definitely strikes a cord with me.
I’ve found one of the biggest ways to save money while traveling is to be smart about eating out. For us, that means going to the grocery store & getting things for breakfast/lunch & then going out to eat for dinner. When we took our road trip last summer, I tried to have 2 meals from the grocery store (even if it was PB&J a lot of the time) & one meal eating out. We had a bit more wiggle room to go to a more expensive place. Eating out at pricier places 3 x’s a day for a family of 6 can sure add up quickly! Using the ratio of 2 cheap meals for every pricier/more extravagant one, helped to keep our food expenditures on budget.
Hope you had an amazing time in Puerto Rico!
Great point! We lucked out because the hotel is directly across the street from a grocery store. We didn’t do a lot of grocery shopping there, but it was nice to have the option.
I’ll echo Janae’s comment about going to the grocery store for breakfast and lunch supplies and then saving our food money for dinner out.
Yes! I was just telling James about your photos of hotel room cooking the other day. You’re such a pro, Adina.
I love your opening paragraph – So honest and real. I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t do much of the travel planning for our family. I leave that to the experts in my family, my husband and another family member. I have a horrible, horrible disease of not being able to pull the trigger when it comes to spending money. I am hem and haw, and (as I’m sure you know) you simply can’t hem and haw when planning travel. You must act, especially when that right deal comes along. However, having said all that, I think your excellent tips above would help me feel better equipped and informed to take on the travel planning task.
PS~One tip that I can share (which we use most often, and as Janae and Adina mentioned above), we always try to find accommodations with a kitchen so we can cook in. With kids in tow, this feature is key.
Happy Friday and weekend, Joy!
I have to get to a very sure place in my mind before buying any tickets, but that’s balanced by the fact that I’ve always had the travel bug. Buying plane tickets and booking hotels always makes me a little giddy!
Great tips, Joy! We tend to take road trips and rent condos with kitchens for our family vacations which helps to keep expenses down. Although honestly, part of the reason we tend to travel that way is also because my husband and I do not enjoy airports/airplanes or having to go out to eat for every meal! Hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Puerto Rico… take lots of photos!
I love that you and your family go on vacations locally. It’s so much less stressful that way. I love visiting the other states in New England, especially during the summertime. Also, when we travel to Hawaii we always book a cottage, which means that we can eat at home if we want to. Thanks for sharing that tip, Steph!
I’m adding “expensiver” to my dictionary. Love the tips too! Finding those hotel-specific deals have saved oodles of cash on my family vacations
Please put a ‘subscribe by email’ in your feedburner, I’d love to subscribe to your posts! And please let me know if you do.
Yes to ALMOST not mentioning it. I’m the same – I think that if I mention it, it’ll sound like we are flush and can do whatever we choose. We travel a lot – it’s a priority and we find ways to do it well in a savvy way.
Another restaurant tip – do lunch instead of dinner if it’s somewhere you are really dreaming of going to. I often do this in NYC with expensive restaurants. You’ll get the same quality but it won’t be as crazy expensive.
Do your research – often you can go to museums and galleries for free on certain days. And unless you REALLY want to, avoid things like spas. They usually are overpriced and you could get a massage or treatment anywhere or back home.