With summer finally coming to an end and colder weather on the horizon, many families are now considering the best places to travel to for a fun winter vacation. However, this can feel impossible after taking years of vacations given that it can seem as if nowhere is new. That’s why learning the top vacation “out-of-the-box” destinations can help. In particular, there are five main destinations around the world that all families should consider traveling to after learning how to properly budget for their trip.
How Much Money Should You Set Aside for a Vacation?
Learning how to budget for a vacation in the modern day starts with looking at how expensive vacations have become in recent years. Generally, vacation spending accounts for around 2% for all U.S. households, which equates to around $4,000 for a two week trip for a single person alone. This means that a family of four should set aside around $6,000-$8,000 once the stable costs are factored in.
Key Budgeting Tips for a Vacation
Considering the large price associated with taking a vacation in the modern day, it’s only natural to want to find ways to budget for your trip so that you don’t need to dip into your savings. Specifically, there are three primary tips which can assist a person with this goal:
Use credit card reward points
For those who use credit cards, consider looking into whether the card you use is a rewards credit card or not. This means that when you make purchases on the card, you will gain cash back or credit card points in return. This cash or these points can often be redeemed directly with hotels or airlines instead of using funds that come from your own pockets. By using this strategy, a person can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on traveling to some popular locations around the world.
Consider staying in alternative accommodations
Rather than staying in a traditional hotel, consider staying in alternative accommodations instead that are cheaper. These accommodations are typically vacation rentals or hostels, with the latter being short-term accommodations that encompass an entire space. This allows residents to feel like more a part of the community they are in. Alternatively, you can consider staying at a hostel as well and renting out an entire room as opposed to splitting your family apart inside the room.
Travel during the tourist off-season
Finally, making the simple decision to travel during the off-season for tourism can save a person thousands of dollars in their budget. As an example, choosing to travel to a location that is traditionally a winter location in the summer, or even fall, will result in lower prices. This is due to the fact that there will be less demand in an area, thus lowering the prices in the area.
5 Unique Vacation Destinations to Keep in Mind
After building out a vacation budget, the next thing a person will need to do is determine where they actually want to travel to. The following five locations are some of the most popular destinations to consider that are “out-of-the-box” in nature:
- Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
One of the lesser known areas around the world is Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which is unfortunate considering everything it has to offer those who travel to the area. From amazing weather due to proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains to astounding food, Pigeon Forge has everything a person could wish for on a vacation. Additionally, there are plenty of native offerings such as the best dinner shows in Hatfield and McCoy: a guide, which outline some of the best dinner and event locations in the area.
- Napa Valley, California
For those who love to enjoy a fine glass of wine, Napa Valley is an absolute must-visit location to consider. Located in Northern California, this region of wine growing country is renowned around the world for the amazing bottles that stem from the region. There are many accommodation options in this location, including hotels on wineries themselves. Beyond wine tasting, visitors to Napa can also enjoy activities such as tours, horseback riding, and more.
- New York City, New York
Naturally, New York City is an absolute must-visit location in the country. It should go without saying that New York City is one of the most traveled to cities around the world and for good reason. Famous sites such as Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge are excellent tourist destinations.
- Disneyworld, Florida
Those who are die-hard Disney fans should consider taking a trip out to Orlando, Florida to visit Disneyworld, the cousin to Disneyland. The latter is actually larger than the former, interestingly enough, and its proximity to famous cities in Florida means a trip to this amusement park can be combined with a general Florida trip.
- Zion National Park, Utah
Lovers of the outdoors should absolutely consider taking a trip to Zion National Park in Utah. Famous hikes such as Angel’s Landing have put this location on the map for national park travelers, but people of all experience-levels in terms of the outdoors can enjoy this amazing landscape. There are many hotels surrounding the national park which allow for easy access to the park itself.
Plan an unforgettable vacation today
Planning a vacation that is fun for the whole family will undoubtedly be difficult but taking the time to figure out the best destinations will help. Focus on thinking outside of the box when planning your trips, rather than going to the same places all tourists travel to. Additionally, don’t neglect taking the time to budget properly for your vacation. The average price of taking a trip has risen drastically in recent years, meaning adequate budgeting is required to ensure that you don’t accidentally fall into debt while on your trip. By taking all of the above advice into account, any family can get a fun and exciting vacation on the calendar.
