Tips for Planning a Beach Vacation on a Tight Budget

Beach vacations are a lot of fun for the whole family, but many people think they are unaffordable! This does not have to be true, if you keep in mind these money saving tips nearly anyone can afford a great beach vacation

1. Be Flexible With Your Dates
If you can be flexible with your dates, you can get some of the best deals around! This does not mean you have to visit the beach during the off-season, it simply means you may visit during the very beginning or very end of the season. This will give you some of the best rates around, and I always save a lot of money this way! When booking directly through the hotels website, or even on a hotel discount website, just switch around the dates until you find the lowest nightly rate. If you are taking a short beach vacation, take it during the week to save even more money!

2. Plan Early
This is one of the most important steps to planning a beach vacation on a budget. If you do not book your hotels early, you will not get a good deal. Many hotels offer special Internet discount rates if you book directly through the hotel and if you pre-pay for your entire stay in advance. You can save a considerable amount of money this way, but be mindful of the cancellation policy.

3."Oceanfront" VS "Ocean View" Hotel Rooms
If you don't care about a view of the ocean at all, it is almost always cheaper to book an interior room. If you do care, you will probably need to know the difference between the two! Oceanfront hotel rooms usually face the ocean directly, and give you the best views. These hotel rooms are the most expensive. Ocean view could be a room with a side-view, or even only a partial view. These rooms are usually cheaper than Oceanfront, but the views range from decent to bad depending on how obstructed your view is by buildings, greenery, or other obstacles.

3. Only Eat Out Once a Day
The only way to can manage to eat out only once a day is by booking a hotel room with a kitchen or kitchenette. Although these types of rooms are usually more expensive than regular hotel rooms, you will save a ton of money in the long run! A typical family of four could spend $50 on one meal alone