If Ohio is your vacation destination this year, you have already made an excellent decision for your piggy bank. With its cities, beaches, parks, and a variety of hidden gems, the Buckeye State has a lot to offer travelers, and at prices considerably lower than some other parts of the country. But still, chances are what you want to remember most about your vacation is not the credit card bill that surprised you at the end.
Here are 5 top tips for how to plan an inexpensive vacation in Ohio.
Make a Firm but Reasonable Budget
It’s hard to stick to a budget if you don’t have one. Before you start selecting activities and making reservations, decide what you can afford to spend. Your budget should be firm, so you don’t fall into the trap of saying “Well, we’re only here once” too often, but it should also be reasonable to allow for some spontaneity.
Choose an Inexpensive Destination
Ohio is known for its theme parks, but these can be expensive. Day passes for a family of four at Cedar Point will set you back $170, not counting food, drinks, and incidentals. Luckily, there are plenty of cheaper thrills available. For example, in southeast Ohio’s Hocking Hills region, aka Ohio’s Scenic Wonderland, you can experience a whole week of hiking through state parks, swimming, boating, horseback riding, and much more, for about what it would cost you to visit Cedar Park for a day. If you still need an adrenaline-pumping adventure, there are several world-class zip lines close by.
Stay in a Vacation Rental Cabin
Hotel costs can easily account for a sizeable portion of your budget, especially if you are traveling with the family. But why pay so much for a small room where you won’t spend much time anyway? Vacation cabin rentals can save you money and they are actually nice places to hang out. Hocking Hills cabins offer all of the comforts of home, plus a few you probably only dream about having at home, like a private hot tub.
Save on Food Costs
After hotels, food is one of the top vacation budget destroyers. Even foodies, for whom food is often the whole purpose of a vacation, don’t want to spend the money to eat out three times a day (plus snacks). If you stay in a hotel, look for a rate that includes breakfast or book a suite with kitchen facilities. Even providing your own breakfast every day can add up significantly by the end of the week. Vacation rental cabins provide even more flexibility—they have fully equipped kitchens so you can cook some of your own lunches and dinners. These savings will make the times you dine out even more special.
Live Like a Local
Almost every popular vacation destination has certain shops, restaurants, and attractions that cater specifically to tourists. These places usually have the highest prices, but rarely the best quality. Before you leave for your vacation, do some research about your destination so you can skip the tourist traps and head to where the locals like to go. Your budget will stretch farther and you will get a better sense of your destination.
Your vacation dollars are precious; spend them wisely.
Photo Credit: “Piggy Bank2” by Joyous! [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
