(Uepg 2008)BIG FUN FOR LITTLE MONEY Times are toug

(Uepg 2008)

BIG FUN FOR LITTLE MONEY

            Times are tough and money is tight, but it doesn't have to cost a lot for you and your family to have a vacation together! Here are some good tips for you.

 

- Plan ahead

            Planning ahead is the first step in saving for your getaway. A little thought, effort, and elbow grease will be well worth the effort. Asking friends, family, or a church group to travel with you divides costs. You can easily split the price of a large beach rental house or get a good group rate at a campground. An added benefit? Division of labor, leaving more time for FUN.

 

- Surf the Internet first

            Travel deals, discounts and coupons abound online - if you know where to look. "My husband finds things like cheap airline tickets and car rental discounts," says Lisa Brown, mother of one. "We don't go anywhere without a discount coupon of some sort." Starting at any search engine (such as Yahoo! or Google), type "travel deals" or "travel discounts". Hotel discounts, attraction coupons, and Internet-only specials are ready for the taking. Look up your destination and click around. It's well worth the effort if the result is a 20 dollar nightly savings for lodging alone.

 

- Travel off-season

            Kids too young for school, or perhaps school-aged but tracked out? One of best times to hit the beaches is the fall. Warm days, cool nights and warm water temperatures combine for great vacation days. Add off-season rates, and you're taking one terrific vacation.

 

- Lodging options

            Where you rest your weary head after a day of vacation fun can be the most costly aspect of your trip. Look for hotels with advantages, such as free meals or discounts. "Hotels that include real breakfast are great," says Apex, North Carolina mom Robin Freer. "You save money on eating out and best of all, you save time in the morning, giving you more time to enjoy wherever you are going that day.

 

- Bringing home memories

            Ever notice your bags are even more full on the return trip home? It's tough to resist purchasing some souvenirs along the way. But even the best-planned vacation budget can get blown out of the water with one trip to the souvenir shop. Avoid the tourist traps. Sure, you could pull out your wallet right at the attraction you're visiting. Or, you could drive just down the road to the local Wal-Mart or shopping center and purchase similar merchandise for substantially less money. Before you purchase a T-shirt stop and think. Is this something you can live without? And if not, is there a chance you can buy it elsewhere for less?

(Adaptado de http://sheknows.com/about/look/4255.html 8/9/2007)

According to the text which follows "Bringing home memories", mark the correct alternatives.