Yahoo Finance 5 Tips for Planning a Frugal DIY Tour
Tours can be a perfect way to explore a new area without having to plan much. If money is tight right now, consider designing your tour yourself so you can spend less on a great trip. Here are some tips:
1. Mimic a tour package.
Tours normally map out hot spots that people want to see. If you want to do the touristy activities without spending a great deal of money, look into how much certain activities will cost without having to go the guided route. Even if you pay a little more for one activity because you aren't booking with a big group, you can make up for it in another area of your travel budget.
Of course, you are paying with your time. Plan and plot out a route to take and activities to do along the way. You might even discover some facts about the area as you plan. Jot this down or record your voice on your phone so you can remind everyone you travel with about the information as you pass by or stop. Also, enlist help from others on your trip. Require each person to pick a part of the itinerary and list three interesting facts about the area, landmark, cuisine or anything else that is noteworthy. That's also a great way to get all family members excited about the trip.
2. Make your own tour options.
Many tours will map out different packages that they offer. You can do the same for yourself. You have full control of what you spend when you plan your travel arrangements. If you don't know where to begin, consider starting with how much you plan to spend. Whether you want to get an estimate or completely track the real cost of your vacation before and after, Budgetworksheets.org offers online calculator to do so. Entered amounts can also be stored for registered members.
Present different options to the people you are traveling with to see what best fits your interests and budget. Scheduling things yourself can also allow for flexibility. After taking a fully escorted tour to Italy, I found it hard to keep up with the schedule and realized I was a much more laid-back traveler. I tend to meander a bit.
3. Get nerdy.
If you are traveling with kids, you can even sneak in some educational lessons along the way. Eileen Carter-Campos from MommyTeaches.com suggests reading up on the area you are going to visit together. Carter-Campos also recommends getting a book about the area to read before, during or even after the trip.
4. Give your vacation a theme.
Focus your tour around a theme. Maybe this is the year that you visit as many lighthouses as possible or perhaps you hop in the car and see as many baseball stadiums as you can. Tracie Fobes of PennyPinchinMom.com says to visit those historical markers that you pass by every day on your way to the store, school or anywhere but never seem to get around to visit.
Dorethia Conner, founder of TheMoneyChat.com, explains how she completely focused on the sea during her first trip to Boston with visits to the aquarium and harbor tours. There are coupons for different types of activities at visitor centers and hotels that you can take advantage of, too.
5. Let TV plan your trip.
Many TV shows highlight restaurants and places; just double check that they are still around before you visit. You can also search on YouTube for videos of popular restaurants before leaving town. This way you can visit the same spot as your favorite host. I took this approach in my own state after watching the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." I ordered the same exact item Guy Fieri did on the show. It was one less decision I had to make and I got a free recommendation from a food show host.
As I mentioned before, if you are looking to save on your travel plans, know your budget and start plotting out where you'd like to go. This way, you can coordinate some details in advance and others in the moment. While designing your own tour may take more time, you can piggyback off of the expertise of others for less.
Karen Cordaway is a teacher and writer who currently shares money saving tips on her website, MoneySavingEnthusiast.com.
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