Ever find yourself blowing through all your money within the first couple of days you’re on vacation? The old adage “pack half the stuff you think you need and bring twice the amount of money” certainly seems to hold true. I found myself balking at some of the prices on my recent vacation, “how much for dinner?!?” I figured I wasn’t alone in my failing to keep within the limits of my own vacation budget that I had set for myself and wanted to share with you 8 ways to help your money go further on your next vacation.

1. Trip Advisor should be your new best friend. I used it a lot on my last trip (Belize) and wished that I had used it more. The reviews are honest and helpful. They are written by travelers just like you. Pictures can be deceiving on websites. Trip Advisor can help you pick a: restaurant, hotel or activity that will really be worth your while.
2. Be careful with souvenirs. Never buy them at the first shop you see, definitely shop around. You’ll not only be able to compare prices but also compare souvenirs and decide on the one that you actually want and will be the most happy with.
3. Ask a local; with a grain of salt. I typically enjoy going where the locals go, it’s cheaper and often much more fun. Locals know the area better and know which the real places to hit up are, but sometimes that have incentives to mislead you. Perhaps the local’s aunt owns a decent restaurant or the local’s boyfriend is an aspiring artist. Tourists areas are often made up of a tight knit group of locals and as such, they watch out for each other.
4. Ask a fellow traveler and get some real advice. Another traveler doesn’t have incentives to direct you to any place but the best that they know. They’ll often have just been to the restaurant you were thinking of going for dinner, or had been snorkeling with that group.
5. Don’t make rash decisions. Besides, you’re on vacation anyways; there is no need to rush. “I can sign you up for this excursion right away” or “this dinner special is only here tonight”. Tourist traps bank on the fact that you don’t have a lot of information, otherwise you might not pick them. I typically like to scope an area out a bit, ask around, compare prices and then make my decision.
6. Know when to tip well, as a little extra in the right situation will go a long way. In addition to tipping people that truly did a good job (they certainly didn’t have to), tip people you’re likely to interact with again, like the hotel maid, or the bartender at the bar you frequent.
7. Be aware that tourist traps do exist. Scam artists preying on tourists do well because as tourists, we’re in an unfamiliar environment and we’re on vacation so our guards are down a bit. Before you know it, you might have overpaid for a meal or drink or have gotten hustled on a souvenir by some kid that had a cute and convincing story. Just being aware can go a long way in helping you be in a better mindset to look out for the traps.
8. Don’t be afraid to be creative in saving money. In finding food prices at the last resort high, I found a local grocery store and bought cereal and milk, saving myself a couple of dollars on breakfast each morning. I met a couple that said they tried to only eat out for dinner each day. Instead of taking a cab into the local town, the resort offered free bikes, so I took advantage of those.

Vacations are inherently a time when we are supposed to cut back and let loose. We’ve worked hard all year and deserve a vacation. Although true, I still budget on vacation. I’ve found that by being smart with my money, I can actually afford to take longer vacations, stay at nicer resorts and go on more excursions. I’m able to get more vacation out of my vacation!

Hope you enjoyed my article! Here are some others you might consider reading:

6 ways to improve your finances, NOW!

How does the stock market work?

A penny saved is a penny earned

Don’t forget to share the article on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! @youngmonfinance