With a long weekend just around the corner it’s impossible not to start fantasizing about that gorgeous getaway. You’ve been slogging it out at the office since Christmas, saving up those dimes, why not splurge a little and escape?
The trouble is ensuring that you don’t blow the whole bank account in just four days. So if you’re sitting at your desk unable to keep your head to the books, why not start planning smart? Write a budget and use our top tips for a weekend to remember without the price tag.
By Michelle Balogh, Money Maven.
Add a little mystery to the mix – Accommodation websites such as Wotif and Last Minute reserve their absolute cheapest rates for those travellers who aren’t afraid to take a gamble. With the guarantee of a 5 star hotel – but no knowledge of which hotel you’ll be getting until after your booking is in place – you’ll lie in luxury for a fraction of the price. There’s nothing as exciting (or romantic!) as a little suspense.
Go Glamping – Glammed-up camping has been the chicest of holiday trends over the last few years and has seen the opening of boutique ‘Glamp-Sites’ all over the country. But if you’d really like to save those extra dollars try DIY glamping. Leave the glamping establishments be and pack your own dream camping experience. Whether it’s bubbly under the stars, snuggling in a pile of pillows or at-home manicures with your girlfriends, hire a campervan or a tent and choose your own adventure. Remember, you’re not a backpacker! If it fits in the car, take it! Beanbags, slippers, dressing gowns and eskies full of fine fare – Leave no stone unturned when it comes to cosy-ing up in comfort.
Envision your dream holiday and find the next best thing – So you want to go to the idyllic Whitsundays? Why not try NSW’s Jervis Bay instead? With the whitest sands in the world (even the Guinness Book of Records says so!) Jervis Bay is the coastal paradise you’ve been dreaming of without the prices that come with being an international tourist attraction. If it’s wine tasting in the Hunter or Barossa Valleys that you’re after, why not try a small town like Berry, which is surrounded by accessible albeit less known vineyards.
Getaway without the getting away – Stay in your own city. It might sound dull, but if you play your cards right it can be every bit as fabulous as flying out of town. Use the money that you’ve saved on travel to splurge on that lavish hotel that’s always been just out of your price range. Play tourist – you’ll see your home town with fresh eyes! Notice the beauty of the ocean or explore the hidden secrets of an art gallery that you only ever walk by on your way to work. You won’t believe what you’ve been missing!
Swap around – If you’ve got a friend in another city, trade houses for the weekend. It might sound a little unusual, but why not? You’ll both be getting an exciting holiday with absolutely no accommodation fee and you’ll have the unique chance to step out of your own world and try on someone else’s for a change. When else will you have the chance to escape from your own life so fully?
With a week to go until Easter comes around, have a think about how you’ll get festive without the financial woe. Don’t deprive yourself of that well-earned getaway – take on our tips, get creative and the weekend’s your oyster.