 Money-Saving Travel Tips for a Much-Needed Break From the Office Everyone needs a good vacation -- even entrepreneurs. Taking an extended trip provides an opportunity to step away from your daily obligations so that you can relax and de-stress, regain perspective, and reconnect with family members, among many other benefits. However, many people opt out of taking a vacation because they believe that they are too busy or they simply can’t afford it. In fact, in a survey conducted by Bankrate in 2018, 48 percent of respondents said that they weren’t going on a summer vacation, and 60 percent of those respondents named finances as the main reason. Here’s the thing: You can be on a strict budget and still enjoy a fun-filled vacation. From traveling in the off-season to strategizing your dining, here are some great ways to save money while making plans: Save time and stress. For entrepreneurs, one of the hardest parts of getting away from it all is simply making the time to do it. When you’re the top dog, it’s all too easy to spend every waking moment tending to your venture -- developing strategies, marketing ideas, even just putting out fires. But these days, there is no excuse for not leaning on tools and services that make your work life easier, so you can make more of your time off. Take ZenBusiness for example. They offer a wide range of services to small businesses, and can assist you with mundane tasks like gathering your tax information and filing annual reports. Plus, they offer worry free compliance with a 100 percent accuracy guarantee. Look for tools and services like this that ensure your daily affairs are completed in a timely and proper manner, so you have more time and less stress. Save on car rental. No matter where you decide to go on your vacation, chances are you will need to be able to get around once you’re at your destination. When you use a company like Enterprise, you can have a rental car delivered to you at the airport or anywhere else you prefer. And there are several ways to save money on a rental car, such as joining a loyalty program, finding coupons and cashback offers, and using certain credit cards. Be flexible with your flights. When booking your travel, flexibility can help you save a ton of money, especially when it comes to airfare. SmarterTravel notes some sites even have booking features that show you the best prices within a certain window of dates. Be flexible with the weeks you consider. Build airline miles. Another way to save on airfare is to use a credit card that earns you miles. This makes sense if you use credit cards to make purchases anyway. Just think: You could be earning free airline miles each time you buy groceries, pay bills, or make all kinds of other purchases. An added perk of certain rewards credit cards is you don’t have to pay to check in your first bag at the airport. Consider a vacation rental. Hotels are nice, but they’re also expensive. Vacation rentals are nice, and they’re typically less expensive. Not only can you find vacation rentals with better amenities than a hotel for a lower nightly rate, but you will likely have more space and enjoy optimal privacy as well. And if you’re traveling by yourself or with a small group, rent a single room through a home-sharing platform. Take advantage of off-season and shoulder season. Visiting a destination during the off-season is not only a lot cheaper, but it can actually be more refreshing than visiting during peak season. You don’t have to worry about large crowds at restaurants and other attractions, there’s less traffic, and it can be easier to find a place to stay. If you’re looking for a compromise between the two, book a trip during the shoulder season. That way, you can experience better weather and still save some money. Don’t let finances keep you from planning a relaxing vacation. Plan your getaway in a manner that allows you to stretch your time and your dollars. You might be surprised by how much fun you can have without going broke, and you’ll be ready to return to the office refreshed! For motivational speaking, coaching, tips or training, connect with Jennifer Anglin. Image via Pexels
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