The second piece of the money obstacle: hotels can be expensive. I have several different websites I check for hotels, if I'm going that route. One site is "hotels tonight". VRBO, HomeAway, and airbnb have private residences to rent from budget to high-flyer rates. You can also sign up for Groupon emails. AAA has discounts on hotels. There is also a website called Travelzoo that has great deals and hotwire is a great option, too.
If you don't mind research, priceline might be the holy grail for inexpensive hotel rates but you will have to delve into the nitty gritty with a site like biddingfortravel.com to make sure you aren't leaving money on the table. Biddingfortravel can be strict with following the protocol of the site, just FYI. It is truly worth the effort if you have the time and energy to become proficient at it. If your goal is to take a vacation, making the effort is necessary.
If you are going for a week, there is a sweet spot for renting timeshares approximately 45 days in advance. Timeshare owners (I'm one myself) reserve them up to two years in advance, then stuff happens in their personal lives and they have to find a way to make some money from them. They have to own them to rent them, so make sure you ask for proof of ownership before pulling the trigger. This is an important point. You can be denied access from a resort if someone is renting something they don't own.
Tug2.net has a section for this called "last minute rentals" where the rule is the total price must be $700/week or less. Maybe you can find a bigger rental and split the cost with another family. Start off-season for the best pricing. The truth is, with any new idea, the concept has to build and gather strength over time. Look under the "bargain basement" section of tug2.net. Many owners give away their timeshares for closing costs. Again, a word of caution that if you buy a timeshare and don't keep up with yearly fees, it negatively affects your credit rating.
How about glamping or camping? Some glamping fees are more than hotels but the idea of glamping is easy to reproduce. For anything requiring time, try to take the "one and done" approach. Take a large container and fill it with unscented candles, an extra set of pretty dishes (bought resale to save money), table clothes, special vacation t-shirts.
If you brainstorm with your family what makes them feel special, it's easy to find creative ways to turn a basic trip into something epic, and we all deserve epic!! Keeping the container together will give two-fold results: you will always know it's there so it will help keep the thought alive, and you can pull it out and use it without having to recreate it over and over again. Kelly Bastone wrote an article for backpacker.com on "America's Best Campsites". This website has a wide scope of great info on taking to the trails.
Ok, what about swapping with friends? We all must have friends outside of our town: three-four nights, having fun, breaking up the routine, creating memories. It doesn't get any better. No matter what your income, it's nice to stay with friends. You could swap with friends home or swap with friends who are staying at your house. There are also house swapping sites online to exchange with strangers.
Again, many people who don't take vacations believe on a deeper level that they aren't worthy or deserving of them. "I'm willing to release the need to believe I don't deserve a vacation." Releasing conflict from every cell of my body. (Deep breath)
Our overall strategy is releasing resistance to new beliefs while taking baby steps toward our goals, to avoid overwhelm. It won't work. Why not? Break it down, list your reasons. It still won't work. Why not? Break it down further.
Attach joy and a sense of accomplishment to each small success, "yay, I sent a mass email to friends asking about house swapping or sharing today!!!" This is a multiple part topic.
Have a great day!
Xo
Conni
Today's Mantra: I am opening myself up to new possibilities to take a vacation I can afford.
Mantra for Every Day: I choose to send love to all; receiving love back multiplied in infinite proportions, creating and nurturing pathways of love.
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