Lather up: This writer has a ziptop bag full of fancy shampoos, conditioners, body soaps and countless other bath items for which I paid nothing. I haven't bought fancy shampoo in more than a year--since my last vacation.
Take a similar tack on your trip. The shampoos are there for a reason--for you to use. This means you can skip the mess of pouring bath products from your large home bottles into smaller, airline-safe containers and save a little money, too.
Go by land: Consider a traditional road trip. Airfare adds up quickly for four or five. A trip from Pennsylvania to the Atlantic beaches in Florida is about 1,000 miles. It costs about $200 round trip for the gasoline. That pales in comparison to the airfare and rental car fees you'll pay to get there by jet.
Taking a road trip also makes the travel part of the vacation. It's easy to stop and see attractions or natural wonders that you'd miss by flying, and the possibilities of learning more about different parts of the country are endless.
Rough it a little: Does the price of travel, lodging and food have you scared to leave home no matter how much savings can be had? Consider a week-long camping trip. Most camping sites at state and national parks range from $20 to $50 per night for multiple tents. (Compare that to two hotel rooms at $150 per night!) Some national parks out West don't charge for primitive camping (without running water or electricity).
Camping means travelers save on lodging, restaurant costs and even entertainment. Hiking and building a campfire costs just a few dimes, and nature is always free to enjoy. The photos and memories you take from the trip will be worth more than any $10 souvenir from an amusement park.
Keep it local: Eschew the cross-country trip for one closer to home. There's a good chance you haven't visited the majority of interesting sites and experiences in your own state. While "tank of gas" trips were all the rage when fuel cost more than $4 per gallon, investing in two tanks right now can get you far enough away from home to take in new sights and sounds. There are so many different sites to discover and explore in this country that one need not go the traditional route to sit on a beach or stand in line at a theme park.
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