Discounts: Hannon celebrates her seniority by enjoying all of the discounts it brings her way. A major source of these discounts is her AARP membership. That’s right, folks. Retirement discounts aren’t just for Denny’s anymore. Hannon leverages the senior savings allowed with her AARP card to receive reduced pricing on everything from trains, hotels and even hostels. Another area of vacation savings this journey woman leverages heavily is the flexibility that comes with no longer having to work for a boss. She gets more bang for her buck by selecting off-peak travel vacations and flying on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when fares are generally lower.

Fitness: Pounding the pavement for the perfect travel photography opportunity might be frugal, but it’s still hard work for any traveler. Hannon gets ready for adventure in advance by increasing her daily walking schedule for several few weeks before she departs. That way, she knows she’ll be ready for all of the extra sightseeing on her travel itinerary. When traveling to Asia however, she recommends throwing in some extra thigh muscle exercises stating, “You’ll need them for all of the squat toilets you’ll encounter.” Concerned about lifting that luggage? Packing light is Hannon’s solution. “I travel to observe rather than to be observed. That means packing a very small, simple wardrobe in neutral colors.” She also favors using a small suitcase on wheels over lugging a huge backpack.

Activities: Rather than using her vacation dollars to stay at expensive resorts only to lounge by the pool and eat huge meals every night, this traveling granny enjoys putting her talents to use helping others. Many areas of need are in countries where travel costs are quite cheap, enabling you to stay a bit longer. Says Evelyn, “An older adult who has practiced medicine, nursing or engineering all of their working life can bring those precious skills to a volunteer organization like Cross Cultural Solutions or Habitat for Humanity in developing countries around the world.” When asked why she doesn’t choose vacations her peers would consider more age appropriate, Hannon responds, “In travel, age is just a number and not important unless you are cheese.” Well said, Evelyn. Well said.

Photo Courtesy of JourneyWoman.com.

But pet travel isn’t the only reason hotel room meals might be a necessity. A hectic business schedule, attempting vegan travel, a hectic business schedule and traveling with food allergies can all contribute to the need for in-room dining. When travel circumstances result in the need for hotel room meals, here’s how you can make the most of it.

Water:

There are several ways to use tap water while traveling, including breakfast cocktails, powdered protein drink mixing and even getting your laundry done on the fly. Add a little heat however, and this free travel essential can really go the distance. By creatively using hot water on vacation, you can whip up a sore throat treatment during a ski getaway, an easy dinner side in the microwave and create a hearty instant breakfast. Another great helpful water resource for travelers is the ice machine. Not only is it perfect for chilling that in-room bottle of champagne, you can also use it to create iced tea when temperatures are too balmy to enjoy hot beverages.

Fridge:

If you’re going to be somewhere for a few days, consider stocking your hotel fridge with a few flexible supplies. Frozen veggies work well enough for simple side dishes, crudités and dipping sauces are great for snacking and sandwich supplies are always a good idea when you need something to eat without too much effort. It’s also nice to have some healthier beverages like tomato juice, coconut water and almond milk available to avoid giving in to the soda selection from the vending machine.

Microwave:

There are a fair number of hotel room meals you can prepare in the microwave oven. From easy ramen recipes to saffron rice with veggie burgers and steamed veggies, there are plenty of things you can prepare that will be much healthier than anything you’ll find at the fast food drive through line. Boxed pureed soups from the grocery store make a stylish sip-and-save lunch to go when microwaved and transferred to a travel mug. Oatmeal with water and frozen berries can become a steamy, healthy breakfast in minutes. With careful grocery shopping, you should easily be able to come up with enough variety to get you through a few days.

Coffee Maker:

Even if you’re short a microwave, you can still prepare a few hotel room meals in your coffee maker. There’s always the ramen plan of course, but also oatmeal and even a slow-cooked, soft-boiled egg if you can be patient. I also like to make large batches of tea to enjoy with ice throughout the day.

Freebies:

There are number of freebies provided by hotels that you can use to make the most of your travel meal plan. First of all, the breakfast buffets are typically too large to take full advantage of if you need to get up early in the morning. Common items are oatmeal envelopes, whole-grain bagels with individual containers of peanut butter, whole fruit, yogurt containers and flavored tea packets. Boiled eggs also make frequent appearances. All of these can be enjoyed later in your room. For people like me who don’t like huge meals early in the day, it’s easier to eat closer to lunch.

Shopping:

While it’s true there are certain things you can only shop for once you reach your destination, there a few items you can strategically purchase ahead of schedule. With limited packing space, I recommend leaning towards flat pack foods that come in envelopes. (See also: 7 Easy Lunch Ideas for Work) Gourmet tea bags, precooked packets of sandwich salmon, Tasty Bite envelopes of Indian food and packets of miso soup are all things you can easily tuck into an extra pocket of your messenger bag or carry-on luggage.

Preparedness:

Veteran travelers know that hurricane preparedness isn’t the only kind you need to worry about. The more crowded your agenda, the more important it is to have your ducks in a row. Save money and stress by shipping protein bars, peanut-free snacks and other shelf-stable items directly to your hotel. This is particularly helpful for those with food sensitivities, busy schedules or under calorie restriction. If you know what grocery stores are nearby, decide ahead of time what items you might like to pick up. For stores that are nationwide such as Sam’s Club or Costco, my husband and I have favorite food items we know to pick up, such as hummus, chopped vegetables and simple salad supplies.

Gear:

This is more apt to work well on car trips. Granted when I’m on vacation, I’m more apt to enjoy a meal out. But when I have a business agenda or am traveling for family or medical events, it’s easier for me to manage my time and calorie intake if I have most of what I need in my hotel room. Since walking in with grocery bags can feel a bit awkward, I tend to prefer rolling insulated bags or even an additional piece of rolling luggage. Other helpful gear items we favor include a multipurpose tool, a sandwich press, corkscrew and a can opener. We also carry our own zero waste lunch kits which include things like a bandana napkin, travel flatware and collapsible bowls.

Hotel room meals may not be fancy, but they are achievable. They are also a money-saving strategy that allow you to channel extra monies and energies into business objectives, medical procedures and even vacation attractions. What are some of your favorite hotel room meals?

Photo Credit: Theme Park Mom

Whether your road trip takes you through Slovenia, Daytona Beach or Interstate 10 in the southern United States, checking with the local convention and visitor’s bureau is a short cut to fun and savings.

Free Stuff:

While sundries charge for informational resources, the convention and visitor’s bureau for your destination hands out no-cost maps and informational brochures that can often surpass what you might find in guide books. While you certainly want to have a good guide book in your travel arsenal, these extra maps and cultural performance resources are also worth their weight in gold, particularly for those interested in adding to their travel photography repertoire. Bonus? The convention and visitor’s bureau is also the best place to check for free admission days at venues throughout your vacation area.

Inside Tips:

The people that work at the convention and visitor’s bureau are locals. Locals whose job it is to know about all of the best places to visit and what current festivals and bargains are available for your participation. Looking for the best rooftop restaurant view? They’re the folks to talk to. Need a pet friendly place to rest your head? Ditto. This inside knowledge is particularly helpful when visiting overwhelming cities such as Venice, New York or even taking a trip to see the London Olympics.

Network:

By contacting the convention and visitor’s bureau before you arrive, you’ll be better prepared to plan your itinerary. Some destinations, Boston and Park City, Utah for example, offer coupon books and discount passes specifically for area visitors. Remember, it’s their job to promote tourism to the area so if you have a need or a question, it’s their job and pleasure to help you out. Job security, so to speak.

Festivals:

For annual food festivals and cultural events taking place at your selected vacation location, the convention and visitor’s bureau folks are definitely in the know. They typically have the most detailed schedule of events and can point you in the proper direction for conveniently-located hotels, transportation, parking and that extra special restaurant. So if you’re visiting Munich for Oktoberfest or Jerusalem during Holy Week for example, these are the people you want to stop by and see.

Have you used a convention and visitor’s bureau creatively to assist with your travel adventures? What are you top tips for saving money and gaining inside knowledge of an area?

Pitch a tent.

If you’re looking to visit someplace warm, then camping just might make your short list of top spring break ideas. It’s a great way to reduce your accommodation costs and keep things low key. Certain chains offer discounts for those with membership cards. One example is the national KOA campground franchise. Their just-outside-of-Washington, D.C. location boasts complimentary water and electricity as well as no-cost Wi-Fi at each campsite. Cabins are also available for those who like to limit how much they “rough it”.

The venue also offers shuttle service to a nearby commuter railway which that drops you off in front of the Smithsonian, which is free to visit. Hot showers, a maintained swimming pool and pizza delivery are all available at this location, which also plans family-friendly activities for those who are spring breaking with a school-age crowd. For those who want a little more nature, there’s also the option of camping at Shenandoah National Park.

Local is lovely.

If you already reside in a sought-after area, then reign in the budget by exploring spring break ideas that embrace local activities and attractions. Here in the Tampa Bay area for example, we have the beach at Fort DeSoto. It’s free to access and has been repeatedly voted one of the top 20 beaches in the United States. We also have the Lowry Park Zoo, multiple museums, several Tampa Bay walking tours and of course historic Ybor City for the club crowd.

Rentals rock.

If you’ve never explored the world of vacation rentals, then you are missing out on the mother of all money-saving spring break ideas. Whether you utilize this strategy for ski vacations in Breckenridge, or to maximize budget beach travel in places like Bermuda or the Bahamas, rental properties allow you pair up with friends on the overall tab and save further travel funds through in-house kitchen meal preparations.

Discounts save more than dimes.

Whether you are utilizing coupon books from the local convention and visitor’s bureau, considering a Groupon getaway or using Discover Card travel rewards for cruise deals and passes to local theme parks, vacation deals are worth scouting out. If you are traveling abroad, there are other international credit card use issues too. Be sure you do your research in order to save the most money possible.

Do you have any favorite spring break ideas you’d like to share? What are your favorite places to enjoy spring break or vacation travel in general?

Get it to go.

If you’re really limited with what you can find and would still like to pull off a picnic lunch as a way to enjoy one of the world’s great piazzas or national parks, don’t underestimate the power of takeout. It might not be as inexpensive as cooking at home from scratch, but it will still be cheaper than a restaurant meal. My husband and I have purchased Subway sandwiches to go in order to make the most of pet-friendly rest areas further down the highway, and grabbed deli takeout while blogging at an outdoor public Wi Fi area during a temporary displacement after a flood. The point is, it doesn’t always have to be an elaborate picnic to be successful.

Incorporate a grill.

Whether you are cooking from a teardrop trailer or whipping up hot, fresh picnic food from the tailgate of your truck, barbecuing at least part of your picnic definitely takes it to the next level. This makes grilling gifts a great idea for the fellow travelers in your life or as a family gift for yourselves if you are the type of couple to take frequent road trips. Need some ideas? Shrimp kabobs, skewered mushrooms and even hot dog buffets can all be accomplished affordably by bringing along a small cooler. If you don’t want to lug a grill, you can always reserve a picnic pavilion at your favorite state park or public beach. This keeps family reunions fuss free and makes for extremely affordable beach travel.

Choose a lovely location.

In order for you to feel like you are having a more phenomenal experience while still choosing a frugal meal option, it helps if the location is spectacular. For example, on our last day in Petra, we wanted to simply enjoy the scenery and reflect upon our time there. Since there are no restaurants within the massive archaeological site, a picnic was the only solution. We packed wine, dates, pita bread, fruit and eggplant dip inside our backpacks and hiked up to a great lookout point where we spent the entire afternoon. Similarly, we lounged on the grass and enjoyed a leisurely lunch on world-famous piazza in Pisa when we lived in Italy. The buildings are exquisite and people travel from all over the world to see this multi-building attraction made famous by the leaning tower. It only makes sense to spend some time enjoying the view if you can. Other fun picnic spots around the world include beach-side Tel Aviv, the Washington Mall and Shenandoah National Park.

Be flexible with your ingredients and menu plan.

If you’re in Hindu India, chances are finding a rotisserie chicken might be difficult. Go with what’s available. If you’ve just gotten off the train in Paris, a baguette or a slice of quiche with individually-bottled wine are likely two of your best picnic lunch ideas. Find yourself in Florence? A panini with a cappuccino and biscotti go might be a better bet. Then again, there’s always the wine, cheese, fruit and bread plan.

BYO picnic gear.

If you spend any amount of time on the road as a budget traveler, you’ll come to realize that having a few critical pieces of gear is a good idea. Corkscrews, Leatherman tools, travel silverware and collapsible bowls along with a bandana to serve as both napkin and miniature picnic cloth are part of my personal repertoire. So are reusable chopsticks and a stainless steel water bottle.

Regardless of where you are in the world, it’s possible to pull off a penny-pinching picnic lunch with style. What are your favorite picnic lunch ideas? Do you pack your own from home or pick up supplies from the road?

Photo Credit: Neils Photography

From a planning perspective, food and shelter will likely be the most expensive pieces of the trip. Worry not, Cape Town is rife with choices.  While there are luxury resorts in Cape Town, there are also several hostels well situated throughout the city that can run as low as $20 a night. Thus two nights will only set you back about $40, leaving you with plenty for food and sights.

In terms of restaurants, food and drink in Cape Town is an eclectic mix and you can be as daring as you like.  You can try springbok (think antelope), ostrich, or even some crocodile. Check out the Neighbour Goods Market, held Saturdays from 9-2. This market is host to over 100 traders of food, wine, and local produce. Take advantage of the samples, which give you the chance to try wines, cheeses and other delicious local morsels. South Africa is pretty well regarded in terms of wine and many vineyards close to the city offer free tastings for those so inclined.

Don’t forget to take advantage of discounts and deals at restaurants, many of which can be found online, especially in the winter when tourism hits a lull.  There is so much to see in Cape Town, and many things can be experienced for no cost. Upon arrival, one of the first things you’ll notice is Table Mountain- it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city making it hard to miss. Gorgeous views of Cape Town and ocean abound from the upper reaches of Table Mountain.  Plus, it’s easily accessible; you can strap on your sneakers, the no cost alternative, or ride up via cable car.

Another worthwhile and beautiful outdoor adventure is the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.  If you head to Cape Town during the right season, you can catch one of the Sunday night concerts at the gardens. Make sure you bring your picnic basket. Admission is approximately $5 with discounts for students and children.

The Victoria and Albert Waterfront, aka the V&A, is also a hot spot to see.  At the foot of Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront is in Cape Town’s working harbor and lined with shops, entertainment options, and plenty of restaurants. It’s worth the stroll if only for the people watching.

Located at the V&A is the Shimansky diamond and jewelry workshop, which offers free tours of its facilities.  Whatiftheworld Gallery is also part of the free club. The Gallery showcases work from contemporary artists at its Argyle Street location and is a pleasant way to spend a few hours when you need a break from the great outdoors.

If you are traveling with kids, make your way to Boulders Beach in Simonstown. African penguins have set up camp here and prove to be a favorite of the younger crowd who spy on the birds from the safety of the rocks.  All in all a trip to Cape Town offers up a little something for every traveler, whether you want to climb mountains or museum hop. The best part is, it can all be done within a reasonable budget.

M.E. Reidy is a freelance travel writer for My Destination.

Special Ops Catalogs

I covered this somewhat in my travel bag solutions post for Wise Bread a while back. People who make their livings on S.W.A.T. teams, special operations missions or with law enforcement careers need gear that hustles, stands up to abuse and holds a variety of items in an easy-to-grab-and-use manner. They also don’t tend to make a great deal of cash, unless they go into the private sector. And they typically have to buy their own gear. This makes tactical gear catalogs and web sites a great source for luggage and peripheral items you need to use for travel, particularly if you are mobile media professional who needs to do photo shoots and interviews from the road.

Hardware Stores

There are a number of travel items you can buy at the hardware store. Some of my favorites include colored key tag labels (five for a buck) that I use for luggage ID, universal sink stoppers that pack flat in my bag for on-the-fly laundry around the globe and door wedges to provide extra security in third-world hotel rooms.

Dance Catalogs

I picked up this little bit of inside knowledge from veteran travel writer Gretchen Kelly. Once, when we were both on assignment in a remote mountain location, I complimented her on her travel pants, which were a wrinkle-free, easily-packed black jersey. She’d paired them with numerous items during the trip, including a white top and black cardigan to form an outfit that would have been just as appropriate for spending the afternoon in a European café. I’d been looking for such a pair, but hadn’t wanted to dish out the 100 plus bucks for the ones I’d seen featured by various travel clothing companies.

That’s when she let me in on her secret. They were dance pants, and cost less than $50! I was immediately intrigued. Like special operations professionals, dancers tend to be the type of people who are willing to work for less money in order to do what they love. And like those same spec ops pros, they tend to dish out for their own supplies. Other packable purchases I’ve noticed in this career field are tanks with built-in bras, sweater dresses and a variety of clothing items suitable for on-the-road fitness, adventure travel and yoga.

Discount Chains

I’m not sure why more people don’t target the bargain shopping retailers such as Marshalls, Ross and TJ Maxx when gearing up for a trip or restocking travel supplies. Most of these stores have at least a small travel department, as well as other categories of inventory that can serve a business traveler well. I’ve seen career totes for women at all three chains, as well as luggage, neck wallets and even wraps and scarves that I was able to put to use for a business trip to Saudi Arabia.

Dollar Stores

Other than the twenty-cent luggage tags, travel shopping doesn’t get much cheaper than this. Buying travel supplies at Dollar Tree enables me to pick up extremely inexpensive versions items that need to replaced frequently. Umbrellas and rain ponchos are two of my faves, but there are numerous other travel products I always purchase there for their ultra affordability.

Beauty Supply Stores

There are several travel supplies at Sally’s Beauty that make my short list. They’re affordable, and have a variety of locations where I can purchase what I need for hair care, cosmetic replacements, nail care and more. That being said, there are beauty supply stores around the world, and most of them have a few simple items you can always count on such as emery boards, bobby pins and even curlers if you have to squeeze in a formal event or two while traveling.

Pharmacies

Antacids aren’t the only travel supplies you can buy at the pharmacy. Travel-sized bottles for security check points, emery boards and smaller pharmaceutical containers for things like aspirin have all made my pharmacy shopping list at one time or another. I’ve also used cheap lip liners as blush and lip color while backpacking, and picked up a box or two of semi-permanent color to touch up my roots on the road.

Amazon

If you’ve got an Amazon Prime membership, you can use Amazon to ship to anywhere you might be in the United States. So if you’ve just ripped a hole in your favorite leggings, or dropped your Nikon out of the river raft, free shipping is just a click away. We also use this when we find comparable prices to other stores we use and simply don’t want to drive the 45 minutes it would take to reach them.

While there are plenty of items I prefer to purchase through traditional travel gear suppliers, I certainly want to save a buck where I can. These sources enable me to do that.

Photo Credit: 05com

I had never heard of this restaurant ’til a recent visit to Phoenix.  I had been hearing from a friend about an amazing salmon dish included on their menu.  He couldn’t use enough positive words to describe it. So, when I was in Phoenix, we included dinner at Charleston’s, and being a big fan of salmon, there was no question about what I’d be ordering…

The menu varies a bit based on location and availability of ingredients. Happily, the aforementioned salmon, listed as Short Smoked Salmon under Specialties, is on the menu at every restaurant! The flavor was indeed unbelievable; portion size perfect, and it was perfectly prepared. I’m not usually a very slow diner, but the flavor of this meal just demanded savoring each bite and making it last. The fish came nested on a wonderful cucumber dill salad and included Honey Dijon sauce and a side. When salad is served before the meal — Caesar or House — it includes a hot, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth croissant.

Prices are reasonable (mid-range); ambience comfortable; service exceptional. All in all, a pretty memorable dining experience.

There are only 15 locations (so far) in 5 states. Having been founded in Oklahoma, that state has the most locations at 8. Still, if you find yourself in Arizona, Indiana, Nebraska or Forth Worth, Texas, consider Charleston’s for dinner.

Photo credit: Virtual Ern

I grew up in Ohio, which has a surprising number of summer amusements. My favorite, of course, was and is Cedar Point, home to some of the finest roller coasters in the world!

As with most amusements, proximity is the best solution to money saving.  There are options available that include or exclude parking, for seniors/juniors, for unlimited or limited visits. The Platinum pass for ‘local’ visitors is an amazing option for families and includes attractions in 6 states and 1 province!

For not-so-local visitors, though, there are also on-line admission deals and discounts available  on Cedar Point’s website, available ONLY on-line and not at the gate. Many are time sensitive, so if you know Cedar Point is on your summer list, act now! One particularly cool offer is a combined Cedar Point/Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame ticket for $54 per person (over 4′ tall)!  That’s a savings of $13 at least for the two attractions.

Photo credit: ewige

This annual event is the major fundraiser for the Scribner’s Mill Preservation group.  They pull out all the stops and it is a great historical event.  The Back to the Past celebration is always the first weekend in August.  The efforts of dozens of volunteers and exhibitors help make this a great experience for the whole family.

There are people demonstrating and selling hand crafted items — e.g., spinners and knitters, a tatter, weavers, and a beader. There is a pig roast. There is music. There are diversions for children. There are antique vehicles like a fire truck that periodically shows how water was taken from the nearby stream to put out a fire. There is the mill itself, an amazing feat of restoration. There is a working blacksmith’s shop. There is the house, which is itself being put back to how it looked in it’s hey day.

It is a marvelous way to spend a day. It helps with the mill restoration and is a great step into Maine history.

Photo credit: Sharife