HOW TO PLAN A VACATION ON A BUDGET

November 8, 2021

Everyone loves a vacation. It’s why many workers check their calendars often to find out the next public holiday because sometimes, just staying back at home instead of going to work is all the vacation you need. But, for many others, taking a vacation means travelling to somewhere exotic. It could be a honeymoon, a family vacation, a trip with friends, or a personal trip to unwind. It’s easy to see why we all love vacations, apart from the obvious relaxation, taking a break off work can have a positive effect on your physical and mental health.

Studies show that people are 30% more likely to have a heart attack if they go for five (5) years without taking a vacation. Vacations can also have a positive effect on romantic relationships. Research also shows that 52% of people improve their connection with their loved ones during a vacation. With all the positive benefits that come with taking a vacation, what’s not to love about them? Well, for some people, it is the cost.

We would all like to relax at the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa but finding out it could cost as much as $24,000 or more a night could put a dent in our plans. However, just because you can’t afford to vacation at the Burj Khalifa does not mean you can’t go on a vacation within your budget and still have fun. Here’s how you to plan a vacation on a budget.

1. Set the Budget
You can’t plan a vacation on a budget without actually setting the budget. Your budget will set the path for the rest of your trip. Without a planned budget, you could overspend.

When setting your budget, there are some questions you need to ask yourself:

– How much can I afford for a vacation?

– How many people will go on this trip?– Am I travelling out of the state, the country or going local?

– How will I get there? By road? By air? By boat?

– Am I driving myself, how much fuel will I need for the trip?

– Will I be lodging in a hotel or short-let? How much will it cost? Do I have family/friends to stay with when I get there?

– What tourist’s attractions will I visit? Do they require entry fees?

These are the factors you need to consider when setting your budget. Don’t forget to add 30% of your total budget to your plan to for emergencies and other unplanned expenses.

2. Pick a Location
When you think of vacation destinations, some popular locations like Dubai, France, Bora Bora, United States, and many others come to mind. These places have attractive tourist attractions which makes the top vacation destinations.

With the huge demand for these locations, the cost of going on a vacation is also high. So, when planning a vacation on a budget, you might want to look at less popular destinations. It does not mean you will miss out on all the benefits of going on a vacation. You can still have an amazing vacation at places like Mexico, Canada, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and many other countries.

3. Pick a Time
There are some months that are almost synonymous with taking vacations. For instance, many people take their holidays in December to celebrate Christmas or in July to kick off the summer holiday. These seasons are called “peak season” because of how busy they are. With the anticipation of high demands, ticket fares, accommodation prices, cost of feeding, and other expenses are usually high during this period.

When planning a vacation on a budget, you might want to book your trip during the “off-season.” The off-season is usually when the weather is not so favourable and some tourist attractions are unavailable. However, the off-season still has its advantages, during this period, airfare, hotel prices, and other expenses are usually at their lowest.

Peak seasons and off-seasons can also be applied to days of the week. For example, ticket and hotel fares are usually higher during the weekends but if you take your vacation during the week, you might get a better deal.

4. Save Ahead
Some people can afford to wake up one day and go on a vacation. But for the rest of us, we just have to save ahead for our vacation. Luckily for you, after setting your budget and having a target in mind, you can save your money monthly in a UBA Target Account to meet your vacation budget.

You can also save ₦5,000 monthly in your UBA Bumper Account and stand a chance to win the grand prize of ₦2,000,000. which can cover your vacation expenses. If you don’t have a UBA Bumper Account, dial *919*20# to open one instantly or *919*20*1# to migrate your existing savings account.

5. Take Advantage of Discounts and Promotions
If your travel destination offers discounts for groups of three or more and you have two other friends travelling to the same place, you might want to cut costs by travelling with your friends.

You can also search for deals on airfares, hotel accommodations, group bookings and other attractions. Don’t forget to verify deals to make sure they are from sources with great reputation.

If you want to travel during the holidays, many travel organizations offer deals and discounts around that period so you might want to keep up with them so you’re the first to catch their deals.