How to do a low cost vacation Part 2

We love to travel but we live on a budget.  We have traveled to some wonderful places and made some great memories. And we didn't break the bank doing it. Here are some of our tips and tricks for a low cost vacation. Part 1 is here. 

* Cook. We always try to cook some of our meals when we go away. When we stay with family or friends this is never a problem. One of the great things about time shares and Airbnbs is that they have kitchens. Most hotels have rooms with a kitchen too. It may cost a little more up front but it is worth it. Dinner for 4 people at a decent restaurant is easily $60 a night. The room never costs that much more. If we can't get a kitchen, I bring my crock pot. I have never had a problem doing that. I just have to plan ahead. We also always try to stay at a hotel that offers some type of breakfast included. It all adds up. Worst comes to worst I bring easy foods with us in a cooler. PB&J, hard boiled eggs, tuna, cold cut sandwiches, cereal and bagels are quick and easy. If we are driving to our destination, I try to bring food from home. I have a large pantry and I can get items cheaper on sale then away at full price. I also bring some easy, frozen items. I can make meatballs, burgers, marinate chicken or prep a crock pot meal at home. Then I don't have to spend so much time doing it while we are on vacation. 

* Skip the restaurant. Get a cheap dinner and bring it back to your room.  Pizza is easy to have in a hotel room. Order Chinese. Go to the local supermarket and get a cooked chicken meal. The 4 of us can get a chicken with sides and we always have leftovers. Don't forget to get donuts or ice cream for dessert, You are on vacation.

* Eat out at lunch. Most restaurants cost more to eat out at dinner. There food is just as good at lunch. You get a really nice meal but for a half the cost.

* If you are going out for dinner, skip the appetizers and desserts. Get water to drink. Look at the specials menu or go for the early bird special. Look the restaurant up online. There are so many coupons online that you may find one. Or just get an appetizer and dessert. If you are eating out 3 meals a day do you really need that much food. If you don't have a fridge in your room for leftovers, and appetizer is the perfect size. Could you split and entree with your spouse? Be careful, some restaurants don't allow it or charge you an extra fee.

*Get gift cards. If you know in advance where you are going you can get free and discounted gift cards. I get free gift cards from Swagbucks and Kellogg's rewards. I stash them away for when we go away. I can get discounted gift cards through BJ's and restaurant chains. For example. Panera twice a year does a buy $50 in GC get $10 bonus. So many different restaurants do this around the holidays. Stock up. You can look up on the internet what restaurants are in the area that you are going to.

*Look for discounts before you go. We have AAA and BJs memberships. I always check prices for tickets to parks and museums and restaurants while we are away. I have gotten discounts at stores and museum gift shops just for asking.

*Free stuff. Look up the area before you go. There are always free things going on. We have gone to free concerts and movies in parks and live bands at farmers's markets. We have used free passes from the library when we are staying with friends and family. OD got us into The National Aquarium because she works there. Timeshares and hotels have lots of great amenities. Take advantage of them. 

*Cheap souvenirs. You are on vacation. I get it. But do you really need a giant Mickey Mouse? I like to look for consumables as souvenirs. We have gotten, maple syrup, jams, and jellies as souvenirs and thank you gifts. We get a Christmas ornament to hang on our tree. I write the place and year on the back with a sharpie when we get home. I have a book of pressed pennies. 51¢ is an amazing price for a souvenir.

When the kids were little and we would go to Disney. I would prebuy them. I could get shirts and toys at the Disney store on clearance for so cheap. When we would leave the hotel for the parks on the first day,  I would pretend that I forgot something in the room and go back. Hubby was in on the plan. I would pull out items and display them on a table with notes to the kids saying it was from Mickey Mouse. Whatever I had gotten on sale. They loved it when we came back to the room. I would buy pins cheap before we left so that they could do pin trading without it costing a lot. I had gotten a clearance character book and the kids had all of the characters sign that instead of buying 3 autograph books. The kids loved it and the characters that could speak always said what a good idea it was.We did let them get a souvenir but they were getting several new to them items so they felt like they were getting several.  

How do you save money on vacations? Do you have any tricks for keeping your vacations low cost?