Budget Travel Archives - Sweet Frugal Life

Cheap Staycation Ideas

January 9, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Fun Staycation Activities For Families

I can’t wait to share my favorite cheap staycation ideas with all of you!

It’s no secret that I love to travel…..I mean my very favorite sinking fund category ( by far!) is my vacation fund. However, as we all know, traveling can get expensive….very expensive.

Once you add up the prices for flights, gas, hotels, restaurants, etc there is hardly any money left for the activities! And we all want the activities!

Which is why I am SO happy that fun staycations are becoming more normalized.

What is a staycation?

A staycation is a vacation where you don’t leave your city, and in many cases you don’t even leave your house! Instead of traveling to a new location you stay home and take a break from your regular day to day routine, no going to school or work or anything typical. Instead you will spend your time relaxing, exploring your city, and doing fun activities you never seem to have the time for.

Vacationing the staycation way gives you the opportunity to have a vacation….frugally! You won’t need to spend money on flights, hotels, and every meal. Instead you can save that money for something more important (debt payoff maybe???) and enjoy all of the many fun things to do and see right in your own hometown!

Cheap Staycation Ideas

So, without any further ado! Here is my master list of the BEST cheap staycation ideas for families! I hope you are able to find the perfect activity to help you relax, have fun and make memories!

At Home Family Staycation Ideas

Let’s start with my at home staycation ideas. Some of the best family activities can be enjoyed right in the comfort of your own home!

1. Movie Marathon

If you are looking for a relaxing and cheap staycation idea you just might love having a movie marathon. Choose one of your favorites tv or movie series and spend a few days binge watching! Of course you should add in some popcorn and your favorite movie treats.

You can find some great deals on streaming services if you know where to look! Shop around and see if you can sign up for a few new ones to enjoy over your movie weekend.

2. Play Board Games

My family loves playing board games. It’s a fun way for us to spend time together, laugh, stretch our brains and make memories. Spending a day playing board games is the perfect staycation idea for families.

Board games can be expensive to buy brand new, but don’t let that deter you! There are so many budget board games that are perfect for families check out my list of favorites here! Instead of buying new you could borrow a few games from a friend, or buy some games from the thrift store (my fave place to purchase games).

Related: How To Play Fish Bowl

3. Have A Spa Day

The entire family can join in on an at home spa day. Take some individual bubble baths, put on face masks, paint each other nails, and enjoy some R&R together as a family.

If you are looking for a cheap way for at home salon quality nails, my daughter loves this gel nails system!

Want to spend a little extra money on your spa day? Try a spa day out! Take the family to a local spa and enjoy some pampering for the day!

4. Learn A New Hobby

A staycation is the perfect time to learn a new hobby or work on perfecting one you already have!

You could use this time to take a cake decorating class, paint (my family loves to paint along with the Bob Ross YouTube Videos), learn to sew, sign up for a photography class, or anything else that sounds fun to you!

5. Yard Games

I am such a sucker for yard games! I love being outside with my family and yard games are the prefect way to make that happen.

One of my favorite things about yard games is that everyone can play. I’m not atheltic….so I always feel a little odd when I join in a game of softball, however a yard game….now that is something I can participate in confidently!

A few of my favorite yard games are:

6. Update A Room In Your House

Do you have a few house projects that you have been putting off? Use your staycation free time to get those projects done!

Maybe you are wanting to redecorate a room, update a bathroom, or organize a closet. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, just as long as it gets done!

7. Put Together A Puzzle

Puzzles are a great way to relax and keep your mind sharp. I love setting out a puzzle on our kitchen table for my family to work on during long weekends at home. My favorite brand of puzzles are Dowdle!

8. Get Some R&R

One of my favorite cheap staycation idea is to rest and relax! The busy hustle and bustle of every day life can wear out anyone and everyone! You might enjoy using your time off of work to get some much needed rest! Spend the day in bed catching up on your sleep, there is no harm in that!

Related: Free Self Care Ideas

9. Backyard Campout

Have a campout in your own backyard. You could lay out blankets right under the stars on your trampoline or a cot, or set up a tent with the kids.

If you happen to have a backyard firepit, try making dinner over the fire. We LOVE these tin foil dinners. Trust me, they aren’t your typical tin foil dinner…they are SO much better! Don’t forget to make the backyard campout extra special with some homemade smores!

10. Make A Craft

Use your staycation time to make a craft, or two or three!

Here are a few fun crafting ideas for the whole family:

Staycation Ideas You Can Do Around Your Town

There are so many fun activities you can do right in your own hometown! It’s easy to get use to living in the same place, becoming consumed with the day to day life and forgetting to enjoy all the fun experiences right in front of you.

One thing that has helped our family participate in more activities within our hometown is by using out Get Out Pass.

The Get Out Pass is an annual subscription that lets you visit attractions in your area for free! Last night my family went ax throwing, which is something we never would have tried without the Get Out Pass! It was so much fun to try something new right in our own city!

When buying your pass be sure to use my coupon code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE (code currently only available for Idaho, Utah, North California, North Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Washington and Colorado passes) for the best discount on your pass (promise, it’s always cheaper than the current deal).

Many of the things I will mention below are places that are included in most Get Out Passes.

1. Tour Your City

Try being a tourist in your own town! It doesn’t matter if you live in a big city or small town, there will always be something new to see or do!

You could try a new walking path, go window shopping in a different part of town, or try a new restaurant. Look at your city’s visitor website for ideas, or better yet. use the Get Out Pass to help you find new and fun things to do around town.

2. Rent Scooters To Tour Your Town

Over the past few years my city has been acquiring more and more Bird Scooters for the community to use. They are so much fun! You just download the app onto your phone, scan the scooter you want to rent and enjoy it for as long as you want! This could make for a very fun family staycation.

3. Visit Your Local Library

My family all loves to read, so a visit to the library to get new books is always a highlight in our housel! However, libraries offer SO much more than just books. Many libraries will loan national park passes, baking pans, board games, movies, and more!

Use some time during your next frugal staycation to see what all your library has to offer!

Related: 10 Free Things At The Library

4. Visit A Local Museum

Spend an afternoon at one of your local museums. I just took my kids to the Idaho Potato Museum for free using our Get Out Passes. It was small and quick, but fun to get out of the house and to learn more about our states famous potatoes.

Related: Get Out Pass: An Honest Review

6. Restaurant Tour

Are there some restaurants in your city that you’ve been wanting to try? A family staycation is the perfect time to try them! Use some of your budgeted money to take a little restaurant tour right in your town!

Spend a day or two visiting some of the top local restaurants. You could go out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert…..or all of the above! You might just find a new family favorite!

6. Listen To Live Music

Many towns will have live music events throughout the week, especially during the summertime. We love sitting outside on a summer evening listening to free live music. Look on your city’s website to find any local live music events in your area.

7. Go To A Sporting Event

If you have a sports team in your town, a fun staycation idea would be to go to one of their home games. Sure, it might be a little pricy, depending on the league, but it’s much cheaper than a vacation out of the country!

Our Get Out Pass gives us a free pass to attend one minor league baseball game each year. It makes attending sporting events much cheaper and we look forward to it every year.

8. Have A Pool Day

My family insists that a pool must be apart of any sort of vacation….and I’m not arguing!

Consider adding a pool day to your frugal staycation plan! Spending a day at the pool makes for a great family friendly staycation! You could even pool hop, trying a different pool every day!

9. Attend A Paint Night

Check to see if your city has any paint studios. These are so fun and make planning a paint night easy. All you have to do is show up and then you’ll be taught how to paint a beautiful portrait! It’s a fun night out with friends or family.

If you are looking for something even cheaper, consider an at home paint night! We love these paint by number kits for at home paint nights.

10. Go To The Theater

Get dressed up for the evening and head to a local theater to see a new play, concert or comedian. Community theater can deliver some amazing shows and I love being able to support them whenever I can.

11. Go To The Zoo or Aquarium

Visit the animals living in your city with a trip to the zoo or aquarium…or both!

If you happen to have a Get Out Pass, there’s a good chance they include a free visit to your local zoo and or aquarium. We love using our passes each year to visit these attractions!

Don’t forget that if you purchase a Get Out Pass to use my code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE (code currently only available for Idaho, Utah, North California, North Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Washington and Colorado passes) for the cheapest price!

Fun Outdoor Staycation Activities For Families

Looking for some fun activities your family can do together in the great outdoors?? Check out some of the following ideas.

1. Go On A Picnic

Pack up a picnic lunch and go spend the day outside. You could picnic up in the mountains and take time exploring the forest. Or, maybe you would prefer a picnic at the beach playing in the waves and soaking up the sun. Another fun picnic place is a local park. Make sure to pack a few frisbees and spend time playing together as a family.

2. Go To The Beach

I do not live near a beach….but if I did it would be my first staycation activity!

Pack a beach bag full of food and sand toys and enjoy a beach day together as a family. You might enjoy exploring a few different beaches, maybe a new beach each day of your staycation….or just stick to your favorite! The joy of planning your staycation is that the choice is always yours!

3. Go On A Bike Ride

If your family owns bikes, going on a few bike rides is the perfect cheap staycation idea. Make a day out of it by packing a picnic and trying out a few new trails.

You could also rent some bikes if you don’t own any. The bike rental shop should have some recommendations of good bike trails to try! It’s always fun to try something new!

Related: 50 Fun Summer Activities For Kids

4. Take A Day Trip

I love to see new places, so a fun day trip is right up my alley. Try taking a day to explore a few nearby towns. You can try out a few restaurants and enjoy some of the activities the town has to offer.

5. Visit a U-Pick Farm

Take your family to a local U-Pick farm and enjoy the fresh grown produce. After you are done picking, bring it home and, depending on what you picked, you can can it, freeze it, or make some homemade treats!

My family loves driving up the mountains every summer and picking huckleberries. We always bring them home and make huckleberry pancakes for dinner!

Related: Easy Huckleberry Muffin Recipe

6. Have A Lake Day

Another cheap staycation idea is to enjoy a day with your family at the lake. You could rent a few kayaks, pack a picnic and enjoy relaxing in nature!

7. Go Hiking

Hiking is a great way to disconnect from life (including phones!) and spend time connecting with each other. It gives you the time to talk, share stories, and make memories. I love taking my family into nature to teach them a different way to relax and relieve stress.

8. Spend A Day At A National Park

I’ve lived within 2 hours of Yellowstone National Park for the majority of my life…..but I am embarrassed to admit that I don’t go to the park as often as I should.

If you are like me and live within driving distance of a National Park you might enjoy using your staycation time to finally go enjoy it for all it’s glory.

National Parks allow free entry to everyone about 4 days each year. They also have a pass for 4th graders to get in free. Make sure to look up details about both of these awesome opportunities to make your cheap staycation even better!

9. Play Your Favorite Sport

My family loves going outside and playing a sport together. Honestly, none of us are all that athletic, but we just enjoy being active and having fun together.

We love to play about anything! But our favorites are soccer, baseball and kickball.

Playing a sport together as a family is the perfect cheap staycation idea.

10. Go Bird Watching

Help your kids learn more about birds through a bird watching activity. Get a bird watchers book for the library, or this one from Amazon and learn all about birds!

Afterwards you could come home and play my favorite boardgame, Wingspan. It will add to the bird watching theme day!

Nothing Wrong With Cheap Staycations

I want to stress that there is nothing wrong with taking your kids on a staycation. I know that the flashy vacations you see on instagram look like the ideal family time….and those are great! But really, the most important things is spending time together as a family.

Don’t feel guilty if all you can afford is a budget friendly staycation….feel proud that you are taking the time to plan special memories for your kids.

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I hope your family enjoys these cheap staycation ideas!

Road Trip On A Budget

May 12, 2023 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

How to save money on a family road trip.

My family and I are currently in the process of preparing for a spring break road trip. We are so excited to spend quality time together and look forward to visiting a few sights, like the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and more! Traveling by car can be a very frugal way to sight see, but like any vacation, expenses will add up quickly. Today I’m sharing a few tips to help you road trip on a budget.

Budget Friendly Road Trip Hacks

I am a huge proponent of the fact that you can still have FUN, enjoy life, and live on a BUDGET. It’s possible!! Planning a vacation around a road trip is a great way to have fun without spending a lot of money. However, expenses can add up on, even when traveling by vehicle.

So, here are a few ways you can save money on a family road trip…so that you can spend your hard earned money in other ways.

1. Plan Ahead

One of the most important parts of road tripping on a budget is to plan ahead. I suggest planning for your road trip a few months in advance (or as soon as you decide to travel). There are a lot of factors to consider when making a good road trip plan. Don’t forget to include:

Making a budget (don’t forget to include gas, food, attractions, and miscellaneous)
Researching/planning places to eat, sleep and things to do
Meal planning/prep for foods you will pack and make yourself
Looking over the best route for driving

As you are making your road trip plan be sure you plan as frugally as possible using the tips below. Give yourself enough time to research and plan ahead so that you will be able to find the most affordable options and frugal hacks.

Related: The Best Budget Travel Tips

How To Save Money on Road Trip Food

There are many ways to save money on road trip food. Below are a few of my favorite hacks!

2. Pack Your Own Food

One of my favorite parts of road tripping is the food. There is just nothing better than munching on snacks, while listening to a good audiobook, and watching the scenery go by! To save money on road trip food is important to pack as much as you can from home.

Buying food from gas stations and restaurants will get expensive fast. And most tourist grocery stores will have higher prices than your local grocery store. However, if you plan ahead (remember that little planning tip we already talked about 😉 ) and pack your own food in the car, you will be able to save a lot of money.

Here are a few of our favorite food to pack on a road trip:

Fresh fruit
Carrot sticks
Deli sandwiches
Bagels with cream cheese
Peanut butter sandwich
Granola bars
Muffins
Pita wraps
Nuts
Jerky
Popcorn
Pretzels
Yogurt
Salad

3. Skip Restaurants & Eat At The Grocery Store

Ok, hear me out on this one!

If you don’t love the idea of packing your own food for your budget friendly road trip, then consider stopping at grocery stores along the way to eat your meals, rather than stopping at restaurants to eat.

You can get delicious, high quality food at grocery stores, with much lower prices than you would spend at a restaurant. We love stopping at grocery stores for foods like deli sandwiches, friend chicken, fresh fruit and salads. Try it, you just might like it!

4. Stay At An Airbnb

Staying at an Airbnb is an easy way to save money on food expenses. Most Airbnbs will give you access to a full kitchen, making it possible to cook all of your own meals, instead of eating out.

However, make sure to look at all of the hidden costs when booking an Airbnb to ensure that you really will be saving money. The cleaning and extra fees can really add up, which means that sometimes it isn’t always the cheapest option!

5. Stay In A Hotel With A Microwave/Fridge

You don’t have to book accommodations with a full kitchen to cook your own meals. A hotel room with a microwave and fridge will provide all that you need to whip up a few easy meals.

Here are a some of the meals my family likes to eat in our kitchenette hotel room:

Breakfast:

Muffins
Yogurt parfaits
Fruit
Cereal
Oatmeal

Lunch & Dinner:

Mac and Cheese
Sandwiches
Bagels with Cream Cheese
Fruit
Protein Drink
Salad
Cup of Noodles

6. Bring A Reusable Water Bottle

Avoid spending money on water bottles by packing your own reusable water bottle and filling it up with free water where available!

I personally love this Stanley dupe water bottle. It has a lot of really cute colors and great reviews.

7. Eat Out For Lunch Instead of Dinner

If you do decide to go out to eat for a few meals, make sure to eat out for lunch instead of dinner. Most restaurants will offer a cheaper menu during lunch hours, so that you can get the same product for a better price.

8. Stay somewhere with a free breakfast

Make sure to always book a hotel that offers a free breakfast. A free breakfast will give you one less meal you’ll have to pay for during the day. Take advantage of the free breakfast by filling up so you can eat lighter for your other meals.

9. Split A Meal

A great restaurant hack to save extra money is to order one meal and split it between two people! This gives you two meals for the price of one! You could even decide to eat half of your meal and then save the other half for lunch the next day!

Related: How to Save Money When Eating Out

10. Take Advantage of Happy Hour

Many restaurants offer discount prices during happy hour. It’s easy to do a quick google search to find restaurants nearby that participate in happy hour. Plan your meals around those times and restaurants for the best discounts.

How to Save Money On Sleeping Accommodations

Taking your time and using patience is the best way to book budget friendly sleeping accommodations. There are deals available…but it takes a little bit of searching and research!

11. Shop Around For Sleeping Accommodations

Prices for the same hotel can differ on each website. Make sure to take your time comparing multiple websites to find the best deal.

Next, call the hotel directly to ask if they can offer you an even lower price than what you found on the website. Often if you call the hotel directly they will give you an even better deal than you found online.

Another option for finding good hotel deals is to use a bidding website, such as Priceline. We used Priceline when booking a hotel for our trip to New York City and ended up staying in a beautiful hotel, with a fantastic room and in the perfect location….and it was a great price!

Make sure to book your hotel using the Rakuten cashback app! It will often give you an extra 1-10% cashback on your hotel stay.

Related: The Best Cash Back Apps

12. Consider Camping

If you are really wanting to save money on overnight stays, you might want to consider camping somewhere. Camping can be a much cheaper than a hotel room, especially if you already have your own camping equipment.

You could camp while sleeping in your car, or pack along a tent and sleeping bag to set up. My kids love to camp and any chance we get to do it into a fun family adventure. Camping is a great way to see new places while enjoying the fresh air.

Related: Easy Tin Foil Dinner Recipe

13. Stay With Friends Or Family

Another super cheap way to save money on lodging is to ask friends or family if you could stay with them for a night. They will love being able to catch up and host their loved ones!

Make sure to bring a nice thank you card or fresh flowers to show your gratitude!

How To Save Money On Entertainment

Try to have some fun while on your road trip! My family loves getting to enjoy some of the fun things each of our destinations has to offer. Fortunately, there are so many fun and free things you can do while traveling which makes frugality easy! I’ve listed a few ideas below for your road trip on a budget!

14. Visit Free Attractions

Road trips are a great way to see more of the world, and a lot of that can be done for free! Look for free museums, zoos, or road side attractions that you can stop and visit. Your family might also enjoy going on a hike, picnic, or playing in a nearby lake.

Talk to locals, and do some online research to find the best free attractions in the places you’ll be visiting. You just might be surprised at how many you find!

Related: Free Things To Do In Salt Lake City
Related: 20 Free Things To Do In New York City

15. Get A National Parks Pass

An annual National Parks Pass is only $80! There are so many fun and interesting things to see and do in our national parks, that $80 investment can bring a lot of fun and memories to your road trip.

There are also a few frugal hacks to purchasing a national parks pass, you can read all about them here.

16. Use Coupons

When planning activities for your road trip, be sure to look into any coupons available. I like to find coupons using Groupon, searching on google, or checking local facebook groups.

17. Free Audiobooks

Listening to audiobooks is a great way to pass time while driving. And guess what?!?! You don’t have to spend any money to listen to audiobooks! There are so many free resources out there for your enjoyment! Be sure to check out my full list here: Free Audiobook Resources.

How To Save Money On Gasoline When Road Tripping

One of the bigger expenses when it comes to a road trip is paying for gas. As fuel prices keep climbing, consumers continue to look for new ways to save money. Here are a few tips that might help.

18. Drive Smart

The first way to save money on fuel is to drive smart! Smart driving will help you get the most out of your car mileage.

Slightly changing the way you drive can make a big difference on your fuel consumption. Slamming on your breaks or speeding up quickly will hurt your gas mileage. Instead, try to get into the habit of accelerating and braking slowly and gradually. It really does make a difference!

You’ll also find yourself saving money by driving at a decreased speed. Driving at a speed of 65 mph is a good rule of thumb to get the best gas mileage.

Related: More Ways To Save Money On Gas

19. Use Upside Cashback App When Getting Gas

I’ve recently started using the free GetUpside app and loving it! All you have to do is download the app and you will be able to see the gas offers in your area. Choose the offer you want, the offers I’ve received have been anywhere from 15 cents/gallon – 1 cent/gallon cashback. After you select the offer you want to redeem, just go fill up with gas and scan your receipt into the GetUpside app. It’s all really easy! I’ve been using it for about a month and have earned $10 already! Yay!

20. Use the Gas Buddy App

The best way to find which gas station will be the best deal is to download and start using the free Gas Buddy app to help you find the cheapest gas in your area.

It’s really easy to use! Just download the app and enter in your location. The app will then search to find the gas prices near you. Scroll through your options until you find the best deal and use that station to fill up!

The prices will change and vary day to day, so check the app each time you need gas.

Other Ways To Save Money On Your Road Trip

Here are a few other ways you can cut costs on your next family road trip.

21. Avoid Traveling During Holidays

Holiday travel tends to make prices in all areas increase. If you can, try to plan your trips over non-holiday weekends. This will save you money on gas, activities, and lodging.

22. Pack instead of buy

Reduce the amount of items you will have to buy on your road trip by planning ahead and packing as much as you can. Don’t forget to pack medication, band aids, all of the shoes you will need, jackets, and any other gear you think will be useful.

There is nothing worst than getting to your destination to realize you have to go to the store and buy something that you forgot to pack.

23. Avoid Toll Roads

Toll roads are often an unexpected expense. Make sure to plan your driving route to avoid having to pay these tolls.

Use google maps to find the best non-toll road route. This is easily done by clicking on the “avoid tolls” button in the “plan route” section.

24. Invite A Friend

Inviting a friend on your frugal road trip is another great way to reduce costs. Together you can split the cost of gasoline, lodging, and even meals at restaurants! Plus, you’ll make countless memories!

In Conclusion

Don’t let frugality stop you from exploring and having fun. Instead, have fun in a frugal way! I hope these ideas help you to have an incredibly fun road trip on a budget!

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A road trip on a budget is possible!

How To Save Money On Your Universal Orlando Vacation

August 5, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Tips for Universal Studios on a budget!

Our family recently got home from a fun vacation to Universal Studios Orlando. We had so much fun spending the week together as a family, making memories, and riding all of the fun rides with our 3 kids. One of my goals for this trip, and every trip we take, is to have a memorable vacation without having to spend a ton of money. So, today I’m going to share exactly how to save money on your Universal Studios vacation! I hope it will help each of you be able to take this trip, even if your budget is tight.

Disclosure: “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Best Tips to Save Money On Your Universal Orlando Vacation

Any vacation will cost money, but there are some tricks you can do to lower the price a little bit. Learn how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation below!

1. Stay At A Hotel With A Kitchenette

One of my best budget travel hacks is to book a hotel that has a small kitchen, or kitchenette. This was a huge money saver for us! We ordered groceries from Walmart and had them delivered to the hotel the first day that we arrived. I also saw a lot of people using Amazon Fresh to get groceries delivered.

Using our kitchenette we were able to eat all of our breakfasts and lunches in our room, and only ate out for dinner.

Hotel Breakfast Ideas:

Cold Cereal
Instant Oatmeal
Muffins
Yogurt
Granola
Fruit

Hotel Lunch Ideas:

Mac and Cheese
Sandwiches
Bagels with Cream Cheese
Fruit
Protein Drink
Salad
Cup of Noodles

2. Book Discount Universal Tickets

When purchasing your Universal Studio tickets, make sure to buy them from a discount retailer, you’ll be able to get the best deals and a few added perks! I bought our tickets from Undercover Tourist and was so impressed with the price and ease of the purchase.

A couple other discount retailers I recommend are Costco and Get Away Today (use code SWEETFRUGAL for $10 off your Get Away Today vacation package!).

Related: Our Budget Friendly Disneyland Vacation

3. Split a Meal

Another great way to save money at Universal studios is to split a meal between two people, instead of buying one for each person in your group. All of the meals that we had at Universal Studios were very large portioned, making it easy to buy one meal and split it two ways!

4. Skip Park-To-Park Tickets

Universal Orlando sells two different types of tickets. You can either purchase a single park per day ticket or a park-to-park ticket. The single park per day ticket will allow you into one of the Universal theme parks each day. The park-to-park ticket allows you to visit multiple parks in one day.

Now, I totally think the park-to-park tickets are convenient and fun, but I still recommend skipping buying them. Why you might ask? Well, first off each park is huge and can easily fill an entire day. It takes a lot of time to get to each park, so we prefer staying and enjoying one park each day. The amount of time it takes to walk around one park, and then walk to the next park, and then walk around the other park just doesn’t make much sense to me.

The second reason I recommend buying a single park per day ticket is because it is much cheaper than the park-to-park tickets. You can see the exact same attractions for a cheaper price. I personally don’t think it’s worth the extra money.

Now, honestly, I give this tip with a little bit of hesitation. If you are a big Harry Potter fan, than paying the extra money *might* be worth it to you. The only way that you can experience the Hogwarts Express ride is if you have a park-to-park ticket. The Hogwarts Express was closed when we were there, and at first I was really sad about it, but now I don’t feel like we missed much by not riding on it. We were still able to experience all of the other incredible Harry Potter attractions.

Another exception I would make to my advice of skipping the park-to-park pass is if you only plan to attend Universal Studios for one day. If you only have one day for the park, buy the park-to-park….but if you are going to be there for multiple days anyways, then save yourself some money and purchase the single park per day passes.

5. Visit During The Off Season

One of the easiest ways to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation is to plan your visit during the off season months. The cheapest months to go to Universal Studios Orlando is in January, February, or September. Not only will Universal Theme Park tickets be cheaper, but so will hotel rooms and many airfares.

Related: The Best Budget Travel Tips

6. Skip The Express Passes

Another extra you can purchase is the Express Pass. The Express Pass is in addition to your regular Universal Studios ticket. This amazing pass gives you the ability to cut to the front of the line on almost every ride (all but two!). It is a great way to save time, ensure that you can ride all of the rides, and stay out of the heat.

I was jealous of every single person who was using the Express Pass, however I do not recommend you buy one…..and here’s why:

The Express Passes are really really expensive. Like, more than double the cost of your ticket expensive. Plus, I don’t think they are necessary!

We visited Universal Studios during one of the hottest, busiest times of the year….and we were still able to ride on every ride that we wanted to ride in. Yes, we had to stand in long lines, yes it was hot….but we survived! And saved a ton of money in the process!

Standing in long lines is not the most fun way to spend a day….but it doesn’t have to be a terrible thing! To help make the experience a little more enjoyable make sure to bring a lot of water, a mist spray bottle, snacks and some fun games. Before our trip I downloaded the Heads Up app onto my phone and we had so much fun playing it while standing in line. We were even able to make a few friends this way!

7. Fill Your Water Bottle At The Free Coca-Cola Freestyle Stations

One of my favorite Universal Studios money saving hack is to fill up your water bottle with ice water for free at the Coca-Cola Stations around the park. These stations are available in multiple locations (you can find exactly where on the Universal app).

You can bring your water bottle into the park and fill it up for free with ice water at any of these stations. Many of them even had free cups available for anyone who didn’t have a water bottle. It’s a great way to stay hydrated while at Universal Studios, without having to spend money on drinks.

My kids loved using these collapsible water bottles, they were lightweight to carry around, and then pull out and fill up whenever we came to a freestyle station.

8. Pack Food Into Park

Buying food inside of Universal Studios is expensive. You will save so much money if you pack your own food into the park each day. We like to pack a backpack full of snacks, sandwiches, and fruit. This way we can bring it with us around the park and we don’t have to pay for a locker.

Related: Family Trip To San Diego

9. Purchase Souvenirs Outside Of Universal Parks

Souvenirs are a fun part of traveling and visiting somewhere new. We love bringing home a memento or two from our travels.

The problem with souvenirs at Universal Studios, is that they are very expensive!

Fortunately, you can buy the exact same products (or very very similar) for much less if you buy them outside of the park.

For cheaper Universal souvenirs check out Amazon, Target and Walmart. You can even buy an interactive wand on eBay for cheap…and use it to cast spells while at Universal Studios! Turn around and sell it once you get home again!

10. Choose A Hotel Off Site

You can find a lot of great hotel options within the Universal Resort. However, if you are trying to cut costs, I recommend booking a hotel outside of the resort hotels. You can find a lot of great value hotels on International Drive.

Just remember, when booking a hotel off site to add in the “extras” you will be paying. These extras might include: resort fees, shuttle bus, parking, etc. I still think you can find good deals, even with these extras, but the extra costs can be a shock if it wasn’t planned beforehand……and we don’t like surprises when it comes to our pocket book!

11. Buy Tickets In Advance

Universal Studios tickets prices tend to increase the closer it gets to a specific park date. You will save much more money (and time!) if you buy your park tickets in advance. I recommend getting them as soon as you decide to go, months in advance is best!

12. Stock Up On Extras Before Traveling

You will get the best bang for your buck if you buy any miscellaneous items at home rather than waiting until you get to the theme park. These extras might include:

Prices on these miscellaneous items increase drastically once you get to Orlando, with an even bigger increase if you purchase them inside the Universal Parks.

13. Take The Bus

To save money on transportation try using the Orlando public bus system, instead of Uber. Rides on the bus are only $2 each, or pay $4.50 to ride the bus for the entire day, such a good deal! Look through the bus routes here to see if any of them will work for you. It might be slightly inconvenient, but you can’t beat the price!

Related: 20 Free Things To Do In New York City

14. Book A Hotel With A Free Shuttle

Many hotels near Universal Studios offer free shuttle service to the park. When you are trying to find the perfect hotel for your family, make sure to check to see if they offer this shuttle service. It can save you a lot of money in the long run.

15. Utilize Free Universal Lockers

I don’t recommend purchasing a locker at Universal Studios. Yes, it would be so very convenient, but it costs money, and we are trying to save money! Right? Right!

When preparing for a Universal day only pack items that can fit into a small backpack. You can carry this backpack around with you and it will be allowed on most rides. The rides that don’t let you bring a backpack are: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Men in Black, Revenge of the Mummy, Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and Jurassic World Velocicoaster.

However, each of the rides that don’t allow backpacks will offer FREE lockers for you to store your backpack! They are easy to use and completely free. All you have to do is use your barcode from your ticket, or use a barcode pass issued to you by an employee within the ride. This barcode will open and lock the locker door for you to use before and after the ride.

So, instead of renting a locker all day, keep your backpack with you and rent one for free when you need to!

In Conclusion

We had such a fun time visiting Universal Orlando this year. We are huge Harry Potter fans and just loved drinking butterbeer, walking through diagon alley, and exploring all of the fun details of the park. I hope that you are able to visit and that this article helped you learn how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation.

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Have so much fun on your next trip! I hope you have some good ideas about how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation!

Kauai on a Budget

March 2, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

Tips for your budget friendly vacation to Kauai, Hawaii.

I have never seen anywhere more breathtaking than the beautiful Hawaiian Island of Kauai. With it’s gorgeous green mountains, cascading waterfalls, and picturesque beaches, it is my idea of a perfect vacation spot. My husband and I were lucky enough to take a trip there together a few years ago. I love to travel and see new places, but I always stay frugal. I am excited to share with you how to visit Kauai on a budget!

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When I was planning our trip to Kauai I spent hours and hours researching everything there is to know about the “Garden Isle.” I wanted to enjoy every inch of the island, but without having to spend a lot of money.

I read a lot of books about Kauai and the very very best one I found was The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed. This book was everything! I consulted it about beaches, hotels, restaurants, etc. EVERYTHING you could want to know about Kauai is in this wonderful perfect book. My husband teases me that I have it memorized because of all the facts I kept spouting out of it (this may or may not be true…). Seriously though, if you are going to Kauai read The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed.

Cheap Places to Stay on Kauai

Hawaii is home to hundreds of high quality rentals on Airbnb and VRBO. Honestly, my husband really just wanted to go the traditional route and stay in a hotel, but I convinced him that an Airbnb would be the most cost effective and he wouldn’t even miss the hotel! (and I was right, he loved it!)

We were able to find a beautiful condo to rent for $100 a night on Airbnb . It was a studio condo, right on the beach, with a small kitchenette. The kitchenette was a huge money saver because we were able to make a lot of our meals, instead of going out to eat.

Airbnb is seriously amazing for finding great deals on lodging while traveling. It has a lot of options and was very easy to work with. I will use them every single time I travel to Hawaii.

Our rental was on the East Shore of the island. We chose this area so that we would have easy access to both the North and South sides. It was only ten minutes from the airport and very quick and easy to find. The East Shore rentals were also a lot cheaper than other areas, which is what we were looking for!

However, next time we go, I want to stay on the North Shore. It was by far my favorite area on the island!

Cheap Rental Car On Kauai

Kauai is a small island (it only takes about 2 hours to drive from one end to the other), but a car is still necessary.

We reserved an economy sized vehicle on discounthawaiicarrental.com for ONLY $6 a day. YES! You read that right! $6 a day! I couldn’t believe it either!

Be sure to check this website regularly as the prices change often. Once you find that cheap price snatch it up quick because it will not last long.

Cheap Places To Eat On Kauai

Kauai is full of yummy roadside food stops. You can buy coconuts, juice, burgers, and just about anything at your local shops. In an effort to save money we chose to eat most of our foods in our condo. All it took was a quick stop at Walmart to stock up with food.

We had fruit and toast for breakfasts, packed sandwiches for lunch and stopped for quick dinners while we were out exploring.

A few of our favorite cheap eateries were Tacos Al Pastor, Da Crack, Hanalei Taro & Juice Company, and Puka Dog.

And of course, we made sure to eat shaved ice every day while in Hawaii. It is so good and is a MUST try! Our favorite shaved ice was at Hee Fat General Store in Kapaa. We always ordered one to share to save a little extra money, but we did splurge and ordered real fruit syrup. This was worth the splurge!

Cheap Activities in Kauai

There are so many fun FREE activities to do on Kauai. Which is perfect for a budget friendly vacation! We had a great week adventuring around the island and spent very little money on activities.

Snorkel Bobs

Kauai has great snorkeling, all over the island! We rented snorkel gear for the week from Snorkel Bobs. The gear only cost us about $15 for the entire week!

We loved having the the gear with us at all times, so we could pull it out whenever we came across a great snorkel area. Our two favorite snorkeling beaches were Hideaways and Turtles. Snorkeling is very best in the morning, so be sure to get their early!

Beaches

My very favorite part of this trip was the beaches! So many beautiful beaches! With golden coarse sand, blue turquoise water, and large green mountains backdrop, the beach was the perfect place to spend a day relaxing and playing in sun and sand.

The beaches and parking are all FREE, so take advantage of them!

Favorite North Shore Beaches

Our favorite beaches on the North Shore were Kee and Hideaways. Kee is at the end of the very end of the North Shore road. Parking is limited and fills up quickly, so I recommend getting there first thing.

Hideaways is a little bit harder to find, which makes it a perfect, quiet, and uncrowded beach. To get there we used valet parking at the St.Regis Princeville (this is free, but it is a good idea to tip!). There is a trail a short distance away to hike down to the beach. The trail is steep and slippery, so wear good shoes.

Favorite South Shore Beach

Our favorite beach on the South Shore was Kiahuna Beach, also known as Sheraton Beach. Kiahuna Beach is located directly in front of the Sheraton Kauai Resort. Just park alongside the street near the Sheraton, and walk down to the beach.

Hiking

Kauai is known as the adventure island for good reason! It is full of breathtaking hikes and places to explore.

Our first day we hiked along the Kalalau Trail. This is an intense 11 mile long hike along the Napali Coast. We decided to just hike the first two miles to Hanakapiai Beach.

The views along this trail were incredible. We were right alongside the ocean for most of the hike and I could not get over the view!

The Kalalau trail starts out extremely rocky and steep, so be prepared. If hiking isn’t your thing, I suggest hiking at least the first 1/2 mile for a fantastic view of Kee Beach.

Secret Falls

Secret Falls is a majestic 100 foot waterfall deep in the rainforest. The only way to get to Secret Falls is to kayak down the Wailua River and then hike about 30 minutes through the rainforest. You could pay for a guided tour that will take you to Secret Falls, but we decided to go with a much cheaper option.

We rented a kayak from Kamokila Hawaiian Village in Kapaa. It is right on the Wailua River and you can launch the kayak straight from the village. The kayak was only $35 for a daily rental.

Kamokila Hawaiian Village was so helpful and even gave us a map showing exactly where we needed to go. The self guided tour is so so easy!

We kayaked about 15 minutes up the river, docked the kayaks and hiked to the waterfall. This trail is very muddy, so bring water shoes! We passed MANY people hiking barefoot because it was to muddy for sneakers.

When we arrived at Secret Falls a large tour group just happened to be leaving and we were able to have the entire place to ourselves! It was one of the highlights of the trip. It was so fun swimming under the waterfall.

Once we got back to our kayak we paddled up stream another 5 minutes to a cliff jumping spot and were able to jump off the cliff and swim in the river for a little while.

We loved this entire day and it was really so easy to rent and find where to go all by ourselves. You will not regret it!

Sightseeing

There are so many great sight seeing stops around the island. They are all free and definitely worth a stop! Here are a few of our favorites.

East Shore

Wailua Falls: These falls are very easy to get to, and a quick stop alongside the road. They are absolutely breathtaking! We got there early in the morning and it felt so magical being there by ourselves in the early morning.

Opaekaa Falls: I’ll be honest, I was a little underwhelmed by Opaekaa Falls. But, I do know of many others who have enjoyed seeing them. They are very easy access right off the road and only take a few minutes to view.

South Shore

Tree Tunnel: While driving into Poipu on the South Shore you will pass through what’s known as the Tree Tunnel. It is a beautiful section of road lined with Eucalyptus Trees. It was so much fun to drive through, and a great photo op!

Spouting Horn: Spouting Horn is located near Poipu Beach. Spouting Horn is a fun place to see water spray up into the sky through a blowhole. A blowhole is naturally formed when water crashes through a small hole in the lava rocks next to the beach. It’s a fun sight to see as the water can reach up to 50 feet in the air.

Waimea Canyon: The road to Waimea Canyon is a little long, but the views are spectacular! It is called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific because it is so big and so read! The reds of the canyon next to the green vegetation were breathtaking!

We didn’t spend a lot of time here, but I know there are a few great hikes in the area and can’t wait to go back to explore more.

Drive a little further up the road and view the Kalalau Valley Lookout. It is another view of the beautiful Napali coast and was once home to an ancient Hawaiian village. The history buff in me enjoyed imagining what life was once like there.

North Shore

The North Shore is my very FAVORITE part of the island and the next time I go to Kauai I will be spending all of my time here! It is so green and dense with vegetation. This is the part of the Island that gives Kauai the nickname, the Garden Island.

Kilauea Lighthouse: This picturesque lighthouse is located just a few minutes off the main highway. It is a beautiful sight, and only takes a few minutes to visit. We decided not to go look at it close, and viewed it from the parking lot, but I know that there is a bird sanctuary and other fun things to see if you get out and walk around.

Hanalei Pier: Hanalei Beach wasn’t my favorite, but it was a very pretty area to view and I am glad we made the visit. It is a popular place for boogie boarding and surfing and we were able to catch a few waves and a bunch of laughs for the afternoon. I did love walking out on the pier and watching the locals jumping off into the ocean.

Hanalei Valley Lookout: Right along the main road right, just past Princeville you will find the Hanalei Valley lookout. It is a beautiful area of taro farms, nestled right up to the mountains. The field look like a green patchwork quilt and is a great stopping spot for a few pictures. When we were there we counted 8 waterfalls on the mountain right behind the fields. It was a breathtaking sight!

Souvenirs

If you are looking for a budget friendly place to buy souvenirs check out the ABC Stores. We stopped at the one in Kapaa on our last day in Kauai. I was happily surprised and impressed to see how much cheaper the souvenirs were here than at the other places we looked at during the week. They have all your typical souvenirs; shirts, trinkets, food, etc. I was able to find a few items to bring back to the kids, and a few things for me!

In Conclusion

If you do some research and planning you can visit Kauai on a budget! We spent less than $2,000 for our entire trip. I am dead serious! $2,000! Half of that was spent on airfare, the rest was for our hotel, food and activities.

I can’t wait to go back one day and do more exploring. It truly was heaven on earth!

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What tips do you have visiting Kauai on a budget?

Quick New York City In A Weekend Trip

November 4, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life5 Comments

NYC In Three Days

I have always dreamed of visiting New York City. There is just something about the lights, the buildings, and the hustle and bustle of the big apple that appealed to me. I’ve talked about this dream with my sister for years and one day she stopped me and said, “Let’s do it! Let’s go visit New York City this year.” And I said, “Ok!” We decided to try to keep the budget low and to visit NYC in three days, which wasn’t easy, but we were able to make it work! I was a little worried that only one weekend in New York City wouldn’t be enough time, but I was wrong. We were able to see all of our “must sees” and had the time of our lives! Here are a few tips for a quick New York City in a weekend trip!

Our Quick New York City Weekend Trip

We spent a lot of hours researching and planning our NYC trip. The first thing we did was make a list of the places we MOST wanted to see. The statue of liberty and a Broadway show were at the top of that list.

Next, we started researching for the most frugal ways to visit all of our favorite attractions. Through that process we came up with our budget friendly, quick New York City in a weekend trip itinerary. Below is everything that we did, and a few frugal tips to help you plan your own trip!

Day 1: Thursday

We took a direct flight from SLC to Newark airport and landed at about 6pm. To save money we decided to split an uber ride to our hotel, and cost us about $30 per couple.

Using Priceline we booked the Dylan Hotel located in Midtown Manhattan. We loved it! The hotel is located close to a lot of top attractions, it was clean and the price was very reasonable for the location!

*Hotel Money Saving Tip: We booked out hotel through Priceline because they seemed to have the best deals. When using Priceline we didn’t get to choose which hotel we booked, but we were able to choose the area and the hotel star rating. The hotel we got was amazing, exactly what we wanted! We scored a boutique midtown hotel (with a king bed, which is hard to find) for only $200/night!

*Hotel Money Saving Tip: When booking any travel make sure you use Rakuten first, this one simple step gave us an extra 6% cashback on our hotel purchase.

After settling into our hotel we walked down the street to Uncle Pauls Pizza. The pizza was delicious and only $4/slice, exactly what we wanted!

Once we were full from pizza we walked around and enjoyed some sight seeing. We visited Grand Central Station, St.Patricks Cathedral, window shopped down 5th Avenue, and ended the night in Times Square. Everything we saw Thursday night was completely free!

Related: 20 Things To Do In New York City For Free

Day 2: Friday

On Friday morning we got up early for breakfast. We went to a small restaurant, across the street from our hotel, Home Front Deli. It was delicious! They made the absolute best bagels I tried all weekend! I highly recommend!

After breakfast we headed to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This was one of my favorite stops of the entire trip! It is WELL worth the money! You could spend DAYS in this museum. We focused on the Egyptian Room, The American Wing, and European Art. Everything was absolutely incredible!

After visiting The Met we rode the bus down to the Top of the Rock and were treated to absolutely amazing views of New York City.

We chose to visit Top of the Rock, instead of the Empire State Building, because the price was cheaper and the views were better! I loved that we could see the Empire State Building and Central Park in our view.

Next, was lunch at The Halal Guys for the best Gyros I have ever had. This is seriously a must stop. The portions were huge and only around $8 for a platter.

That night we had tickets to go see The Lion King on Broadway. This was one of our big splurges for the trip and it did not disappoint! We paid full price for our tickets to The Lion King, but there are ways to get discount Broadway Tickets.

*Broadway Money Saving Tip: To get discount Broadway tickets stop by the TKTS booth located right in Times Square. These same day tickets are heavily discounted for a select shows.

Another way to get cheaper tickets for Broadway is to check out the Today Tix website. We used this service for a Broadway show Saturday night and were very pleased with the discounts we got!

Related: Kauai on a Budget

Day 3: Saturday

For breakfast on Saturday we went to Zuckers Bagels for another classic NYC bagel. If I’m being honest, I didn’t enjoy this breakfast quite as much as Home Front Deli, but it was still delicious!

Immediately after breakfast we headed to the 9/11 museum, this is what I had been most looking forward to.

We were treated to an amazing museum full of heart wrenching photos, survivor stories and gut wrenching facts. Total we spent about 3 hours walking around and taking it all in. But, honestly we could have spent all day there, they had so many exhibits and a lot of great information to look through.

After the museum we headed Downtown to hop onto the Staten Island Ferry. This is a completely FREE ferry that takes you right past the statue of liberty. It was so simple to walk right on to the ferry. I recommend going to the very back so that you can also be treated to a view of the NYC skyline.

The views of the Statue of Liberty were even better than we had expected! Once we arrived in New Jersey, we walked off, went around the corner and walked right onto the next ferry to ride back to Manhattan. So easy, and you just can’t beat a good view for FREE!

Next, we headed to Brooklyn for a walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. It was a wet and stormy day, but we still enjoyed the views on the bridge. The architecture was incredible!

That evening we had dinner at Melt Shop for some gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. The food was amazing and very budget friendly!

After dinner we headed to another Broadway Show, Waitress.

This wasn’t my favorite Broadway show, but my sister really enjoyed it, so to each their own!

Day 4: Sunday

Our plane was leaving Sunday afternoon, so we were thrilled to have a few hours left to enjoy the big apple.

We stopped by Wafels and Dinges for breakfast, and I have been dreaming out this place ever since!

After breakfast we decided it was time for cookies, which is totally normal, right???!?! We went straight from breakfast to Levain Bakery for the absolute BEST cookie I have EVER had!!! You MUST, I repeat, MUST stop by Levain Bakery. Their cookies were absolutely amazing!

We ate our cookies in Central Park and then spent the rest of the morning wandering the paths and enjoying the day. It truly is a beautiful park with so many unique areas and sights. I loved strolling through all of the different areas.

Our trip was a busy whirlwind, but I wouldn’t change it for anything! We were able to see everything we wanted to see, and had a lot of fun doing it! I can’t wait to go back again one day and visit even more of the amazing sights.

Be sure to check out my post 20 Completely Free Things to do in New York City for more budget friendly New York City ideas!