Weekend Getaway

In today’s economy, it is hard for people to afford a big vacation so many people are turning to small weekend getaways!

My family and I had the opportunity to go to St. Louis recently for a weekend getaway. The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission offered us the chance to come check out their wonderful city and share with you how to save money on vacations and travel.

View from the top of the St. Louis Arch

We had a wonderful time and even though we were only gone for the weekend, it really felt like we got away. For us, vacations  are all about spending time together and forgetting about everything and having a good time.

Tips to help you have a great getaway:

• Set a budget – First thing you need to do is set your budget! This way you know how much you can spend on hotels, food and entertainment. Make sure to add a cushion for unexpected expenses. I like to add 10% for miscellaneous items that we didn’t take into account.
• Plan – Take time to plan out your trip. A bit of planning can save you money and time. We used the Visitors Commission website to help us plan our trip. We were able to make sure everything that we picked was family friendly and within our budget.
• Respect your schedule – To keep your family happy, it is important to respect your family’s schedule (especially kids). Try to eat around the same times and don’t skip the naps! If you have a tired little one, they can ruin it for everyone!
• Be flexible and have fun – Remember you are on a vacation! Forget about the laundry that is piled up at home and just have fun (the laundry will still be there when you get home). 🙂

Come back later and I will share how to save on entertainment and food for your weekend getaway!