Beach Trip On A Budget

Do you spend your time daydreaming about being at the beach? Picture this: laying back in your chair, feet in the sand, and the calming sound of the waves rolling in. There is just one small bump keeping you from making your dream a reality: money. You pinch your pennies and you skip your daily coffee, but it seems impossible; how do people do this every year? I’m here to share a few tips on how to get you to take a beach trip on a budget. 

Now, I know this will come as a shock to some but my first tip is to try to book your vacay as a group trip. I know, the solo traveler, telling you the exact opposite of what I usually advise you to do. But hear me out. The best place to stay at the beach is a condo. It’s the most budget-friendly option to book with a group of people. You split the cost by how many people are going, that way you are only spending a few hundred dollars for a week-long trip! Make sure you reserve a place with at least enough places for everyone to sleep. Most condos even have pull-out couches. And worst case scenario, you bring some sleeping bags or an air mattress. Be careful who you invite to this beach getaway. You want to make sure everyone gets along, is tidy, and is responsible. Or else your dream paradise could turn into a nightmare quickly. 

Since you know the type of accommodation you need for a beach trip on a budget, it’s time to think about your next biggest expense: food. I’m not saying to not eat out at all, but by staying in a condo, you can cook your own meals from the comfort of your temporary home. Go grocery shopping one of the first days after you arrive at your destination. Plan out your meals and snacks for the week, that way you don’t have to return multiple times and can spend more time soaking in the beach sunshine. You can also split the grocery cost between you and the group of people you are staying with, making the cost of food minimal. Saving all this money on your place to stay and the food you’ll eat, you will have more to spend on the most important thing to have on a beach vacay: alcohol. 

One more thing to keep in mind about your trip is any activities you will want to do. From my experience, you want to keep these to a couple of things that you really want to do. Many vacation spots have so many things to do so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by needing to pick just a few really fun things. I have been on both sides of the spectrum. I have spent all of my vacation running around and doing all the things and I have done absolutely nothing but relax. Only pick one to three activities so you can feel that you are getting out and doing things but also you can spend time sitting back and relaxing and not worrying about doing a damn thing. 

I’ve laid it all out. The best ways to plan a beach trip on a budget. The biggest expenses you face when designing the vacation of your dreams. So, what are you waiting for? Call up some people who need beach time as much as you do, ask if they can cook, and hope they will want to do the same activities as you. I hope your daydream of a beach vacation turns into you dreaming about your days spent with friends, laying down on the sand, staring out into the ocean.