Ah, summer! After a long winter, you want to utilize every last second of summer goodness. This includes staying outside until darkness is upon you and the chimnea is blazing beautifully, picnicking outside whenever you can, savoring long weekends, and making the most of your summer travel. One way to make the most of your summer travel is to save money – so you can travel more! That sounds like a good plan to me.

Here are some tips for saving money on summer travel:

1.    Stay close to home. You never know what you’ll find, when you explore a place deeply. Camp out at a local state park (you may even be able to rent a yurt!), and explore your area like a tourist would. You’d be surprised at how wonderful this can be – a vacation without much traveling time is definitely a good thing!

Lake Michigan Beach

2.    Look for coupons. Subscribe to online coupon places (groupon, living social, etc.) for wherever you will be traveling. Visit websites for local restaurants, attractions, and hotels and see if they have coupons. Sign up on their mailing list – we often get weekly coupons for our favorite restaurants via email. Definitely worth doing! If you’re not sure about local places, look for reviews on urbanspoon, tripadvisor, and other review sites for recommendations. If you’re driving in the US, stop at the very first rest area within each state – they’ll have books of coupons just waiting for you to pick up.

3.    Buy passes. Whether it is a family pass for a theme park or museum passes or bus passes, these are designed to save you money. Take advantage of it! Bonus: You’ll get to explore new museums or destinations, because they’re included for free!

4.    Eating out? Do so at lunch time. The prices are half that of dinner, and you won’t feel pressured to eat and exit.

5.    Eating in? Shop the markets! Outdoor markets and grocery stores both have great finds for you – local delicacies (pasties, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula), fresh fruits and vegetables, even special baked goods or treats (honey sticks, anyone?). Ask for recipes, try something new. Cooking dinner at home definitely saves money – and by shopping, you’ve also had a local experience.

6.    Rent a home or apartment. You’ll not only live like a local, but you may have a front yard to play in (or a sea to swim in), free laundry facilities, a kitchen, and plenty of space to BE when you’re tired or the weather is bad.

7.    Look for last minute trips. If you’re willing to be flexible on destinations, you can find incredible last minute deals. Pack your suitcase on a Thursday and see where you’ll wind up on Friday! You’ll learn a new place, and experience the joy of serendipity. You may just find a new favorite destination.

8.    Flex those cards. Use your credit card (especially if it is an airline credit card) for everyday purchases (be sure to pay those off right away!). You’ll gain miles for groceries, gas, books, shoes – any purchases you’d normally make with your debit card. Those translate into low-cost travel, for sure.

9.    Look for the free. Ask around, pick up local newspapers, check events calendars. There are plenty of free things to do every day in cities around the world. From festivals to concerts to book readings to outdoor events, there should be something for everyone.

10.    Enjoy nature. It’s free (or low cost) – take a walk on the beach, rent a kayak, bird watch, take photos, swim, rollerblade, play beach volleyball, go fishing, ride bikes, soak in all that summer goodness. After all, fall (and winter) will come soon enough!

All photos courtesy and copyright Wandering Educators