Hit the beach (without breaking the budget!)
We all are having to watch our budget but looking forward to a vacation can be quite stressful when the budget is already stretched. Here are some tips we have used over the years to stretch our vacation dollars. If you have an idea you would like to share please email it to me and I will gladly pass it along to other guests.
Dining out, shopping, water excursions... they all can add up to quite a chunk of change. If uncontrolled, they can even exceed the costs of lodging! Just a few changes in the way you vacation can save you money and help de-stress your next vacation.
Plan ahead - just making a weeks worth of menus can save $$ and help keep you from throwing away unused food at the end of your stay. Whether you eat in every day or just occasionally, just a little planning ahead can keep everyone happy (and a lot less hungry!)
Plan dinners that provide next day lunches - both of our units have crock pots so why not make a beef or pork roast and use the leftovers for bbq sandwiches the next day. We also have George Forman style grills for grilling chicken that can be used the next day for a grilled chicken salad, chicken wrap or fajitas. Visit the sample menus page for ideas to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner all week long!
Get the kids involved - let your kids help with the planning of your next vacation. Not only will it help them feel important but they can learn how to start budgeting when you set the spending limit for activities. Sometimes kids don't realize how much their parents spend on all the beach 'extras' such as putt putt golf, go karts or even that walk out to the pier. You could even allow the older kids to search for deals and coupons online or at the Chamber of Commerce once there.
Stretch out the fun! - depending on your budget, plan the more costly events every other day or so. This will not only stretch the budget but will give the family something to look forward to. And why not have a family fun night in? Call for pizza and pop in a movie or get out a board game. Both of our units provide family movies and board games. And for dessert ~ get the family involved with a cookie decorating contest or maybe a make your own ice cream sundae bar. Some of our best family memories involve an exciting card game of spoons and a cookie decorating contest! A vacation is the perfect way to spend quality time reconnecting with your family, make the most of your vacation with a little planning before you leave.
Visit in the off season - not only are the rates cheaper in the off season but the lines are shorter, the weather is cooler (but still quite warm!), and the crowds are fewer. The old Panama City Beach used to close down after the peak summer season, but now with so much to do in the 'off season', Spring and Fall are the best times to visit. Now that our kids are older and our schedule is more flexible we visit only during the off season and we have experienced some of the best weather and most beautiful water we have ever seen.
Seafood - Ok, so everyone knows the Gulf Coast is known for some of the best seafood in the U.S., but you don't have to spend a fortune eating it! Most restaurants offer specials, whether it is early bird specials, lunch specials, etc. but to get the most for your money you will need to do a little planning. During the summer months the beach can get pretty hot! Taking a mid day to late afternoon break can be a great way to get some awesome seafood at a great price, without the long wait. Many restaurants offer lunch specials that offer almost as much food at about half the cost of dinner! Our units have menus of many of the best restaurants in the area, make sure to call ahead and check what they offer.
An even better idea would be to make your own seafood. Visit the local docks of Grand Lagoon or old St Andrews where you can buy fresh local seafood to take back to the condo and prepare to your family's liking. Watching the ships come in with the catch of the day can be entertaining and best of all it's FREE! If you are an experienced fisherman then you may want to try your hand at catching your own dinner! With the pier so conveniently located to Calypso you could catch your dinner and even clean it at the fishing sinks provided at the pier.
If you're not up to the short drive to the docks or catching your own then check out Buddy's seafood located on Hwy 79, just under 2 miles from Calypso. Pick up some potatoes and corn and you have a meal in minutes for half of what you would pay at a restaurant, and don't forget some Key Lime Pie for dessert!
Make the most of your vacation and your budget with a little planning, your family and your wallet will be happier in the long run!