Budget Vacation

At this point, we are all feeling the pressure of this economy's recession. But summer is just around the corner, and most of us are wishing for a vacation. So what if you can't afford Italy or Spain? Our own country the USA has tons of amazing places to have a vacation. Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Colorado. There are many beautiful locations perfect for the weekend getaway or a full week away.

There are so many options when it comes to your stay. No matter what your budget, there is something out there for everyone. Hotels being the most expensive are the ultimate luxury. If you don't mind staying in a lower star hotel such as an inn, be my guest... or theirs, but I'd rather have a nicer stay and ditch the room service. The whole point of going on vacation is feeling completely at ease. You want everything to be beautiful and pleasant. So for those of you who have the bigger budget, have a wonderful time at the Hilton, I'm jealous! For the rest of you don't sweat it. Bed and breakfasts are just like hotels except they are smaller and more intimate. Usually consisting of 4 or more bedrooms a bed and breakfast gives you the feeling of staying at a good friends beautiful home. There are many around the country and they always have attractions in the surrounding areas. The prices range close to hotels, a lot of them less expensive. Another idea is to go camping if you're an outdoorsy person. And make the best of it. Know the location where you will be camping out and make sure to contact the local sheriff's department to ensure you will be in close enough proximity to one of their stations. Ask them what areas are safer, and which ones to avoid. You don't want to wake up to a hungry pack of mountain lions.

The option that I am taking this weekend (due to a Jewish holiday) is getting a vacation rental. Vacation rentals are great because you can find a home at any budget and I mean any. The houses range from mid size family homes to mansions. There are so many beautiful ones and you can decide how many bedrooms you need, whether you would like a pool, and so forth. Kitchens are normally stocked with the basic foods, and bathrooms include towels, sheets etc. This kind of vacation is for the person who's main source of fun will be coming from their activities, even if you just want to lounge by the pool. The best places to find vacation rentals are on vacation rental websites. Craigslist presents the danger of not knowing who the people are, how safe it is, or safety of payment. Websites mostly have realtor's dealing with the location which just makes everything go smoother.

This weekend my family and I will be staying in a vacation rental in Palm Springs, CA so I am going to go into a little detail for those of you who are interested in Palm Springs. Palm Springs is a desert and has been a desired vacation spot for decades. The vacation rentals are endless and gorgeous. Most of the houses are pretty modern and fully equipped with magnificent pools and spa hot tubs. The most expensive time to go to Palm Springs is April due to the Coachella festival. Summer is also a bit crowded but not for long periods of time, since people can't stand the heat for longer than a weekend. Attractions in Palm Springs include the endless spas, Palm Canyon Drive, the main strip that is packed with cafes, restaurants, bars and boutiques, golfing, shopping and of course tanning in the crazy sun. Just please don't forget the sunscreen. You can get seriously burnt in a very short amount of time, so just layer on the protection and get a quick and safe tan :)!

My two favorite websites for finding a great rental are VacationRentals.com and VRBO.com where you can find vacation rentals by owner, so the prices can be cheaper.

The most important thing to remember when going on vacation is not to spend on what you can't afford and always remember safety. So good vacas to everyone! Hope these tips help.