entire vacation in my blog so that you can save as much as I will
save and have access to my resources also. What makes a vacation great is
spending uninterrupted time with your family, what makes it even more fantastic
than that is not going into debt to do it! So, as I always say, my way isn't for
everyone. Some people like to contact a travel agent, give them the dates that
they're looking to vacation on, and sign off with a credit card. I actually
prefer to do my own planning because I know I can do this cheaper than a travel
agent. I'm going to do it in two parts though (ohhhhh, a series!) because after
awhile, your brain turns to mush. So today I'll cover transportation and
lodging. I know our ChaCha guides write a blog for Disney also so you should
most definitely check those out, too!One of the best ways to save money on vacations is pick a time when you're are flexible on dates. I am self-employed so it's nothing for me to change my travel plans by a day or so in either direction in order to get a better rate. Do not try to go during a school vacation, it's twice as expensive and it's beyond crowded...Ok, let's get down to planning this vacation. All prices are going to be based on 2 adults and 2 demons..lol!
Transportation is the most expensive part of any trip. I have my choice of plane, train, bus or automobile. Ok, we're not even going to attempt automobiles. One of my deep, dark secrets is that though I own 6 taxi companies, I get violently car sick after half an hour. How's that for your daily dose of irony?
Greyhound: For all 4 tickets round trip it is $632 and that is with a 7 day advance purchase. Not a horrifying price but the length of travel time is 1 Day, 7 Hours & 5 Minutes. I'm thinking that being trapped on a bus with 2 small kids for that length of time would make me wish I were dead.
Amtrak: Ok, with the exact same info as used above, I got a price of $843! Now, to me, that's kind of steep. It does offer more amenities than the bus. Travel time is 1 Day, 3 Hours, 40 Minutes. It offers a dining car and more space than the bus but again, I think we can definitely do better for our money.
Skybus: I absolutely LOVE this site. It has limited routes and I happen to live near one of them. They have fares as low as $20 per person round trip based on availability! Let's see what they can offer me. Ok, for 4 round trip tickets it will cost me $748...not bad but still...I know I can do better. They're definitely on my list of possibilities though. Total travel time: 2 Hours, 21 Minutes. That alone is worth the money!
SpiritAir: The ultimate in deals. Every so often they will offer fares for a nickel per
person. I once bought us 4 tickets to go to Myrtle Beach for a
needed weekend getaway for less than $40! And they don't disappoint! WOW..$664
for 4 round trip tickets from Boston to Orlando. Can't beat that..and, I found
an online coupon for a free upgrade to their version of first class. We have a
winner! It may not be the "best" price but it's the most practical. I spend $20
more but arrive 24 hours earlier. Yep, a definite plus.On to hotels. Now, I'm not picky about a hotel. It has to be clean and since it's Florida, must have a pool. I don't care too much about amenities here because on vacation you'll spend relatively little time in your hotel room.
Radisson Worldgate Resort and Convention Center: It's a 4 star
hotel. It has 2 swimming pools (YAY!), a refrigerator in my room, FREE shuttle
service to Disney (which is only 11 blocks away), Starbucks in the lobby and a
fitness center. All of this for $65 per night! WOW..not bad at all. I wonder if
I'll find something comparable at a better price.Country Inns & Suites: Nice. They offer free breakfast as an amenity. They have a pool and a gift store. Nothing about free shuttle service though. The rate is $83.66 per night. Not so great, although the free breakfast is kind of a hook. Where else can you get breakfast for 4 people for $19? That's the price difference between here and the Radisson. I'm not convinced though.
Mike Ditka Runaway Beach Club Resort: This is a different twist on a hotel stay. You can get a 1 bedroom suite with a full kitchen for $99 per night. Now, that may seem high, but ultimately, it will save you a ton of money. I'm no stranger to
cooking. I have picky kids and eating in restaurants isn't that much
fun. I'd rather grab a box of Eggo Waffles and a dozen eggs for
breakfast than to go sit in a restaurant with the kids. Dinners could
be done much more cheaply also. The amenities are incredible. Free
shuttle, pool, fitness center (like I need to care about THAT), a sun
deck overlooking a man made lagoon. How incredible does that sound? I
think that's what I'm going to choose. I get free transportation, a DVD
player in our room (great for small kids), a lagoon, a full kitchen,
all for $99/night.Knights Inn Escape: This truly fits the bill for frugal! It has a free continental breakfast, free shuttle, mini-fridge and they offer mini-suites for additional fee. The price blows me away..literally! Off-season is $32.95/day and regular season is $39.95/day. This may actually be the best deal out there. They offer a weekly rate of $199. I can't stay in my own house for $199/week. My mortgage is triple that every week. So, what I'd save at the Runaway Hotel with a full kitchen, I'd probably save just as much, if not more, at this hotel. Now I'm on the fence. I'm seriously going to have to sit down and figure out what I would spend on meals and see what my savings would be.
Ok, that's enough for today. I'll let you know what I've decided on my hotel in my next post..which won't be far behind this one. Must keep your interest! I'm off to the casino tomorrow, with enough luck, I can buy Disney! Until then...Happy Saving.
