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Visiting Destin on a Budget

Taking a beach vacation is one of the most popular vacations taken each year. Unwinding at a paradise-like area with your feet in the sand and salt air blowing your hair is the perfect way to take a break from daily life. Any vacation can break the bank in a matter of seconds when you don’t plan ahead. Your family beach trip doesn’t have to be wishful thinking. Here are some of our favorite tips to help you save money this year on a trip to beautiful Destin, Florida

Find out the best time to come. That sounds simple, right? It goes without saying that holiday weekends are going to be a busy time at the beach. Big school events are popular, too. Spring break means there will be a lot of people at the beach, families as well as college kids. You can check online to see which schools let out each week and plan accordingly. Planning to come during off-season when the rates are lower will help you save money and enjoy less crowded roads, restaurants, and beaches. Many rental companies offer specials and promotions throughout the year so it’s good to check frequently for any deals they may be running on Destin and 30A vacation rentals

Look for area discounts. If you’re visiting friends in the area, many restaurants and recreation parks have discounts for local residents. Have your local friends put in an order or purchase tickets and work out the details later. Popular savings websites like Groupon also have great deals on activities from watersports and restaurants to spas and salons.

Have dinner at home one night. Since the Gulf Coast area has visitors year-round, many restaurants feature menus catering to tourists. Fresh seafood is one of the main attractions to the area and you won’t have a hard time finding it. Eating out every day with the fam can add up so plan on cooking a few meals at your rental. Most vacation rentals include fully-equipped kitchens so you’ll have everything you need. Check out a local seafood shop and bring crab legs and shrimp back to your condo. You can also call ahead and see when select restaurants have happy hour to get the best deal on some delicious oysters.

Instead of bringing the whole crew to the grocery store and having to deal with hungry/tired kids that want everything, take advantage of grocery delivery. Plan out what you need for the next few days and put it all in your online cart at Publix or Whole Foods. This will save you a long trip to the store and all the extra things you didn’t want that you would end up leaving behind when you check out of your condo. At both stores, your first delivery is free!

Skip the souvenirs. This is a weird tradition anyway. It really won’t make your friends feel better that they didn’t get to go to the beach with you if you bring them Saltwater Taffy. There are beach stores almost every mile along the highway so you may be tempted but just save your money. Magnets, coffee mugs, airbrushed shirts – they are all overpriced and will get thrown away in no time. Make great memories with the family and hold on to the photos you took as your vacation mementos. Life should be about the experiences, not things.

These are our tips we stick with on vacation. Looking for little ways to save money will help you stick to your vacation budget. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up getting to extend your trip! 

Published on Tuesday, February 20, 2018