With the dogwoods blooming and the last of the cold snaps most undoubtedly in the rear-view mirror, many of us are already planning our spring trips and summer vacations. This means it’s time to break out the notepad (or smartphone) and start jotting down that makeshift list of things to take with us and remember on our seasonal excursions.
We always seem to bring enough socks and underwear to last us a year, but we are inevitably going to forget about some stuff until we’re already there. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of things to check before heading out on your next trip, because most of us don’t wanna get caught paying $100 for a pair of sunglasses. And on that note . . .
1) Don’t Buy Beach Attire at the Beach
I’m convinced anyone who doesn’t mind dumping hundreds of dollars on a couple of swim suits and a pair of sunglasses must be suffering from some type of neurological disorder. The various gift and surf shops along the Atlantic coast may be known for monogramed shot glasses, airbrushed t-shirts, tacky license plates and racy beach towels, but the bare essentials are better sought out elsewhere. Just one word sums up the answer to any of your beach-supply needs: Amazon.
Amazon sells everything you can imagine from around the world (excluding illegal drugs and firearms) so chances are you can order the items that usually fill your beach bag online and have them arrive on your doorstep long before you set out on your trip. Make sure you browse Amazon when you’re looking for sunglasses, hats, t-shirts and bathing suits, while saving your beach towel and sandal shopping for your trip. These items are usually sold at a discount compared to the same items on Amazon, as they are the items designed to lure tourists into the stores.
2) Smartphone Shopping for Gas Deals
Everyone who has traveled to the coast at one point or another has most likely been hit with a ridiculous gasoline bill after paying way too much at the pump. It’s always been rumored that gas is always a lot higher at the beach, so we should fill up our tanks well before we arrive at the coast.
The reality is that gas station prices fluctuate wildly along the Atlantic coast. It’s not uncommon to see gas prices off a major interstate significantly higher than a reputable station just a few blocks away, which is why I recommend using your smartphone to shop for gas throughout the course of your trip.
My personal favorite app is Mapquest. This app will pull up a list of gas stations from cheapest to costliest fuel while detailing the stations’ locations on a map, making finding the best rates on the road a cinch. Start playing around with Mapquest and you’ll be sure to find the best gas prices updated daily in no time.
3) Lock Down the Fort
We’ve all been guilty of being so excited to head out the door and get on the road that we’ve undoubtedly left a few things unchecked at the house before leaving. While compiling your list of things to pack into your suitcase for your next trip, remember to include at the bottom a list of things to take care of on the home front before you go, like setting your thermostat to kick on only in extremes, or just turning it off altogether. I usually shoot for 80 degrees in the summer if I know I’m going to be gone for a few days. It saves money (especially during the high summer rate season) and will keep your unit from freezing up while you’re away.
Unplugging everything in the house is also a great way to save money on long trips while preventing the occurrence of “vampire power consumption” in the home. For more info on vampire power there’s an interesting “HowStuffWorks” article here. I was surprised at how much power we waste daily just to keep our devices on standby.
There are several ways you can assure you’re saving at least a little money before your next vacation kicks off. These are just some simple things to consider trying before booking your next trip, but remember that when you’re on vacation it’s alright to go overboard on a restaurant every now and then.
Personally, I think cheap food tastes better, but my wife tends to disagree, and a happy wife makes for a happy life. Check back later for more ways you can save money while traveling to the coast.
