Whether you are close to broke or are in need of saving a few dollars, there are many options for those who are looking for cheap getaway ideas. With just a little bit of research, you can soon be out the door and taking the break you so genuinely need.
Avoid spending all your change by staying closer to home. Instead of a six-hour flight and a large hole in your savings account, stay local. Skip the big, expensive hotel rooms and book a night at a bed and breakfast. A bed and breakfast is a private home where the owner lives while accommodating guests either in rooms in the house or in separate cottages. They can be found in every state and offer not only cheaper rates in general, but also more individualized attention as rooms tend to be few.
Stay in the town at the far side of the county and explore what it has to offer. Most of us leave on vacation for more sought-out destinations. But exploring a nearby town can be fruitful in its own right. Sometimes just changing the scenery even minimally can give you the break you need.
Head into the wild and breathe in that fresh mountain air. Break your piggy bank, buy what you need to eat, grab your pack and a tent and go camping. Camping is an ideal way to save money and get away. Camping usually means far fewer people than most other getaway ideas and the cost of lodging and food is less than half of what it would otherwise be.
Spend your day exploring the area with a hike. Release the stress of life's routine by hiking in the surrounding countryside while keeping an eye open for wildlife. Take off your shoes and walk across that ice cold river and the slimy, slippery green stones while attempting not to fall. You can also just sit underneath that red willow tree and take a nap or have a picnic.
Don't go anywhere but still get away. Often times getting away can just mean avoiding humanity. Instead of spending your loose change, consider a getaway while still at home. Start by turning off the cell phone and unplugging the house phone. Turn the power off any device that reminds you of either work or time such as pagers and alarm clocks.
Make the getaway more fun by telling everyone you're going someplace else (you can tell them the truth afterward if the guilt is too much). Have a pizza delivered and enjoy it over a couple of cold beers while spending the night watching old episodes of "Carnivale" or have a horror film night. If the television repulses you, step into a nice warm bath, light some candles and have a glass of crisp pinot grigio.
