When planning for travel...think locally!

​I talk to so many people who were born and raised in Utah and have NEVER BEEN to our unique National Parks! How mind blowing is that? We have the most visited National Parks in the entire nation that haven't been visited by locals!

When thinking about your next vacation, consider traveling down these local avenues and return home with a heavier bank account! On your next vacation, consider going local as going local for your vacation has many benefits.

Your destination may be closer than you think...
Yes, that exotic 3 week vacation to hit all the sites in Europe sounds fantastic, but have you considered looking in your own backyard? I live in Utah, and many of the locals who have lived here all their life haven't even seen the seven gorgeous National Parks which people travel to from all over the world (I've heard multiple languages spoken on one trail hike!). 

Look in your own backyard, see what you can do inside your own state. Check 

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TripAdvisor and search inside your state to see what other travelers have enjoyed. Go to your local Chamber of Commerce and pick up a few local travel brochures. Google search for "Things to do..." and add your local destination to the search. You would be surprised to find out how many fun travel activities to delve into within 100 miles of your home! Does your location lend to a  border with another state? Even better! Search for localities within a two to three state area. Your search will turn up a plethora of types of museum, sites and outdoor adventures you would not have considered before!

On for the ride!
To get to your destination, you have many choices. For the budget traveller, a road trip is the most economical venue. Traversing the highways in your own car leaves you with no car rental costs, being limited with your rental time or worries about late fees,. Your car is your best choice for budget travel when you are moving around within driving distance from your home. Easily estimate the cost of fuel with Gas Buddy app on your phone. Type in the location you are driving to and the type of gas you would need to purchase and Gas Buddy will give you the most up-to-date pricing on cost per gallon in the US. Easily map your miles using Apple Maps, Google Maps or Waze for accurate mileage both to and from your destination. 

In addition to economy, using your car gives you the freedom to leave and travel to your next destination or adventure on your own time table; giving you more freedom when planning your trip each step of the way!

Economical stays
You may know that Air B'n'B rentals include condos and homes, but did you know Air also rents couches and shared rooms in homes? For the single traveler, you can't beat renting a couch for one overnight for $25, especially if the stay is simply an overnight to break up your road trip into two separate days of travel. If you are traveling in partnership with another, an economical choice would be a private room in a shared home. These are private furnished bedrooms in the same home, usually with a shared bathroom; however, you can find private bedrooms with private bathrooms for as little as $45 a night! At this price, you can stay at an Air for three nights at the price you would pay for one hotel night. Hosts are very welcoming and my personal experience has been very good with Air B'n'B stays.

For budget travel, using these steps can be an easy, affordable way to find your next local destination without having to break your local bank account making your adventure become a reality.

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