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How to plan a budget-friendly vacation

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Are all the vacay pics flooding your Instagram feed making you jealous? Do you want to plan a summer trip but feel like you don’t have the time or money? We feel you.

Whether you’ve been picking up longer hours at work or the DIY bathroom project you started is costing more than you thought (curse you, Pinterest), there’s still a vacation that can fit your time + budget.

Columbia-based credit union AllSouth has compiled some pro tips on how to plan a budget-friendly vacation, that won’t leave you with a lump of debt or regret. Here are their recommendations:

  • Travel regionally. Consider drivable destinations like Charleston, Asheville, the Smokey Mountains or Myrtle Beach. Make sure to check out COLAtoday’s sister publications AVLtoday + CHStoday for city guides if you decide to venture there.
  • Book a last-minute cruise. Cruises typically offer great deals on unsold rooms so they can fill the ship. See a cheat sheet of deals here.
  • Think outside the box. You can save money by visiting less touristy spots (i.e. Ft. Lauderdale instead of Miami).
  • Take a cheap flight. Consider searching for affordable airfare + planning your trip based on what you find. CAE has some really affordable direct flights to hot spots like NYC and Orlando.
  • Read more tips here – like what you can do to make a staycation here in Cola into the ultimate outdoor adventure.

You’ll have that ‘Out of Office’ message set before you know it.

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