A beach vacation can easily turn into one of the most expensive getaways you’ll ever experience. High hotel rates, overpriced rentals, tourist traps, and impulse buys, fueled by the vacation mindset, can quickly drive up the cost of your time off as Reddit users have complained. This guide will show you how to avoid those unnecessary expenses and get some beach vacation savings for your hard-earned money!
Rent Chairs And Umbrellas Without Comparing Prices
Business located right on the beachfront know that many visitors won’t want to waste time comparing prices and will simply rent or buy from them, so they raise their rates. You could get a much better price on beach chairs and umbrellas by walking a block or two away from the beach. In fact, if you plan ahead, buying them at a store near your home before your trip could work out cheaper than renting them at your destination. Reddit user Seventhson77 commented: “It was the best $5 I’ve ever spent. Kid comes up, digs it into the ground for us, sets it all up. Got to stay with kids on the beach all day instead of 3 hours.”
Buy Sunscreen At The Beach
Sunscreen is one of the products that sees a significant price markup at beachfront shops. At boardwalk kiosks, convenience stores, and gift shops, you might find it priced 30% to even 100% higher than at stores back home like Walmart, Target, or Costco. Just remember to pack sunscreen before leaving home or buy it at a supermarket once you arrive at your destination. Reddit user Bar15arb noted: “Buy some sunscreen before you go. It will be like 5 times the price no matter which sandals resort you go to.”
Eat Every Meal On The Boardwalk
Beachfront restaurants charge a bit more, not for the quality of the food they serve, but for the ocean view they offer. Beach vacation savings also apply to dinning. If you walk a few blocks inland, and if your priority is eating well on a budget, you’ll find seafood restaurants, cafés and diners offering larger portions at lower prices. Some Reddit users indicated that a Boardwalk meal at Myrtle Beach cost between $20 and $40+ per person for an entree and a drink.
Assume Your Hotel’s Parking Is Your Only Option
Some beach hotels charge between $25 to $60, or even a bit more, for overnight parking on their premises. You should find out beforehand if there are municipal garages, public lots, or other parking options in the area that would cost significantly less. If you think about it, you’d be paying the price of a restaurant meal just to leave your car in a spot where you could park for free nearby. Reddit user TriStellium remarked: “I’d been going to Lauderdale by the sea for 3 years now and they raised the prices. It was $1.50 an hour for parking, then $2 an hour and now it’s $3!”
Wait Until You Reach The Beach To Buy Toys
When vacationing with children, the beach can get boring for them, so they’ll need activities like digging a hole or building a sandcastle. While they can do this with their bare hands, the buckets, shovels, and other gear you’ll see on the beachfront will catch their eye. Don’t wait until you’re there; buy them beforehand at a store near your hotel to get a better price. Reddit user Stuffthatpig revealed: “Skip buying the overpriced plastic sand toys and head to the gardening section. A couple of metal garden tools will last forever.”
Trending on Cheapism
Book a Beachfront Hotel Without Comparing One Street Back
Just like with restaurants, beachfront hotels cost hundreds of dollars more per night because you can see the sea from your room or the hotel restaurant. Other hotels located a block or two away from the beach won’t offer that view, but they will be cheaper. You could save those hundreds of dollars by walking for five minutes, as that is the time it takes to get from your hotel to the beach. Reddit user mmrose1980 indicated: “Do you spend a lot of time in the room? I factor this when making decisions about whether the cost is worth it. It’s really going to depend on the view and your travel style.”
Buy Drinks From Beach Vendors All Day
On a hot day at the beach, it is natural to crave a cold drink while sitting on the sand, but buying from roving vendors can drive up your vacation costs. Beach vacation savings are easy with a cooler. Instead, pack a cooler with bottled water, sports drinks, and snacks purchased at a store near your hotel or before setting out on your trip. You will be surprised by how much money you save, especially over the course of a multi-day vacation.
Forget To Check Resort Fees Before Booking
The price a hotel displays at the start of a booking won’t be the same as the final price; resort fees and other hidden costs incurred during the process will drive up the total. Beach vacation savings depend on checking hidden fees. From Wi-Fi charges to fees for accessing amenities, fitness centers, or pools, always make sure to compare the final price of each hotel before making your choice. Reddit user Temporary-Might421 commented: “It’s really frustrating to get to a hotel and find that they have a local fee on top of the price you booked. I’m so sick of everything, whether tipping, Ticketmaster fees, or hotels charging extra.”
Sign up for our newsletter
Rent Equipment From The First Place You See
If you want to engage in beach activities, such as paddle boarding, kayaking, driving golf carts, or riding jet skis, the cost of your stay could rise dramatically. Beach vacation savings include comparing rental prices. You can read reviews and compare prices online before arriving at the area unaware of the costs. Compare prices, and avoid buying from the first shop near the beach entrance; these tend to be the most expensive. Reddit user FastCar2467 revealed: “I joined a Facebook group and rented two chairs, umbrella, boogie boards, and pool floats for $50. Paid $100, and got $50 back when I returned them at the end of the week.”
Ignore Free Beach Activities
Some beaches host free concerts and fireworks displays, offer nature walks and festivals, and provide entertainment along the boardwalk, so be sure not to miss out. You don’t need to spend money to have fun or rely on paid attractions to pass the time; you can check the tourist calendar in advance to see if any events are taking place. Reddit user wifeandwhiskers opined: “You can ride a bike, pack a picnic, go on a natural walk, see if there is any free play arcade places, hope it helps!”
Buy Souvenirs At The Beach Entrance
Souvenir shops near the beachfront have the highest prices, so to buy local souvenirs, such as T-shirts, magnets, seashells, and beach memorabilia, walk a few blocks inland. Beach vacation savings apply souvenir shopping too. Also, avoid impulse buys; wait and ask yourself at the end of the trip if you really want the item. Reddit user strwbrymocha indicated: “I like to buy things that I’ve been meaning to purchase. I have a pair of work pants from Toronto and a sleep shirt from Cape Cod, they all remind me of my trips when I use them.”
Pay Resort Prices For Breakfast Every Morning
Breakfast buffets at beach hotels can cost from $20 to $40, whereas if you venture away from that area, local diners, cafes, and bakeries might serve an equally good breakfast for much less, or you could even prepare it yourself if you’ve rented a property with a kitchen. You can save a lot of money by skipping the hotel breakfast. Reddit user Mydogwearssocks revealed: “Don’t eat in hotel restaurants. They cost more, provide less, and the food is worse. They can do all of that because they know the hotel guests will do what is easy.”
Forget About Beach Gear Airline Fees
When going on a road trip for your vacation, you can bring many items from home; however, if you fly, bringing things like umbrellas, coolers, wagons, and chairs isn’t worth it, as the cost of getting them onto the plane would be higher than simply renting new ones at your destination. Beach vacation savings depend on how you travel. Reddit user pnkcryn indicated: “I bought a perfect beach chair from Home Depot for $10 but I had to get that onto the plane as inexpensive as possible.”
Leave Valuables Unattended
In a relaxed vacation setting, you might leave your valuables unprotected because you aren’t on guard, and losing your cellphone, smartwatch, wallet or camera can be very costly. Beach vacation savings also mean avoiding costly losses. When heading to the water, have a family member stay with your belongings at the beach umbrella and take turns doing so. Alternatively, you can leave them in your hotel room safe. Reddit user [borrado] remarked: “I try to limit what I bring to the beach, I don’t bring my entire wallet. Sometimes I put a towel on top of valuables and then pile something on top of that, or semi-buried in the sand.”
Skip The Grocery Store On Arrival
One of the best ways to break the habit of impulse buying is to head to a grocery store as soon as you arrive at your beach destination. Beach vacation savings often start with groceries. You can stock up on water, snacks, sandwiches, fruit, sunscreen, coffee, and even breakfast food. You’ll save a lot of money by not having to buy these items once you’re at the beach or in the immediate area. Reddit user EmilyChen10 stated: “Going to a grocery store will help you get insight into the local culture, skip a night to a restaurant!”
Assume Every Beach Activity Has To Cost Money
You don’t have to spend a lot of money when visiting the beach, as many of the experiences available to you are free. Beach vacation savings include free activities. Walking along the shoreline, collecting seashells, fishing from public piers, playing beach volleyball, and watching the sunset cost little to nothing. You shouldn’t overlook these activities in favor of spending money on excursions right away. Reddit user CleverNameTheSecond opined: “You can go hiking, biking or stay at the beach. Anything nature really helps.”
Why Beach Vacations Become More Expensive Than People Expect?
Beach vacations often lead to impulse buying, and in many tourism-driven areas, prices are very high. Keep these beach vacation savings tips in mind. When you are surrounded by souvenir shops, beachfront restaurants, and resort amenities, be aware that they are designed to make it easy for you to spend money. The upside is that many of these expenses are optional, and that is what you need to keep in mind. Your spending will depend entirely on what you choose to take out of your wallet.
