I have started making plans to spend some time visiting my boyfriend at his home in upstate New York. He lives in a tiny little town in the Adirondack State Park, about 30 miles south of the Canadian border. Last year I was there for Thanksgiving and we were practically snowed-in the whole time. This year I decided to go up a month earlier in hopes of catching the fall foliage. Last night he told me that he thinks the leaves are peaking now. Since they start later farther south, I’m going to fly into Albany, and hope to see some on the four hour drive north.
I’ve got one free Southwest Airlines pass left, which I’m using for this flight. I know a lot of people charge everything they can throughout the month to their rewards card but I’ve always been afraid to do that. Since I’ve allowed myself basically no travel budget next year I’m going to give that strategy a try and start charging my monthly expenses to my Southwest Visa in order to get the free passes. I’m basically dipping my toe into this project and plan to jerk it right back out if I see any sign that I’m not going to be disciplined about paying the balance every month. If I can pull it off, I should be able to accumulate several passes a year. We’ll see.
Since I also live four hours from the airport, making this trip is a big effort on both ends. I’m going up a day early (pretty much a necessity) and will have an eye-doctor’s appointment while I’m in town. I have arranged to spend the night with a friend so that will do away with the need for a hotel room on my end. When I return, I won’t get in until after 9:00 pm, so I’ll either stay with her again or, if I feel good, I’ll come on home. Normally we have a hotel expense on either end of the trip, which really adds to the price. I’m trying to minimize that expense. Hopefully my boyfriend will be able to get us a room in Albany using his Marriott points so we won’t have to pay for that one either.
That just leaves meals. When you spend that much time traveling you do have to eat! In frugal mode, I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to approach that aspect of the journey. I found a generic version of Fiber One bars at Target the other day, which are pretty good. I plan to stick a couple in my purse to keep me from eating any high-priced meals in the airport. I’m not sure how I’m going to approach dinner at my friend’s house. If she wants to go out, I will want to pay, since she’s putting me up overnight. My much reduced budget only allows $30 a month for eating out so that might be a problem. I’m thinking about offering to cook for her. I could stop at the grocery before I even get to her house. Hopefully it would seem like a treat! I can probably do that without squeezing my grocery budget, which will be offset by my being gone. I may try and pack a lunch in a cooler for during the day. Then I’ll just have to figure out where to eat it! Luckily boyfriend and I are both on the same page, frugally speaking, so once I get to New York it shouldn’t be a problem.
Whew! As if travel planning weren’t tricky enough, trying to do it frugally certainly adds some challenges. All that aside, I’m REALLY looking forward to the trip. Winter, here I come!
If you have any frugal travel tips for me, please post them in the comments. I need them!
I’ve got one free Southwest Airlines pass left, which I’m using for this flight. I know a lot of people charge everything they can throughout the month to their rewards card but I’ve always been afraid to do that. Since I’ve allowed myself basically no travel budget next year I’m going to give that strategy a try and start charging my monthly expenses to my Southwest Visa in order to get the free passes. I’m basically dipping my toe into this project and plan to jerk it right back out if I see any sign that I’m not going to be disciplined about paying the balance every month. If I can pull it off, I should be able to accumulate several passes a year. We’ll see.
Since I also live four hours from the airport, making this trip is a big effort on both ends. I’m going up a day early (pretty much a necessity) and will have an eye-doctor’s appointment while I’m in town. I have arranged to spend the night with a friend so that will do away with the need for a hotel room on my end. When I return, I won’t get in until after 9:00 pm, so I’ll either stay with her again or, if I feel good, I’ll come on home. Normally we have a hotel expense on either end of the trip, which really adds to the price. I’m trying to minimize that expense. Hopefully my boyfriend will be able to get us a room in Albany using his Marriott points so we won’t have to pay for that one either.
That just leaves meals. When you spend that much time traveling you do have to eat! In frugal mode, I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to approach that aspect of the journey. I found a generic version of Fiber One bars at Target the other day, which are pretty good. I plan to stick a couple in my purse to keep me from eating any high-priced meals in the airport. I’m not sure how I’m going to approach dinner at my friend’s house. If she wants to go out, I will want to pay, since she’s putting me up overnight. My much reduced budget only allows $30 a month for eating out so that might be a problem. I’m thinking about offering to cook for her. I could stop at the grocery before I even get to her house. Hopefully it would seem like a treat! I can probably do that without squeezing my grocery budget, which will be offset by my being gone. I may try and pack a lunch in a cooler for during the day. Then I’ll just have to figure out where to eat it! Luckily boyfriend and I are both on the same page, frugally speaking, so once I get to New York it shouldn’t be a problem.
Whew! As if travel planning weren’t tricky enough, trying to do it frugally certainly adds some challenges. All that aside, I’m REALLY looking forward to the trip. Winter, here I come!
If you have any frugal travel tips for me, please post them in the comments. I need them!
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