Creative Travel on Less Than $300

Just because you’re eager to get away doesn’t mean you’ll need to spend a fortune. Sometimes a weekend-long scenic hike is all you need to unwind. Check out 10 LearnVest ideas for weekend getaways that cost less than $300:

Head To A Bed-And-Breakfast.
We far prefer a solid B&B to a pricey hotel. In our experience, the rooms at a B&B are more uniquely decorated, and can cost as little as half of what we’d pay at a hotel. Recently, we found a B&B room in Portland, Oregon for $79. Compare that to $164 for the same type room at a hotel. (Plus, we get breakfast!)

Cruise Last-Minute Deals.
If you live near a port, sign up for last-minute cruise getaways from CruiseDirect. We found a three-day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas for only $43 per day!

Go Business Casual.
Opt for a business hotel in a nearby city for the weekend. Since they cater to the business crowd that usually stays during the week, weekend stays are sometimes as much as 50% off. Search sites like Starwoods.com or Hilton for hotels in specific cities…

8 Recession Road Trip Games

Even with the emergence of the “staycation,” many families will be hitting the road this Labor Day. So after the Harry Potter series ends on the DVD player, we suggest some timely car games to keep the fun rolling along. Print this guide and take it with you.

Spot a Sign
This one’s easy. In the wake of mortgage defaults and foreclosure-o-rama, for-sale signs dot the landscape like a new mutant weed. In a twist on “punch Buggy” or “slug a bug”—in which you punch the person next to you when you spot a VW Beetle—tag (we prefer it to a punch) the person next to you to signal you spotted a for-sale sign first…

The Recession Will End… When Staycations Are a Thing of the Past

Says who: Staycationers – those who have had to cut back on their normal vacation plans to far-flung destinations and chosen instead to spend their time off in their own backyards.

Why it might be false: Just because staycations are said to be the summer’s hot thing doesn’t mean that everyone’s doing them. In fact, cruises, campgrounds and destination spas are experiencing surges in traffic. Priceline.com’s recent 35% second-quarter profit increase contradicts the idea that staycations are dominating “time off time” and underlines that there are some great deals on the market. Even if staycationers aren’t spending a lot of dough on transportation or accommodations, they are still spending money and bolstering the local economies. In short, they aren’t as damaging to the economy as other spending cutbacks might be (like, say, on buying homes)…

Recessionary Travel Devices

Ah, summer. A time of travel, fun — and trying to cut down on staycations. If you’re getting away this summer, or even thinking about it, The Simple Dollar has these rules for keeping costs down. The list was written for businesses, but it seems useful for anyone heading out on the road:

Plan around public transportation. Before you leave, figure out how to get to your hotel using public transportation in the city, print out the route, and keep it with you. Do the reverse for the return trip as well.

Make lodging reservations directly with the branch you’re staying at. Use web sites to identify places to stay, but before reserving a room, call the hotel directly before using the online reservation system and don’t hesitate to ask for a reduced rate while on the phone. You’re likely to get a much better rate, particularly if it’s out of season, during the week, or you’re staying for a longer period.

Don’t spend a dime in the airport. Throw a few granola bars and an empty bottle into your carry-on bag…