We all want the most bang for our vacation buck, regardless of whether that buck is spent on accommodations, clothing, food or other expenses. While there are times when the greatest bang comes from purchasing a more expensive or luxury brand item that will go the distance, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, in fact, a more satisfactory experience can be obtained by selecting the less expensive option.
Enjoyment: While subletting a waterfront apartment in Florida, I found my high-end thong sandals to be a hindrance when it came to fully enjoying the sand and surf. Worrying about salt water and scuffing wasn't exactly conducive to an unabashed enjoyment of the immediate environment I was paying good money to access. My solution? Purchasing some sparkly, cheap flip-flops for less than $10 at the nearest super store when I swung by to pick up some black beans and yellow rice for dinner. My morning coffee walk and evening sunset beach stroll are now free of footwear stress.
Similar travel decisions have been made regarding which sunglasses to wear on a jet ski adventure, and whether or not an elaborate swimsuit splurge was appropriate to bring on a jungle hike through saw grass to enjoy an inland waterfall. Any time worrying about a more expensive item starts to diminish your enjoyment of a travel adventure, it's time to consider substituting a less expensive alternative. At least for that particular experience.
Duration: How long you are going to need a particular item can also be a factor in determining how much you want to spend on it. For example, my husband and I have room in our vehicle to carry our limited luggage, tech gear and one travel beverage cup each. Since hot coffee has always been a greater priority for us than cold water, we chose to purchase quality, $20 insulated travel mugs for road trips and go with $1 sport bottles for day trips and beach days while staying at short-term rentals. They are inexpensive enough to leave behind for others to enjoy, and we can easily pick up new ones when we get to the next location.
Paying less for short-term filler items is a strategy we have also used when purchasing extra swimming towels at thrift stores, disposable baking pans for holiday meals at vacation rentals and temporarily restocking liquid toiletries when we won't be able to take them home on the plane. There's no need to cut into funds you could otherwise use to secure a luxurious mountain cabin or the perfectly located hotel room in London. Both of these things will contribute to lifetime travel memories. Overpaying for a travel item you only need to use for 48 hours will not.
Dining: I'm all about fine-dining splurges and enjoying funky independent eateries on the road, but when I spend good money on accommodations with an incredible view, I want to enjoy that view as much as possible. To that end, we have currently redirected some of our travel dining dollars from restaurant experiences to the purchase of quality ingredients that are easy to prepare. Grilling up some goodies for an alfresco dinner on the beach, or having an early-morning coffee cocktail on the sand in my pajamas feels far more luxurious to me personally than getting in the car and driving through traffic to an urban coffee shop in the city.
Some of our meal plans for the next week include precooked rotisserie chicken with water-sauteed French beans and Spanish rice, spaghetti cooked with white wine and garlic shrimp, and an appetizer night with frozen stuffed clams and spinach triangles thrown in the oven. We've also whipped up antipasta plates, hummus platters and gourmet sandwiches. All of these things are simple enough to prepare that I still feel as though I'm relaxing, and every single one of them is less expensive than a mid-range takeout meal for two.
Bottom line? It's all well and good to enjoy the finer things in life, but keep in mind that the freedom from having to worry about damage to pricier items can be worth its weight in gold when it comes to enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime trip to an expensive destination.
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(Lifestyle and travel expert Myscha Theriault blends thrift and luxury to live well for less around the world. She has sold her home, all her furniture and most of her other belongings to travel the world full time with her husband. You can follow her adventures on Instagram via @MyschaTheriault.)
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