Summertime is a fantastic time of year to plan your travel.  The kids are out of school, the weather is nice and you have probably been itching to get out of Dodge.  I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is that they tend to plan their vacations on one of the three big weekends during the summer, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends. 

I know it is a lot of fun to be out on the lake with lots of like minded people.  But, seriously, it could be costing you a bundle!

Plan Travel Around the Holiday Weekends – Have you ever noticed how gas prices seem to increase during the summer, especially around those holiday weekends?  I am sure you are aware of the fact that is not a coincidence.  Instead of taking that road trip you were planning on Memorial Day Weekend, go in mid-July when it is not a peak weekend.  You might find better deals all around if it is a low point in the season.

The money factor is only one part though.  When I was younger, I loved going camping on those big weekends.  I always used to feel the more the merrier.  Well, now I am older.  All those people just really stress me out!  Not only is traffic a complete nightmare on the road, but if you are camping or boating the nightmare does not end on the roads.  I remember waiting for more than an hour just to get a shower at a camp site.  Not to mention how dangerous the lakes were with all those crazy boaters on the water at once. 

It will be much cheaper and less stressful if you find a nice weekend around the holidays instead.  There will be fewer people and it should cost much less. 

Happy travels!