How to Save on a Beach Vacation

The key to saving on a beach vacation depends on when and where you go.
Meghan Coyle
By Meghan Coyle 
Updated
Edited by Mary M. Flory

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You could have the sun on your shoulders and the sand in your swimsuit, if only you could budget for it. The good news is that your beach vacation doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some tips to get you by the ocean for cheap.

1. Check out less popular beach destinations

When you think of the beach, a list of America’s greatest hits might come to mind: Hawaii or Florida or Southern California. Perhaps Cape May in New Jersey or Myrtle Beach in South Carolina are places your neighbors go every year.

For a cheaper beach stay, try widening your focus. Look at destinations known for being less expensive, like Gulfport, Mississippi, or Pensacola, Florida. If you don’t mind cooler water, try looking into beaches in the Northeast or Northwest. And if you’re not set on saltwater, check out lake or river properties that can give you a similar vacation experience without the oceanfront rates.

2. Travel during off-peak seasons

The price of a hotel room or vacation rental at the beach can vary. To get the best rates, avoid traveling around major holidays like the Fourth of July or Memorial Day, and watch out for annual festivals or events that can drive prices up during certain weekends.

Instead, book rooms in the shoulder seasons of late spring or late summer when the weather is still good. If you have the flexibility to travel while students are in school, you could save a lot on accommodations.

3. Avoid beachfront properties

If you won’t be spending much time in your room, there’s no need to pay for the ocean view or even an oceanside hotel. Consider what your transportation options are and see if you could save money by finding a vacation rental or hotel a few blocks from the beach.

Some beach towns have buses or shuttles that make it easy for tourists to access the waterfront. Or perhaps the vacation rental has bikes or a wagon that you can borrow to make the trek.

And don’t limit your search for vacation rentals to Airbnb. You might be able to avoid some of the fees and get a better rate if you rent directly from the owner.

4. Bring your own beach chairs, umbrellas and toys

By the time you rent a beach umbrella and tip the sunburned teenager who put it up for you, you’ve probably spent more money than if you had bought your own shade. Save on the beach toys and accessories that you will use for multiple days over your beach vacation by bringing your own.

Brand-new beach pails and boogie boards can be expensive if you pick them up at the cheap souvenir store on the boardwalk, so your best bet is to buy them at your local grocery store or order them online before you leave for vacation. You can also try to thrift a beach umbrella or tent.

5. Pack your beach snacks

Those fries and a cold one at the nearest bar on the boardwalk may taste like summer, but the proximity to the beach may mean they come at a premium. Instead, pack your snacks in a cooler and have a picnic.

If your vacation rental or hotel suite comes with a kitchen, use it to cook an easy breakfast or dinner for the whole group. It’ll be cheaper than eating out for every meal.

6. Share the costs

Beach towns usually have more options for larger accommodations, so see if you and your friends or family can combine your vacations so you can split the costs. Getting a big beach house for everyone and sharing the costs of food you cook there might be more economical than trying to do a beach vacation on your own.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Travel Cards from Our Partners
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-5x

5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Points
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1.5%-6.5%

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Cashback

Intro offer

$300

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
4.7
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

2x-5x

Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

Miles

Intro offer

75,000

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Miles
See more travel cards
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