While we do have fun, holiday spending often feels like money just disappearing into thin air, especially if you’re the type who comes home from trips having maxed out their budget for travel. Hey, that’s what it was for, so don’t worry! It’s true that most people think about vacations as pure expenses, because an experience is the best thing you can pay for. But of course, there are actually ways to spend your travel money that can keep giving you value long after you get back home.
A good way to plan this is through smart vacation investments that mean you can still have amazing experiences, while putting your money toward things that’ll enhance your life for years to come rather than just a week or two. Some vacation investments or purchases can be very helpful and even guarantee you a spot in certain areas.
Let’s discuss what investments such as this might mean.
RV
Buying an RV might seem like a massive upfront expense but if you’re someone who takes a few trips every year anyway, the math can actually work out pretty nicely over time, especially considering how much hotel costs have gone up lately. You could find that having your own RV saves you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per trip once you plan out your accommodation costs, restaurant meals, and all the extras that add up so quickly during your usual trips. It will last for quite a while too.
RVs hold their value reasonably well too if you take decent care of them and buy a quality model from a reputable manufacturer, so you’re not just spending money on something that disappears completely like hotel stays do. There are many good RV parks that are inexpensive to stay in as well.
Timeshares
Timeshares get a bad reputation because of high pressure sales tactics and some questionable business practices in the industry, but if you can find a good deal on one in a location you genuinely want to visit often, they can actually provide decent value over many years of use. The math works best if you’re someone who will usually visit the same type of destination repeatedly and you’re disciplined enough to actually use your allotted time every year rather than letting it go to waste. This is why the Disney Vacation Club is popular for example, but it’s just one example. You could also potentially rent out your timeshare weeks if you can’t use them yourself, though this depends on the terms of your agreement.
Vacation Packages
Vacation packages that include learning experiences or access to places and activities can give you great value, especially if you choose ones that connects with interests you already have or skills you’ve been wanting to develop. Photography tours in exotic locations might improve your skills enough that you start selling prints or doing freelance work and might even give you the confidence to go pro, cooking classes in famous culinary destinations could inspire a catering side business, or language immersion programs might open up job opportunities too. Some people invest in themselves through travel this way, even just through meditation retreats to “reset.” It’s worth considering.
With this advice, we hope you can find a vacation experience that pays the most dividends over time.