Gain privileged access to our best financial tools and content while we adhere to strict editorial integrity. Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long history of helping people make smart financial decisions. Our banking reporters and editors focus on the points that matter most to consumers: the best banks, the latest rates, the different types of accounts, the tips for saving money and more, so you can feel safe while managing your money. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly check editorial content to ensure that the information you are reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers. Bankrate editorial team writes on behalf of YOU, the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team does not receive any direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly verified to ensure accuracy. So, whether you are reading an article or a review, you can trust that you will receive credible and reliable information. Planning a budget-friendly weekend trip requires foresight and creativity, but the time and effort invested could not only save you money, but also make your vacation smoother. Transportation, accommodation and food and entertainment are the main expenses of a holiday budget. Let's take a closer look at each of these categories. Getting to and from your vacation destination can represent the bulk of your vacation budget, so start with transportation costs when planning your trip. In addition to airfare, if you're flying, consider other transportation costs such as car rental fees, gas, tolls, parking fees, public transport fares or ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft. Hotel prices vary dramatically depending on location and demand. A beachfront hotel room in South Florida, for example, will cost more in the winter months than in the summer when deals can be found. If your budget isn't generous and you're okay with fewer amenities, hostels or a RV park can help you save money. Food and entertainment expenses can lighten your wallet if you don't come up with a full vacation budget. They are usually among the last costs that travelers consider when planning a trip. Budgeting for a family vacation can be more complicated than budgeting for a trip alone, especially if young children are coming. You probably won't be eating in fancy restaurants or strolling through museums with kids in tow, but you'll probably have to budget for a larger hotel room and make reservations for activities they enjoy. Don't forget to search for group rates and discounts if eligible. AAA's Latest Travel Trends Report Shows Baby Boomers Spend the Most on Vacations, Probably Because 53 Percent of Them Are Retired. Millennials spend less but are more likely than other generations to use technology to book plans ahead of time. In addition, millennials are more likely to go into debt from travel says a VRBO survey; baby boomers are less likely to go into vacation debt. Be sure to keep an eye out for good weekends that do not fall on holidays that will have good weather and will be cheap to travel. I love planning and budgeting for a weekend getaway when I feel like traveling but don't want to spend a lot of money. For all your questions about money spent check out Mic's credit, savings, career, investment and healthcare centers for more worthwhile information.