Travel.

Travel. I have been wanting to do more of that lately. It is not that I dislike where I am from, but it is nice to have a change of scenery. It allows you to escape from reality for a moment and marvel at the beautiful world that God has created. 

Days are getting shorter; and the time to slay your warmer wardrobe is approaching. Although Fall is right around the corner, you just might want to take one last summer vacation, but you’re on a budget...what do you do?! 

This year, my boyfriend and I decided to take a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC for our last summer vacation. The tips below are what I have learned from planning this trip, and I hope they will help you plan your budget-friendly vacation as well.

1 – Driving vs. Flying.  Before my boyfriend and I chose to travel to Myrtle Beach, we wanted to go to Orlando, FL.  Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. And, it cost us quite a bit of cash. So, make sure you do not make the mistake of purchasing a non-refundable ticket! After licking our wounds, we both decided that we would go somewhere equally as nice, but closer.  The winner was Myrtle Beach! Our destination was only six hours away. That said, I suggest that if your destination is six hours or less away from your starting point, you should drive. Driving saves a lot of cash, you will avoid the headache of trying to get a refund for plane tickets, and you get to bond with bae!

2 – Member Discounts for Hotels. If you’re like me, then you want your hotel to be luxurious, yet inexpensive. Finding a hotel in Myrtle Beach was hard because those that were low in cost were undesirable. The décor was dated and there were horrible reviews from travelers on TripAdvisor. I continued searching for hotels on websites like Travelocity and Expedia until I remembered the benefits of being a member The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Luckily, I found a beautiful resort (Doubletree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront) through their hotel finder search engine. The resort is right on the beach and almost every room has a balcony with an ocean view. Because I was a member of the honor society, I got a 60% discount off the original price of the resort. So, I encourage everyone to think about the honor societies or groups of which they are members and put those discount offers to use.

3 – Revamp Your Wardrobe.  Instead of spending tons of money on new clothes for the trip, it is best to search through your closet for your favorite pieces and revamp them. Initially, I wanted to get another swimsuit. I totally overlooked the one I am wearing in the picture -- just because it is a few years old. Then I thought, accessorizing it would give it a fresh look. Since it’s so late in the season, most of the swimwear in stores is out of stock. Then, I could not find a cover up. I decided to buy a breathable, lightweight poncho and cut along the hem of the neckline to create an off-the-shoulder look. To make my outfit “pop,” I chose to go with big hoop gold earrings and gold oversized sunglasses.

If you still want to buy new threads, I have a few options below that you can choose from that are similar to mine. 

Have a safe and happy Labor Day!