The 100 Best Affordable Vacations

by Jane Wooldridge, Larry Bleiberg

100 innovative ways to maximize your vacation while minimizing the price tag.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

287 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. While I got a few good bucket-list places out of this, the title is entirely misleading. The book mostly consisted of paid, week long places where everything is pre-planned for you. The prices ranged from several hundred dollars for weekend events up to a couple thousand for week long getaways. This is hardly easily affordable for such one-note, basic trips for many families. I was expecting more national park info, free/cheap roadside attractions, free museums, etc. I can assure you I don't plan to pay a couple thousand to go milk a cow on a farm or to take classes during the summer at a college, and most people I know wouldn't consider these "dreamy affordable vacations" either.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books like National Geo’s 100 Best Affordable Vacations. They’re great for browsing, for dreaming and for pure delight in anticipation of an adventure. Broken up into four segments, Americana, Into the Wild, Quest for Knowledge, Body & Soul, each provides enough suggestions for even the most traveled of us.

Those I’ve already done provide a bit of nostalgia and reminiscence, others that are on my list make me yearn to get away. Monarch Butterflies in Morelia, Mexico, dig deeper into Nova Scotia, hop a ferry to Alaska or some other exotic locale, all sound delightful and even as the book professes, affordable.

I was pleased to note that are at least 3 more 100 Best in this vacation series published by National Geographic. I’m going to order another and dream on…

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stars for difficulty finding nearby places/lack of organization, four stars for actual information once you find an area you're interested in. Most locations in the United States, a few in Canada or Mexico and nearby countries.

I started reading this before the covid19 pandemic, looking for a fun cheap trip for the summer. Maybe it's just the e-book version, but the organization should be better. The contents should include cities/states instead of just "Americana", "Into the Wild", etc. An index would also be great, and maybe a map to easily find locations/vacations near (or far from) where you live.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would not call some of these affordable. There was a lot of good information provided. I did not like the layout decision to interject sidebars (although this may be different in the print version as opposed to digital).

[Tamara Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too out of date to be really useful in regards to 'affordable' vacations. I didn't care for the way it was organized, and with no index, so you couldn't look up specific states or regions for destinations to visit. Still I got a few random ideas for quirky vacation themes.

[Gwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent--but shallow--start point for planning relatively affordable vacations across the United States. Very little detail is given, so for more information, you would have to look at a more specific guidebook.

I'm impressed that the authors are recommending hostels: excellent cheap lodging that usually attracts a fun group of people, but it seems that Americans aren't as pro-hostel as other nations.

Some of the vacations didn't strike me as "affordable" (at least in comparison with the rest of the book), like swimming with sharks in Belize and spa tourism in Mexico. And I've long been tempted by the Folk School in NC, but the price always stops me--I'm surprised that's included in here.

Things that made me chuckle: recommending SpringHill Suites and Trader Joe's...both chains, but you wouldn't really know it from this book.

My favorites:

Charlottesville VA and surrounding areas: UVA, wineries, Shenandoah, Monticello, Montpelier, and Ash Lawn-Highland

road trip around Lake Superior: Minnesota, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinac Island, and the Upper Peninsula

NYC: a lot of your standard Central Park/Staten Island ferry 'tips,' but some great recommendations for free walking tours, the NY Federal Reserve Museum, and the Cloisters attached to the Met

geocaching: I've never done this before, but it sounds like a ton of fun. Plus there's apparently a "Star-Spangled Geotrail" that covers the War of 1812 in the greater DC area

canoeing Boundary Waters: the lakes between Minnesota and Ontario--new item for my bucket list

Kiptopke State Park VA: sleeping in a yurt on the Eastern Shore!

"Mini University" at IU: a summer program in Bloomington with week-long classes

Volunteers-in-Parks: helping out at national parks, call ahead even if nothing is listed on the website. Also, volunteering for the American Hiking Society to maintain trails.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book - not because it plans into minute detail extravagant vacations (it doesn't) - but because it has so many good, quirky, interesting ideas I'd never think of. Each vacation idea is numbered and spans 2-3 pages. I liked that the entries are short and easy to take in - they're full of ideas at a glance, information on contacts and prices (including "splurge" ideas as well as ways to save).

I started paper-clipping vacations I'd like to try, but ran out of paperclips. The locations are not only within the U.S. but some are in other countries, particularly vacation ideas which ask you to volunteer your time to help others in need. The variety here is astounding - I think there is something here for everyone. A fun, exciting read. (And I've almost talked my husband into trying the zip line at Hocking Hills!)

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love planning vacations, even though we rarely take the extravagant trips I propose. I picked up this book because the "affordable" weekend trips it promised made me think I might actually get away more. Unfortunately, so many of the trips were on the east coast that they still were not "affordable", at least from my starting point. I enjoyed reading and continuing to plan anyway.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some of these ideas are just barely in the "affordable" category, I found several good ideas and useful information, for example, a link to volunteer as a national park host. The book is published by National Geographic so it is better researched and presented than many of this type. I got it as an e-book from my public library... and I just might have to go buy it.

[Pamela Whitcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great bucket list trips!

Now I have so many great ideas for trips I have to take! This book is a great resource for all kinds of creative and interesting trips. I kind of want to keep the ideas all to myself so everyone else doesn't create a crowd! Also good reference for addresses and websites.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just for budget travelers. Best used as a reference guide for travel ideas and inspiration. Each of the 100 items covers 2 to 3 pages and most give some alternatives and related ideas. Almost all destinations are in North America with the majority in the US.

[Pearl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this at BookSale for ten pesos! :D I'm so happy to have this one so I can improve my knowledge in best tourist spots and different cultures and traditions in North and South America. I hope this will also help in my major subject (Destination Geography). :D

[May-Ling · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was pleasantly surprised by how great this book is. the author does an excellent job of coming up with affordable, very unique excursions for vacations. i definitely noted at least 10 different destinations or themed trips that i added to my one day list.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is a misnomer. These aren't necessarily the most affordable vacations and even has some interesting more expensive ones as ideas. It IS however a book with full of interesting places to visit and see. I marked probably 8 of the ideas that sounded good to me. Good page flipper.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Affordable? Nice selection of places to visit and what to do while there, but no real tips for bargains. The idea behind the "affordable" part of the title is that the trips are all in the U. S. so you're not paying for international traval.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good little book for ideas but not so good for real planning. You will still need other books or the internet to plan the details. I'm not sure these trips are what i would consider budget either. There wasn't really enough detail to discern that.

[Grace]

Great selection of vacation spots, grouped for various purposes: Americana, Into the Wild, Quest for Knowledge, and Body & Soul. Most vacation locales appear to be in North America or Meso-America. Lots of details with contact information!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting ideas for a good, inexpensive vacation in here. Leave it to National Geographic to bring out the best in travel books!

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good ideas but none that were close enough to home to do soon. Scuba diving and rain forest trekking in Puerto Rico was the most intriguing but still unaffordable on my college student budget.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In reading this book it is just as fun to see if you have visited the suggested destinations or took part in the suggested activities.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many vacations spots require travelling that they aren't really affordable.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library, e-book

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Several neat ideas, but not a lot of detail given. Quite a bit of outside research would be needed to make a trip work.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice travel guide of you want to visit North America. Not all of these places are affordable, though. But all in all, this book is good eye candy for bookshelves!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to page through! Great for daydreaming & gathering ideas

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had some really super vacations. They were very unique, affordable, and fun sounding.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good starter ideas of what kind of trip you want to do (historical, music, civil rights, etc), but pretty much restricted to the continental US.