By Lynn Pence
Eagle News Washington D.C. Bureau
IT’S that time of the year where all heavy jackets, thick sweaters, and head caps are hung up and stored away. Summer is that moment when everyone hopes to build fun memories.
For many families, summer is the time to go to your favorite destinations or even check out new exciting places be it a neighboring location or somewhere where it takes a few hours on a Boeing 737. Most families have to save or set aside a few hundred or even thousands of dollars for a good summer vacation. According to www.creditloan.com, $1600 is the average amount families spend for a summer vacation. In reality, for some, that dollar amount is way below what they actually spend. But for others they can stretch that amount to the last cent!
In our last vacation to Hawaii, my family probably spent about $2600. That’s about $1000 more than the national average. Travelling from Washington, D.C., all the way to the Pacific Islands is a heavy price tag, but nonetheless, filled with unforgettable moments we will all cherish.
Some top destinations that people visit in the USA are New York, Washington, D.C., and California. A lot of these destinations are filled with tourist spots galore! Everything from Times Square, national monuments and the effortlessly popular – Disneyland. All of these places have long lists of things to do with your family. And for most, it is money well spent.
As for popular destinations outside of the USA such as Mexico, United Kingdom, and Japan, these places definitely pack a huge punch. Not only in your wallet, but also lasting memories. A fun fact to know is that people in the USA are 57% less likely to take summer vacations because of work commitments. While in France 89% are more likely to take that wonderful, audacious, luxurious summer vacation!
“People don’t want to have to pay for those for 10 years” as stated in www.creditcards.com. Most of the people going on vacation will use their savings to enjoy their time rather than charging it on some high interest rate credit card or taking out a personal loan.
Equipped with all that planning and saving, you have to save time to pack your summer essentials! I spoke with a panel of ladies on Radyo Agila’s To Each Her Own show and asked what is their absolute favorite summer essential to bring with them. Some items that were discussed were sunhats, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and umbrellas. A lot of these items are extremely important because they shield us from the harmful rays of that big ole bursting star in the sky. It is important to always keep hydrated with water. No one wants a sick friend or family member on a summer vacation. Sunscreen is definitely something to never forget whenever you are outside. Sunglasses, umbrellas and sunhats help block the sun as well but more importantly, keep us looking stylish and trendy.
Saving up for your memorable summer vacation is a must in today’s economy. We can never forget those memories we have with our families because those are priceless. Always being prepared with your summer essentials can help us enjoy our time especially in a chic way. Now that summer is coming to an end, time to prepare for the bittersweet cold weather. Until the next summer – let’s keep daydreaming of our most cherished moments during our family summer vacation!
