How to Plan an Affordable Summer Escape to the Beach
The Pinery Provincial Park | Elena Elisseeva
Disclosure: This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Ontario’s Southwest Tourism #BeachInOSW sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors
We all dream of escaping to the beach; there’s nothing quite like the feeling of warm sand between your toes, the sun kissing your skin, and the sound of water lapping at the shore. But dipping your toes into that warm sand does not mean you need to dip deep into your pockets to enjoy a much needed beach vacation. Fun in the sun can be enjoyed with a well-planned budget-friendly beach getaway – then you can afford to go again next year!
How to Plan an Affordable Summer Escape to the Beach
Consider a Mid-Week Stay
Planning a midweek escape can really cut the cost of a hotel room versus booking a stay over the weekend. You’ll also find a wider choice of locations available, as most people like weekend trips. If you can’t get away from work for more than a day, consider checking in on a Saturday and leaving on a Monday instead of a Friday through Sunday stay; you’ll still get away for the weekend, but at a lower price. Many hotels also offer a free night if you book an extended stay, so be on the lookout for these type of deals when planning your summer beach escape.
Consider Camping
You can stretch your holiday dollar even further if you consider your beach getaway as a camping trip. Many of the best beaches also offer on-site camping, like Long Point, Port Burwell, Rock Point, Rondeau, The Pinery, and Turkey Point. These all offer campsites which can be reserved for as little as $46.90 (including HST) per night.
Of course, sleeping in a tent isn’t for everyone, and if that is the case then you may want to consider one of these tent-free camping options.
Take Advantage of Local Offers
Don’t forget to be on the look-out for deals when planning your getaway. Ontario’s Southwest has amazing summer offers for great savings at hotels, restaurants and attractions on your beach getaway. Take advantage of local offers such as a package stay at Long Point Eco-Adventures for a savings of $100 per person or if you prefer, a wilderness pod stay for 10% off. You can even find savings for charming little Inn’s like Kettle Creek Inn in Port Stanley, and save on both your stay and dining.
Save on Gas, Avoid the Traffic
Why sit in your car for hours heading to cottage country this summer when the beaches of Ontario’s Southwest are easy to get to, with 5 beaches less than a 2.5 hour drive rom Toronto? Americans will see an even greater savings thanks to the current exchange rate, and all 14 amazing beaches in Ontario’s Southwest are within an easy drive of the Detroit, Port Huron, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Lewiston border crossings.
Living just outside the GTA in the Niagara region, we are pretty close to some of the best destinations in Southern Ontario. My childhood summers were filled with camping trips, day hikes, and trips to the beach all across Ontario’s Southwest. If you follow the tips here, you’ll find planning a family summer beach escape in Ontario’s Southwest a fantastic way to save money year after year!
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I love beach vacations. And I love the great trips you provided to show a variety of ways to save money on such trips. During the summer there tends to be a lot more flexibility with schedules, so planning a mid-week trip might just be the way to go!
I haven’t visited that beach area yet, but I’d love to do so. I’m with you on doing it midweek to save money too.
We love getting away to the beach. We try to go during the week as well there seems to be a lot less crowds then the weekends.
Thanks for sharing these great tips! I’d much rather spend my time at the beach hanging out with my family than worrying about how much it’s costing me.
I’ve never been to Ontario before. I’m fortunate that I live in RI, which is the Ocean State. The beach is very close and I go quite frequently during the summer, but rarely on the weekends. I don’t work during the week so I much prefer to go when it’s less crowded.
These are all great tips for escaping to the beach this summer. A mid-week stay great. Besides saving money the beaches won’t be as crowded either. Ontario does have some great beaches.
It’s been awhile since I’ve been to a beach in Ontario. Living in Alberta we tend to go to the mountains and stay in cabins. Hopefully, we will be able to make it to Ontario someday soon.
Yep Yep – the beach is my happy place. We have done some of these ideas to save money too. I am impulsive though so we often just get a nice day suddenly and decide why not drive to the beach just for today. That’s a fun way to make some memories in the summer I think. There are some great tips here. Thanks!
What a super easy way to plan an affordable summer escape to the beach, I love the idea of getting away from it all. Would help reduce some tension!
I love going to the beach! It’s such a great place to go to relax for a few hours and enjoy the sun!
What great ideas! I love saving money, especially on a vacation! I will definitely keep these tips in mind!
Excellent points! When my kids were growing up we camped at Doheny Beach in CA every summer. We loved it!
My husband and I are talking right now about quick escape to the beach this weekend!
I love your tips! Going to the beach is number 1 on our list this summer, enjoying it at an affordable budget would be great!
People forget how much shoreline Ontario has. There is nothing like its pure natural beauty either.
There is something absolutely wonderful about a trip to the beach. Your tips will make it possible for many people to come.
We have a great beach out by my Parents house. I have spent many days at Presquil when I was a teenager. The beach is a great way to spend the day having fun with the kids. I always bring a tent so we have some shade and it is a great place to take a nap.
These are great tips! Beach trips don’t always have to be expensive! We are planning one for next summer now.
I loved all the great tips! The beach is place for a fun day trip, everyone should be able to, and even though sometimes it can be difficult, there are still was to have fun
I had no idea your area had such beautiful beaches. I need to check them out when I visit for vacation!
I’m in the Niagara region….lots of quiet beaches around!
These are all great tips for running away to the beach this summer,the Beach is like 2 minutes walk from my home beautiful in summer not so nice in the winter
I’m fortunate to have a few local beaches around that are pretty awesome to spend the afternoon at!
We have our RV set up on a seasonal site close to the beach so we get to spend the summer there!