Hey guys! This post is about my Fall Break trip to Myrtle Beach with my boyfriend. I have come up with 5 tips when it comes to planning a beach trip so that it can be more affordable as well as over coming age restrictions.
1. Rent a Car
I have discovered a hack that everyone needs to know! It is possible to rent a car through a program with your university and CarShare.
With a .edu email address, valid drivers license and credit card you are able to rent a car at age 18. This program includes fuel, roadside service and liability protection.
The link to University of South Carolina’s CarShare: https://www.enterprisecarshare.com/us/en/programs/university/university-of-south-carolina.html
This is great because you will be saving so much money instead of using Ubers and it’s easier. For example an Uber to Myrtle beach from Columbia is $223 (including tip) ONE WAY.
And then you would have to Uber several places on vacation whether it is to the boardwalk, a museum, a park or a restaurant. And those could range from $6-$15 each!
And then you would have to Uber back! That’s at least $500 total for Uber.
DISCLAIMER THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY CONFUSING
I had several problems with booking the car and there ended up being an error in communication so I did not get the reservation and had to Uber to the beach.
I will post an article explaining how to thoroughly do this so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
2. Stay in an Airbnb
I definitely think that this is a cheaper option. Our Airbnb was about $90 per night but then we got hit with a service fee, cleaning fee, and tax which raised it to $120 a night which I did not think through.
However, this provides much more than a basic hotel does at the same price. Our condo has a balcony, full kitchen, living room, and several amenites.
The main reason we chose to stay in an Airbnb was because of our age! There are so many age restrictions in hotels where they won’t rent out to anyone under the age of 21, but I even saw a good handful with the limit set on 25!
With Airbnb it is possible to find units that rent to 18 year olds, but also some do self check-in so you can finesse the system that way.
3. Groceries
If you stay in an Airbnb that has a full kitchen, that gives you another opportunity to save money because you can cook your own meals.
I have been living off of meal plan burgers and salads and I cannot wait to simply cook ourselves some real meals.
If we go grocery shopping, we can save some money by cooking instead of going out, but also meet the homemade food cravings I’ve been having. It’s a win-win.
4. Activities
There are two kinds of trips, the do-all-the-things trips, and the low-key ones. If you are looking for a trip that fits along your budget, try going to the beach or mountains rather than the city. The natural resources are free to enjoy.
There are plenty of attractions to do in Myrtle like an aquarium, boat tours, and amusement parks but those all cost money. So I recommend skipping those activities and going to a nice park, the beach, and walking along the board walk.
5. Split the cost!
Herbie and I are fine with the cost being a bit higher because we wanted it to just be the two of us so we could spend quality time together since we are in a long distance relationship.
However, if you are going with some of your college pals, pack them in the Airbnb and split the cost. Throw some people on that pull out couch, and pack an air mattress. Do whatever you have to do to maximize the amount of friends you can bring and lower the cost.
Bonus: Pictures from our trip!
