From my marina-side suite on exclusive Bald Head Island, I am encouraged at how reachable such seemingly out-of-reach destinations can really be. It is moments like this that I can really appreciate the financial savvy of my wife who uses various social discount tools to give us breathtaking getaways at bargain prices.This particular vacation was obtained through a Groupon, of which my wife is an avid user. She often seeks out similar deals to give us the experiences of world travelers without the out-of-this-world prices that often accompany such excursions.
On this occasion, our travels took us to Southport, NC where we hopped the dedicated ferry across the Cape Fear River over to Bald Head Island. Unlike most vacation destinations, this one is only reachable by boat (assuming you don’t figure out how to gain access from the south end of Ft. Fisher).
Transportation on the island is by foot, bicycle or golf cart. In fact, there are essentially two main roads that lead from the marina. One takes you all the way down to the point (Cape Fear), where an exclusive club awaits. Another sends you back through the lush island foliage and beside the salt marsh, finally guiding you under Old Baldy, the island’s lighthouse since 1817.
After taking in the island’s beauty through two 8.5 mile runs and a golf cart race, it reminded me of what a coup this trip really was. Most of the island’s ecologically sensitive homes are available for a substantial rental fee, yet we were able to take advantage of a sweet deal that brought the cost down to our more reasonable expectations.
This particular deal was obtained through Groupon, though my wife frequents such online haunts as LivingSocial and Restaurants.com. She even had to delay our trip once due to my own business travels. Apparently it was pretty easy for her to reschedule.
Most of these deals work in similar fashion. If something might normally cost a couple of hundred bucks at market rate (assuming some slight deal), retailers will list their deals at full MSRP. Then you can purchase a package through one of these online discounters at half the rate, which still gives you a substantial bargain over the normal rates.
Over the past couple of years, my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed similar deals. Our typical scenario is based on her desire to dine out at a nice establishment. This request is usually accompanied by my grumbles about having to pay for the meal. We are a traditional household, meaning that she loves for me, the husband to pay for her, the wife. Nevermind that she is also employed!
Our compromise is that she will purchase one of these online discount coupons or gift certificates. Often she will buy a $25 gift certificate for anywhere from as high as $12 all the way down to $2. It is an exceptional value. Then when we dine out, I will present the gift certificate that she printed out and will pay the difference plus tip.
It is a great way for us to retain the traditional approach that we tend to follow, while giving us more of a modern balance that most married couples seek. It allows her to have wonderful experiences (I enjoy them too) and keeps my budget withing my guidelines.
It is true that I am always watching the bottom line, yet I know that we both need enough recreation to keep our lives interesting enough. For events like this, I am perfectly willing to dip into my savings temporarily to give us both a much-needed vacation. What I like best is that it allows us to do it without the normal “save for a year” approach. Instead, we replace a high-cost vacation with a low-cost option. In this case, we couldn’t be happier!
