By Amy Mutual

As vacationers scramble to find the best vacation deals, sometimes mistakes are made with the best intentions. Here are the

Top 5 Recession-Based Vacation Mistakes:

1. Staycations

Everyone’s talking about taking a staycation as a way to save money this year. If you haven’t yet heard of a staycation, it is a vacation in which you stay at home and do fun things in your area you wouldn’t normally do. The disadvantages to a staycation far outweigh the advantages. First, at home you and your family have a routine that is difficult to break. Your children won’t automatically act like they’re on vacation just because you tell them to. They’ll still want to hang out with their friends, watch their favorite shows, and do their own thing. For you, it is very easy to get wrapped up in things that need to get done around your house. After a couple of days, you will more than likely find your kids having a spend-the-night party while you clean ceiling fans and rearrange your pots and pans.

Seeing different places and experiencing new things together is invaluable for you and your family. This time creates memories that bond your family together. Additionally, the ability to “get away” is a learned skill, one that you want to teach yourself and your children. Truly “getting away” requires an abandonment of your daily routine and daily influences. Even the most disciplined family will have a hard time abandoning their daily routines and recharging during a staycation.

2. Disney World

With all the specials, Disney World is offering, it is tempting to take advantage of these great deals. Ashley Ouellette was so tempted, she went in February, 2009. The expense of Disney far surpassed the accommodations and ticket price. When she added the whole thing up, there were many places she would have rather traveled for the expense. “I was amazed at all the people trying to have fun with children in strollers,” said Ouellette. “They looked miserable and all I could think was, ‘Your child won’t even remember this. Wouldn’t you rather take him to a sandy beach and let him put his toes in the ocean for the first time?’ I spent way more than I budgeted and was disappointed in the entire experience.”

3. Waiting until the Last Minute

Travelers have been taught to think, if they wait until the last minute, they’ll get a deal. It’s not necessarily true. Guests that wait until the last minute get the left-overs, not the best an area has to offer. Go ahead and do your research early. If you know exactly what you want, finding the right deal is easy, and you won’t have to wait until the last minute.

After you make your reservation, keep an eye on the location. If a better deal does come up, politely call the travel provider and ask for the same deal. If that isn’t possible, ask for a dining certificate or an upgrade so you can travel in style. You can spend your pre-vacation time looking forward to and planning the fun part of the trip instead of obsessing about getting a last-minute deal.

4.VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner, a.k.a. Very Risky Buying Option)

A plethora of budget magazines recommend renting vacation rentals directly from owners to try to save money. In most cases, this is a terrifying way to travel. Typically, these owners live out of the area and, in some cases, out of the country. Consider your own home and all the things that can go wrong. If any of these things happen in your family’s vacation rental, when renting directly from an owner, you can be in a horrible situation very quickly. I personally rented one of these a few months ago. With everything I had to spend for bug spray, kitchen items they didn’t have (like a can opener), light bulbs, etc. -and all the hassle of the air conditioner being out for a day and a half, the garbage disposal not working, the bugs, and the missing screen door on the screened porch, I really regretted not having booked through a management company.

Vacation rentals are a great way to travel on a budget with their full kitchens, washers and dryers, separate living areas, multiple bedrooms, and various amenities. Management companies have standards, for example, making sure you have clean sheets, enough plates and flatware, and adequate towels and kitchen items. Many companies guarantee working TVs in every room, DVD players, cable, appliances, and free wi-fi.

The main perk of a vacation rental management company is service. They are there to fix whatever goes wrong during your stay. Additionally, they have staff to help with your travel planning and offer travel insurance in case you have to cancel. The property management company can also move you to an acceptable location if things go wrong. An individual owner can’t and won’t be able to accommodate you if, after traveling hundreds of miles, you find your rental uninhabitable.

5. Shortening the Vacation

Another result of the economic uncertainty is the trend of families taking shorter vacations to save money. The recommended vacation length is 5-21 days in order to fully rejuvenate. Fortunately, this year many vacation destinations are offering a free night or two for week long stays, so don’t sell yourself short. For example, Kaiser Realty Vacation Rentals in Gulf Shores, AL is offering 7 nights for the price of 5 in all their Gulf-front condos and beach houses through July 31st. You and your family need a break, so take advantage of these offers and take the time you deserve.