Are you excited? The mountains are calling, and the time has finally arrived for you and your family to begin planning your next thrilling adventure in the heart of the Smoky Mountains by enjoying a relaxing Gatlinburg cabin vacation.
However, these vacations can be a little pricey, so how can you help your family save a few bucks? To help our guests answer this question, we at Aunt Bug’s Cabin Rentals have put together our favorite practical tips and tricks on how to save money on a Gatlinburg cabin vacation in the Smoky Mountains.
1. Create a Budget (And Stick With It!)
Pre-planning for your family’s Gatlinburg cabin vacation is probably one of the best ways to save money on your trip. Not only will you map out all the fun things you and your family will want to experience, but you can also have an idea of exactly how much you will be spending.
In your budget, include everything from how much your Gatlinburg cabin rental will cost, the price of admission to your favorite attractions, and how much you project eating out at a Pigeon Forge restaurant will cost you.
Once you have the idea of how much you plan on spending, then you can start to look for ways to cut corners and trade some activities for cheaper versions.
Also, don’t forget to stick with your Gatlinburg cabin vacation budget once you get here. It is one thing to have a list of everything you plan on spending while you are here, but it is something different to actually follow said plan. Want even more tips on how to stick to your budget? Check out our tips on how to keep your Smoky Mountain vacation under $200!
2. Buy Groceries and Cook Inside Your Gatlinburg Cabin
Eating out is probably one of the most expensive things families can do during their Gatlinburg cabin vacation, especially if you plan on eating out for both lunch and dinner. Cut back on this cost by picking up groceries and planning to cook during your vacation.
These don’t have to be elaborate meals, unless you want them to be of course, but they will add a new special twist on your family dinners.
What is great about the several Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg cabin rentals offered by Aunt Bug’s is that each of our vacation rentals come with their very own fully-equipped kitchen. This way, you won’t have to worry about packing any plates, silverware, ovens or microwaves to cook while you are here.
3. Do Everything Free You Can Find
There are a tons of exciting attractions and shows that you and your family can enjoy during your Gatlinburg cabin vacation, however there is also a tons of free things to do in the Smoky Mountains that can help you save money as well.
A few of our favorite free things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge include:
- People watching on the Gatlinburg Parkway
- Tour a Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge Moonshine Distillery
- Exploring Cades Cove
- Drive the Roaring Fork Motor Trail
4. Look For Gatlinburg Cabin Specials
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg cabin specials are a great way to save a ton of money during your Smoky Mountain vacation. These discounts can range from a certain percentage off your stay to whole nights being free. The trick in saving the most money is to find which of the company’s specials is right for you.
At Aunt Bug’s Cabin Rentals, we offer several seasonal and year-round discounts on our Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg cabins. To find out which specials we have going on during the time of your family’s next Smoky Mountain vacation, be sure to check out our Smoky Mountain Cabins Specials page on our website.
5. Travel in a Group
Have you and your extended family always talked about having a family reunion? What about your friends who have always talked about getting away fro a few days together? Surprisingly enough, if you take them up on this offer, it is actually a great way to save money during your Gatlinburg cabin vacation.
Not only does more people mean that there is more ways to divide the vacation costs, thus making it cheaper per person, but several Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg attractions also offer group discounts.
6. Skip the Souvenirs
Yes, we understand that souvenirs are fun. They are a little token or keepsake that you can carry with you to remember all the fun things you and your family experienced during your latest Gatlinburg cabin vacation. However, instead of picking up a new keychain or magnet for your fridge, why don’t you try to just take as many photos as possible while you are here.
Not only is taking photos a free and easy way to capture those special memories, you can also take the pictures you took and turn them into your own souvenir after you return home.
For example, if you were lucky enough to snap a quick shot of the deer or bear your family saw while driving through Cades Cove, and you later turned it into a keychain for a present, that souvenir will probably hold a lot more emotional value than something you picked up in a Gatlinburg gift shop.
Don’t get us wrong, we long all the quaint and unique shops in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg that sell trinkets of the area, but if you are looking to save money, skipping on the souvenir purchases is a good way to go.
7. Remember Your Student or Military ID
It is amazing the number of places that offer a special discount for students and members of our country’s military, active duty and veterans. These discounts are the businesses’ way of saying, “Thank you,” for all of your hard work.
At Aunt Bug’s Cabin Rentals, we offer a 10% discounts for all active and veteran service men and women for their stay. Here are a few of our other favorite Smoky Mountain military discounts:
- Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show: 50% off entire party
- The Comedy Barn: 50% off entire party
- Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge: $10 discount on all tickets
- Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge: $5 off ticket price
8. Look For Coupons or Discounts
If you aren’t a student or member of the military, there are still several ways you and your family can save money during your Gatlinburg cabin vacation. You all can look for coupons and discounts to use while you are here.
There are several great sites that can link you two specials going on in the area, including Groupon.com and RetailMeNot.com, but our favorite places to find discounts are the several brochure stands located around the area.
Here, guests can find discounts to everywhere from Dollywood to zip lining, and all the fun and exciting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg attractions in between.
Know that you have learned all the amazing ways you and your family can save money on a Gatlinburg cabin vacation, it is time to put this new knowledge to the test by reserving your next family trip today. To stay inside one of the many relaxing Smoky Mountain cabins offered by Aunt Bug’s Cabin Rentals, give us a call today at 1-866-697-4581. One of our experienced vacation specialists will be more than happy to answer any and all questions you may have.
