Planning a family vacation is an exciting thing for both parents and their children. Getting the chance to spend time away from home can lead to stronger family relationships and create wonderful memories. Regardless of the destination, you will need to find ways to save money while you are away. Being a parent means you must be responsible and always thinking and planning ahead. When it comes to vacations you don’t want to overspend or stretch your budget too thin to be able to fall back on something when you return home.
We all want to save money wherever we can, but when it comes to travel you must do your research. Research is important in planning and should be done thoroughly. There are popular ways and methods to save money when traveling with your family, here is a list of a few.
1. Have a plan
You want to have a plan. There will be too much chaos and confusion to embark on vacation without thinking about your transportation, accommodations, activities, and costs. While some may be able to take spontaneous trips, others must stick to a budget to be comfortable when they return home. Pay attention to hidden fees on your bookings to ensure that your budget is correct. You may have to save money to help with your vacation and build your budget.
Planning for your family vacation will take time, though. Try to remember to include your children in the process as much as you can. This will not only get them excited for the vacation but help them learn about where they are going, as well. Your plan will save you time, money, and energy when you take your trip to your new destination.
2. Find the best deals on accommodations
Make sure when you are planning that you find the best offers on vacation rentals. There are many different websites you can visit that will give you some of their best offers on hotels, homes, and apartments. It is easy to find quality discounts these days with easy access to online research.
There are even places that offer group and family packages that will save you lots of money. For example, if you choose to take your children to Disney World or Universal Studios, it may be best to choose a vacation package for your family than to buy everything individually. You have to think smart when it comes to finding the best accommodations that fit your budget.
3. Find free or low-cost activities (Plan ahead for extra savings)
Try to save money while you are on vacation by finding the least expensive activities. Shoot for free ones like walking through a park or a museum visit. Research your desired activities to get a heads-up on what your costs may be. If they are out of your budget it may be best to find activities for your family on tourism websites. These sites usually have lists of free and affordable things you can do.
Some cities even give you the option to purchase city passes that will grant you admission into various attractions around the city for one price. There are free activities at almost every vacation destination, including:
- Have a picnic
- Find a festival
- Take a walk to explore
- Relax on the beach
- Read and learn about your destination
- Go to Farmer’s Market
- Get to know the locals
- Visit a National Park or UNESCO Historic site
4. Utilize Groupon and other discount sites
Discount sites are great for those who are looking for deals and discounts for their travel. Groupon is great for those who want to find good deals for group activities and travel, but you must be cautious. Create an account and search through to find the things you want to do in your destination. These are usually meant for groups but can be singular deals as well. Many people opt for these discounts to save money and get the chance to experience the things you have planned while sticking to your budget. You can even visit the official websites of your desired destination and visits to see if they have discounts or deals going for their products or services.
5. Consider taking a road trip
Sometimes it may save you hundreds of dollars to opt-out of taking a flight with your children and take a road trip. Road trips are great because they extend the vacation to the road and create some of the most fun and happy moments on the trip. Depending on the size of your family, buying plane tickets may be out of the question. Consider the destination you chose to determine if it is possible to take a road trip to save money.
Even if you can’t take a road trip, opting for a more affordable means of transportation for your trip is important. If you have the opportunity to take a train or bus ride to your destination, it would be ideal to stick to your budget. This can also create an exciting environment for your kids and also lets you set the pace of your travels.
6. Stick to your budget
The main goal is to stick with your budget. By following these tips you will be able to take a vacation together while saving money. To be able to stick with your budget throughout your entire trip, you want to make sure that you have done your research and have considered all the travel logistics and factors regarding your family trip. You will have to constantly keep in mind the amount of money you have spent and what you have to spend to monitor your budget properly.
To make your funds last your entire trip, make sure to practice smart spending and use intelligence before booking rooms or homes, finding activities, dining, and even purchasing a package deal.