Planning a family vacation that won’t kill your budget can be very difficult, especially if you have a large family. Does that mean that you should simply stay home all the time? Nope. It just means that you need to plan fun family vacations that you can afford.
How to Keep Family Vacations Affordable
Travel During Low Season
Christmas holidays and spring break are some of the most expensive times of the year to travel if you want to fly and stay in a hotel. When looking for affordable family vacations consider choosing another time of the year when prices will be lower.
It may mean taking your kids out of school for a week. But for the money you save, it may be well worth it.
Drive or Take the Train
The more family members you have the more your trip will obviously cost if you want to fly to your destination. An affordable, yet fun alternative may be to drive or to take a train.
Driving a long distance may get frustrating, but your kids may really enjoy taking a train, if it is an option. In fact, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is a great option for those that prefer to travel via train or car.
Travel During the Week
The price of hotel rooms sky rocket on Friday and Saturday nights.
The same room that may cost you $100 per night during the week will go for 3 or 4 hundred dollars on the weekend.
If you plan to stay in a hotel, consider leaving for your vacation on Monday morning and returning on Friday. That way you can take advantage of the lower rates.
Book a Condo or a Hotel Room with a Kitchen
Dining out can quickly eat up a good junk of your travel budget.
If at all possible, book a condo or a hotel room with a kitchen for your vacation. This eliminates dining out all the time.
Choose one meal a day for dining out and make other meals in your kitchen. Nothing extravagant. Toast, cereal and coffee for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch.
Buy sodas and snacks at a local convenience store instead of the hotel.
Look for Kids Menus and Kids Eat Free
Are you traveling with a number of kids under the age of 13?
Do some research online before you leave for your trip.
Search for family friendly restaurants that will be close to your vacation spot and check their websites to see if they offer a kids menu or a kids eat free at some time during the day.
Choose Activities Wisely
Instead of visiting every amusement park, zoo or aquarium during your vacation, choose to only visit one or two this time. And the ones you do not visit this time you can visit next time.
It gives your kids something to look forward to for next year’s family vacation.
Limit the Souvenir Shopping
I remember my first big vacation with my parents. We bought way too many souvenirs and most of them sat around the house for years collecting dust. Instead of doing that, talk to your family about only buying key items that you will really enjoy. It is always nice to have a token item from your vacation as a keepsake, but when you overdo it you tend to appreciate it less.
