7 Tips for Family Travel on a Budget

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Family travel on a budget is not the easiest thing to do if you don’t plan ahead. Vacation spots are not exactly set up to be inexpensive after all. They want your dollars and the system is set up against you if you go to a tourist type area. Fortunately, there are ways of having your vacation cake and eating it too.

If you plan ahead, saving money is possible. In fact, you can vacation like royalty.

7 Family Travel on a Budget Tips:

Try to Purchase Everything in Advance – This is the one tip that is relatively universal in the travel industry. If you want to save money, you will need to purchase things ahead of time. This includes reservations, tickets to theme parks, museums, concerts, water parks, and countless other things that you might do on vacation. If you can buy ahead, you will be well on your way towards saving on your vacation.

Stay Outside the Tourist Area – Some people avoid tourist sites like the plague. If you are one of those families that enjoy the bigger tourism sites, you can save a ton of cash by sleeping just outside the center of activity. You may have to travel just a little to get to the “main attraction” but you will save a ton of money.

Rent a Home Instead of Hotel – If you can possibly do so, renting from an individual will be much cheaper. Homes are usually much more comfortable as well.  We’ve used VRBO several times and have always stayed in great locations within our budget.

Drive Rather Than Fly – Flying is expensive right off the bat and then you still have to worry about travel once the plane hits the ground. Look into driving yourself and you will loosen that budget.  See my tips to “plan road trip” and get that marked off your list!

Bring Your Own Food – Food is always marked up incredibly high at these tourism sites. Pack a majority of the basic staples in a cooler and you will come out much cheaper. Family travel on a budget is all about finding these little ways of saving cash.

Consider the Off Season – If you plan it right on the edge of the season, your vacation can be absolutely perfect. Find out when the seasonal rates drop and go right after that date. Generally everything will still be open and you will have great weather.

Find the Kid Friendly Hot Spots – When you travel as a family, kids can be a large part of the expense. Find travel destinations that offer kid friendly prices and discounts. Some places offer freebies and can save you lots of money. Seek them out ahead of time and you will be ahead on the budget from the start.

Family travel on a budget is really about planning and compromise. If you do both of these things, you will be able to vacation and not stress the finances.

How does your family travel on a budget?