Ways to save money on a family vacation

save money on a family vacation
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Source: unsplash.com/@Mika Baumeister

Are you wondering how you can save money on a family vacation? Summer is coming, and that means it’s time for vacation! Travelling takes everyone away from their routines – no more work for parents and no more school for kids – and can bring so much joy, adventure, and memories to the family.

However, taking the whole family on vacation can be expensive. For many families, what’s stopping them from having family vacations is their wallets. They think that it’s impossible for them to travel, so they don’t even think of planning the trip.

No matter what your budget looks like, there’s always a getaway that fits your spending limits. Luckily, there are many ways to take family trips together without racking up on your credit card debt. What is truly stopping your dream from going on that dream vacation? If the answer is “money,” keep reading for how you can save money on a family vacation and make those dream vacations happen.

Be flexible

If you can make a flexible travel schedule work, you can save a considerable amount of airfare and hotel fees. To save money on a family vacation, rather than staying for a whole weekend, plan a vacation for a mid-week stay. When booking plane tickets, make sure to fly during less desirable times, such as midweek, late at night, or early in the morning.

With the airfare savings, you can consider spending the night at an airport hotel to let the kids rest after those crack-of-dawn flights. Also, you can choose your destination first and then plan out the cost of the hotel for the length of your trip over different time frames. That way, you can easily spot the time frame with the lowest rates.

Go on a volunteer trip

Volunteer trips are a great way to save money on a family vacation and provide a much more immersive travel experience. This is a perfect solution if you want to travel overseas with the family while on a budget. For instance, you can check out Animal Experience International, where they have 26 different volunteer programs, including a wildlife rescue program in Guatemala.

The program includes onsite housing, training, meals, and volunteers to feed and clean the animals. Not only will it bring you a unique travel experience, but the volunteer work can also educate you and your children about the world while still being on a budget.

Rent a house

For family travel, the rise of home-rental services has been nothing but a precious gift to be cost-effective. We often struggle to share hotel rooms with family members, which gets especially challenging when you travel with a big family. Why spend money booking three hotel rooms when you can rent a house?

If you are looking to save money on a family vacation, renting a house is a cost-effective solution that gives you far more space and utilities than a hotel room does. Plus, you can save more money by cooking your own meals while avoiding any parking costs.

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Stay outside the city center

You can save money on a family vacation by staying outside the city center where all the tourist attractions are located and taking public transport to see the sites. The accommodation outside of the city center can give you a better deal, while you can enjoy a chance to see part of the city that you wouldn’t visit otherwise. Plus, traveling to the city center on public transport can be a fun experience with the kids.

Know where to look for deals

Do you know that you can find excellent travel deals through social media, newsletters, and apps? Lots of airlines, hotels, and travel companies announce discounts and promotions on a daily/weekly basis through their social media channels and newsletters. However, those exclusive travel deals to help you save money on a family vacation are only visible when you follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletters.

Also, travel companies may offer mobile-only discounts when you search for hotel accommodations or flight tickets via their apps. So, make sure to download travel apps onto your phone to be alerted when there’s a special discount.

Some trustworthy sites that you can consider when finding travel deals are Airbnb (for home/apartment rental), Gas Buddy (for nearby gas), and TripAdvisor (for flight tickets and hotel booking). These sites all have their own mobile apps, social media channels, and newsletters for you to keep track of upcoming deals.

Check out local experiences

Getting away from the crowded tourist attractions and experiences can make your trip more memorable and can also be a great way to save money on a family vacation. Tourist attractions can overcharge travelers because they know that’s where most people will come.

Farmers’ markets, local museums, or local parks are great places for you to visit. Not only do they give you a more authentic experience, but most of these places offer free entrance. Plus, they have a great background for when you want to take great family photos.

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Source: unsplash.com/@ Didier Provost

Conclusion

Family vacations don’t have to be pricey. You can have the most extravagant trip with your family without having to break the bank. To save money on a family vacation, take advantage of the tips above and work together with your family to have the best summer vacation ever!

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