What may at first seem like the Holy Grail – a family vacation that makes everyone happy and still fits within your budget – is an attainable goal. With proper planning, research and some flexible thinking, you can achieve an affordable vacation that goes beyond visiting the grandparents or staying close to home. Consider these tips and tricks for planning a fun family vacation on a budget.
Focus Your Online Vacation Searches
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1. Sign Up for Online Airfare Alerts
If your family vacation will not be within driving distance, sign up right away for online fare alerts. Many of the airline clearinghouse sites offer this feature. Set up alerts for the destinations you most want to visit, then also plug in a few backups (perhaps alternate airports, which might require a longer drive after your flight to your destination, but may be worth it for the reduced airfare). You’ll get updates directly to your email inbox and get a better feel for what destinations are achievable, which might be out of range and which are surprisingly affordable. Start your search early for the best availability and possible deals.
If your family vacation will not be within driving distance, sign up right away for online fare alerts. Many of the airline clearinghouse sites offer this feature. Set up alerts for the destinations you most want to visit, then also plug in a few backups (perhaps alternate airports, which might require a longer drive after your flight to your destination, but may be worth it for the reduced airfare). You’ll get updates directly to your email inbox and get a better feel for what destinations are achievable, which might be out of range and which are surprisingly affordable. Start your search early for the best availability and possible deals.
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2. Do Your Online Vacation Searches on a Weekday
While not a sure bet, some vacation seekers have luck on Tuesday afternoons – this is generally when airlines will put seats up for sale. However, don’t hinch all your hopes on this trick. Try it, then make time throughout the week to check again for rates and availability. Be flexible about the times you will fly. While a red-eye flight may not be optimal with an infant, it might be just fine with older kids and save you a bundle.
While not a sure bet, some vacation seekers have luck on Tuesday afternoons – this is generally when airlines will put seats up for sale. However, don’t hinch all your hopes on this trick. Try it, then make time throughout the week to check again for rates and availability. Be flexible about the times you will fly. While a red-eye flight may not be optimal with an infant, it might be just fine with older kids and save you a bundle.
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3. Book Off-Peak Flights
Just like you might consider an overnight flight if that works for your family, you might also book mid-week instead of Friday, Saturday or Sunday. If it works for kids to miss a day of school on either end of a school vacation week, definitely try to fly then. Or, think completely outside the box and book off-season. Visit a beach resort during the “shoulder season,” right before or after high season when the weather is still optimal, but the crowds are fewer and hotels still need to fill rooms, or a ski resort in the summer, when instead of schussing down the peaks, you can be hiking or biking on the trails instead.
Just like you might consider an overnight flight if that works for your family, you might also book mid-week instead of Friday, Saturday or Sunday. If it works for kids to miss a day of school on either end of a school vacation week, definitely try to fly then. Or, think completely outside the box and book off-season. Visit a beach resort during the “shoulder season,” right before or after high season when the weather is still optimal, but the crowds are fewer and hotels still need to fill rooms, or a ski resort in the summer, when instead of schussing down the peaks, you can be hiking or biking on the trails instead.
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4. Sign Up for Deals
We know how email spam can pile up, but sometimes those sale messages are just what you were looking for. Sign up at hotel chains you favor, airlines you’ve used, your airline loyalty program and more to focus the deal-driven emails you’re getting. Later, when your vacation is a wonderful memory, you can unsubscribe. But in the meantime, signing up for these deals and special offers will spark your creativity and give you an open mind about a budget-friendly family vacation.
We know how email spam can pile up, but sometimes those sale messages are just what you were looking for. Sign up at hotel chains you favor, airlines you’ve used, your airline loyalty program and more to focus the deal-driven emails you’re getting. Later, when your vacation is a wonderful memory, you can unsubscribe. But in the meantime, signing up for these deals and special offers will spark your creativity and give you an open mind about a budget-friendly family vacation.
Be Flexible
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1. Consider Nontraditional Accommodations
In the age of VRBO and AirBnB, there are so many more options than a traditional hotel room. What will work for one family won’t necessarily work for another, depending on how many children you have, what their ages, what their mobility, etc. Look for vacation homes or apartments in the destination you want to visit – perhaps you’ll get a condo at Disney World, so you can make breakfast at “home” every morning and there are separate bedrooms for parents and kids. Or, nab a flat in downtown London, where, again, you’ll have more flexibility to come and go and can cook in the apartment (also saving you money!). If you live in a popular vacation destination, you might even consider exchanging homes with another traveling family. If you’re an outdoorsy family, consider camping or RVing. Be open to possibilities and you’ll be amazed at how you can bring down your vacation expenses.
In the age of VRBO and AirBnB, there are so many more options than a traditional hotel room. What will work for one family won’t necessarily work for another, depending on how many children you have, what their ages, what their mobility, etc. Look for vacation homes or apartments in the destination you want to visit – perhaps you’ll get a condo at Disney World, so you can make breakfast at “home” every morning and there are separate bedrooms for parents and kids. Or, nab a flat in downtown London, where, again, you’ll have more flexibility to come and go and can cook in the apartment (also saving you money!). If you live in a popular vacation destination, you might even consider exchanging homes with another traveling family. If you’re an outdoorsy family, consider camping or RVing. Be open to possibilities and you’ll be amazed at how you can bring down your vacation expenses.
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2. Be Creative with Meals
Taking the entire family out to every meal while you’re traveling can quickly add up. If you’re staying in a hotel room, condo or rental home with a kitchen – even a mini fridge and a microwave – you can hit the local grocery store for instant oatmeal, soups, mac-and-cheese, frozen dinners and more for quick breakfasts and lunches. Stock up at the local grocer or even a warehouse club, like Costco, on snacks that you can throw in your backpack for the day – think crackers, granola bars, beef jerky, fruit, cereal, peanut butter. Pack reusable water bottles for everyone and fill them up before you leave for the day. Then, with the money you’ve saved, make reservations at truly special places that speak to your family – perhaps a character meal at Disney or a sushi dinner.
Taking the entire family out to every meal while you’re traveling can quickly add up. If you’re staying in a hotel room, condo or rental home with a kitchen – even a mini fridge and a microwave – you can hit the local grocery store for instant oatmeal, soups, mac-and-cheese, frozen dinners and more for quick breakfasts and lunches. Stock up at the local grocer or even a warehouse club, like Costco, on snacks that you can throw in your backpack for the day – think crackers, granola bars, beef jerky, fruit, cereal, peanut butter. Pack reusable water bottles for everyone and fill them up before you leave for the day. Then, with the money you’ve saved, make reservations at truly special places that speak to your family – perhaps a character meal at Disney or a sushi dinner.
Think Outside the Box
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1. Do Good as a Family
If you have older elementary-age kids or tweens and teens, consider voluntourism for your family vacation. You’ll do good and feel good, while enjoying a new destination together. Help build houses, maintain hiking trails or work on a farm. Plan to do plenty of research to make sure you have buy-in from fall family members to make this a fruitful and enjoyable experience for all. Along with those feel-good vibes, you’ll likely enjoy free room and board. Plan ahead, though – this kind of experience feels up fast.
If you have older elementary-age kids or tweens and teens, consider voluntourism for your family vacation. You’ll do good and feel good, while enjoying a new destination together. Help build houses, maintain hiking trails or work on a farm. Plan to do plenty of research to make sure you have buy-in from fall family members to make this a fruitful and enjoyable experience for all. Along with those feel-good vibes, you’ll likely enjoy free room and board. Plan ahead, though – this kind of experience feels up fast.
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2. Choose Big Cities Over Beaches
While a tropical vacation appeals to almost everyone, there’s a lot to be said for introducing the kids to the allure of a big city, even right here in the United State. From New York City to Washington, DC to Seattle, there’s so much to see and do. Art and history museums, urban parks, affordable transportation, monuments, shopping and more. Eat at local food trucks in Portland, Oregon. Hit up the free Smithsonian museums in our nation’s capital. Find hidden secrets in Seattle, like free outdoor movies and farmers’ markets. Use your kids’ internet expertise and put them to work searching for “free and insider tips” for whichever city you’re visiting. What you may pay for an urban hotel room can quickly be made up by discovering the secrets of the city.
While a tropical vacation appeals to almost everyone, there’s a lot to be said for introducing the kids to the allure of a big city, even right here in the United State. From New York City to Washington, DC to Seattle, there’s so much to see and do. Art and history museums, urban parks, affordable transportation, monuments, shopping and more. Eat at local food trucks in Portland, Oregon. Hit up the free Smithsonian museums in our nation’s capital. Find hidden secrets in Seattle, like free outdoor movies and farmers’ markets. Use your kids’ internet expertise and put them to work searching for “free and insider tips” for whichever city you’re visiting. What you may pay for an urban hotel room can quickly be made up by discovering the secrets of the city.
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3. Look at Secondary Destinations
When you’re discussing family vacation destinations, go beyond the tried and true. Don’t follow the masses to Iceland – consider Norway instead. Think Yellowstone will be crowded? It will, so head to Crater Lake in Oregon, Olympic National Park in Washington State or the Redwoods in Northern California. Colonial Williamsburg? Sure, but have you considered historical Richmond, Virginia, instead? As for tropical, there are plenty of amazing Caribbean islands that are just perfect for families, but are lesser known – consider Bonaire or Martinique.
When you’re discussing family vacation destinations, go beyond the tried and true. Don’t follow the masses to Iceland – consider Norway instead. Think Yellowstone will be crowded? It will, so head to Crater Lake in Oregon, Olympic National Park in Washington State or the Redwoods in Northern California. Colonial Williamsburg? Sure, but have you considered historical Richmond, Virginia, instead? As for tropical, there are plenty of amazing Caribbean islands that are just perfect for families, but are lesser known – consider Bonaire or Martinique.