Surprising Ways to Save Money on Family Vacations Without Spoiling Any Fun
Taking a trip with your family is a wonderful way to make lasting memories. When you’re worried about a family vacation leaving a lasting mark on your family budget, planning those journeys may make you feel anxious. Luckily, dearfelicia shares some simple ways you can save on your family trip without putting a damper on your family’s fun — some of which may even surprise you.
Pick Up a Tablet or Laptop for Travel Entertainment
Before you embark on your family vacation, consider picking up some games, books, or mobile entertainment to keep kids from getting bored. A tablet or kid-friendly laptop can be a budget-friendly option for keeping your kids occupied on long flights or road trips. Check reviews for durability, price, and battery life, but don’t overlook refurbished models to save a few bucks.
Research Accessible and Affordable Family Travel and Activities
Planning a budget-friendly family trip when your children have special needs can present some unique challenges for parents. If one or more of your children is on the autism spectrum, for example, you will need to take any sensory needs or concerns into account as you plan the vacation.
Luckily, there are specialized travel sites dedicated to helping parents of children with special needs. You can use these sites and other online resources to find hotels and resorts where staff members have been certified to provide autism-friendly accommodations and entertainment for guests of all ages. You can even search online to find sensory-friendly theme parks, like Discovery Cove in Orlando or Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. Many of these parks feature accessibility offices and staff, both of which can fine-tune your park experience to be more enjoyable for children on the spectrum or who are living with other disabilities. When it comes to saving money on these family-friendly spots, you can use discount travel websites to easily find deals on hotel rooms, car rentals, and fun.
Look for Savings on Things Like Fuel and Flights for Family Vacations
When you’re planning an epic road trip through Yellowstone or the Appalachians, the price of gas can be a major concern, but you can use some fuel-saving tips to calm those money worries. Start by having your car serviced before you hit the road, which can not only save fuel but also save your family the headache of dealing with a costly roadside emergency. If you can get away with it, avoid weighing your car down with excess luggage, and be sure to download helpful apps to locate gas stations with low prices along your route. If your family will be traveling by plane, there are ways to save on airfare as well. You can typically snag the best deals on flights by purchasing tickets midweek, but you can also use some of the travel sites listed above to find the best prices on airfare for your entire family. Using a credit card with travel rewards is another clever way to save on all of your family vacation expenses, so keep one in your wallet.
Protect Your Valuables
Nothing is harder on your budget than being scammed or having money stolen, so take steps to secure your cash, credit cards, and any travel documents. Use the hotel safe when possible, purchase anti-theft luggage, and park your car in a well-lit spot if you’re driving. And if you’re traveling internationally, you may want to set up an account with a money transfer service before you leave so your family can send you funds in a worst-case scenario. For instance, if you’re traveling to the Dominican Republic, look for an inexpensive service that can quickly transfer funds to you at a fair exchange rate.
You don’t need to sacrifice fun to find savings on your family vacation; just set aside some time to research prices, products, and tools that can help you score the best deals. Then, planning budget-friendly travel in the future will be even easier, so you can make even more memories!
This post was submitted by Anya Willis of FitKids.info
Photo Credit: Unsplash
