Today, I’m sharing travel tips on budget vacation tips for every family. Vacation and budget don’t belong in the same sentence — or do they? The truth is, even though Americans spend a collective $1.1 trillion on travel each year, vacations don’t have to completely wreck your budget. While vacationing, you can find low-cost attractions to bringing along entertainment.
Budget Vacations Tips:
Keep Kids Entertained on the Go
Travel itself plus the sights will keep the kids occupied during the day. As much as travel exhausts parents, kids still need distractions to wind down in the evenings.
Bring along long-forgotten toys from home. Rediscovering them while on a family trip can do wonders. Packing (or downloading) kid-friendly audiobooks is another simple solution to evening boredom. Bring along paper and pencils for drawing and writing while they listen.
You can also stream your kiddos’ favorite shows and movies from home. Bringing a portable streaming device — which plugs into your laptop or hotel TV means free movies just like at home. With viewing options ranging from television series and movies to streaming music, these devices could be a perfect fit for your next family vacation.
Travel in the Off-Season
In the United States, people tend to travel more during the summer. A Gallup poll confirms July as the most popular travel month. Picking a less popular travel date means lower costs on airline tickets and a less packed flight. According to the experts at the Penny Hoarder, it’s cheaper to fly mid-week, with Sunday and Friday proving the most expensive. Booking between three weeks and four months before your vacation is the ideal window. Planning farther in advance means higher prices.
Skip the Major Attractions
Business Insider confirms that theme park costs in the US range from $60 to $267 per person per day. These amounts aren’t ideal for the average family. Instead of visiting the major theme parks, travel off the beaten path. Smaller zoos, aquariums, and neighborhood parks may be the highlight of the trip for your kids. Consider libraries and even bookstores for indoor entertainment. Museums also offer educational and cultural experiences for kids of all ages.
Any place that’s novel to your children, or that’s different than what’s available at home, will provide plenty of interest. Plus, if you’re traveling internationally, cultural exposure is a crucial part of the overall experience. If you do visit theme parks, opt for multi-park or multi-day tickets instead of single-entry options. With these packages, per-day costs are lower the more days and locations you visit. You also have the flexibility to step out for naps, snacks, or just to recharge with the kids before diving back in.
Live Like a Local
Instead of planning to eat out every leg of your trip, live more like a local. Wherever you are, look for local eateries far away from the touristy areas. If you can, book a hotel or rental home with a kitchenette or, at the very least, a refrigerator and microwave. Packing food from home — preferably non-perishable staples — can save you a lot of money.
Depending on how long you’re staying and how expensive your accommodations are, you might find it’s worth the additional cost of booking a suite with a kitchen. After all, eating out is more expensive than grocery shopping. On the same note, look at the local neighborhood and what’s happening while you’re in town. Community centers often have free events and local businesses sometimes offer discounts on certain days. Doing some research ahead of time will also allow you to get to know your destination better.
Wherever you plan to go on your family vacation, a strict budget doesn’t have to mean a lack of excitement and fun. There’s plenty to see and do without spending a ton of cash, even when you have little ones along for the trip.
These are such great tips! My husband and I are budget travelers. We always travel during the off season. We stay in moderate priced hotels (less than $150 per night). We drive instead of fly. We only eat out one meal a day. We are far more interested in having adventures than fancy hotels and restaurants.
I always travel on a budget too. I prefer to cook to save money whenever I travel, so I look for a place with a kitchen. I save tons of money by doing this. I usually eat out once a day too, and I’m happy. The location of my travel destination is the deciding factor on whether I fly or drive. And, I search for coupons/discounts to use. No shame in my game, lol. Glad you stopped by.