How to Have a Fun-Filled Family Trip on a Budget

When you’re trying to keep a strict budget, it might seem impossible to have a family vacation that everyone can enjoy. The good news is that you can afford the trip you’ve been longing for if you do your research. Let’s look at some of the things you’ll need to watch out for in order to have a fun and affordable family vacation (when you're ready and when the timing is right, of course).

Save on Air Travel

When it comes to saving on air travel, you need to start doing your research as early as possible. According to The Trusted Traveler, this gives you more time to compare the rates from different airlines. You can also easily see the difference between booking a flight at a high traffic time and when things aren’t as busy. Since ticket prices can vary at a moment’s notice, it pays to maintain some flexibility in your travel dates. It’s recommended that you use several websites for your search and check out budget airlines. If you find a few airlines you like, it’s a good idea to sign up for their flight deal alerts so you’re quickly notified of sales or discounts. You might also want to follow them on social media so you’ll have access to exclusive deals when they’re announced.

Save on Accommodations

Your accommodations are just as important as your flight, so you’ll want to balance your savings between the two. Airlines aren’t the only places that have deals during the off-season, so be prepared to book hotels when they’re not as busy. Look out for hotels that have cheaper rates for mid-week stays. If you don’t have to stay in a hotel, there may be even greater savings for you there. According to the Family Adventure Project, you could take advantage of a house swap with another family or look for family-friendly hostels. If you know of other families who would like to vacation in the same area, how about sharing a large house or apartment so you can split the costs?

Save on Entertainment

Since the plan is to keep everyone entertained during the trip, you’ll do well to find out what affordable activities are available at your destination. Depending on where you’re headed, age-appropriate fun that can also be free might include hiking or a visit to the museum. While you might have daytime activities covered, don’t forget about the traveling time and night time. You can keep your kids occupied on the trip with activity packs or electronic devices such as tablets. Instead of mindless screen time, find a few good apps to keep them educated as well as entertained. If you’re in the market for a new device, shop at a store like Best Buy and check online for a promo code that you can use while shopping.

Save on Food

Unless you’re prepared, you can end up spending quite a bit of your budget on food. This is another area you should bear in mind when searching for accommodations. You’ll do well to find hotels that offer free meals. If you’re willing to cook, then finding hotels that have a kitchenette in their standard rooms is a good way to control your spending as well. This option has the added benefit of keeping track of what your kids eat, which can be helpful with food allergies. To keep spending down when you’re on the way to your trip or traveling between destinations, make sure you pack a few healthy snacks like wraps, nuts, and fruits.

Everyone deserves a vacation, and you shouldn’t shy away from planning one just because you’re on a budget. If you research your options thoroughly and aim for off-season periods, you can easily save on travel and accommodation. Don’t forget to look for cheap attractions and activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Photo courtesy of Pexels

Blog post written by Daniel Sherwin www.dadsolo.com