Family Travel on a Budget
Traveling with your family can grow bonds, make memories, break your family from their every day routine and open their mind to new cultures, foods and experiences. Research even shows it can be good for your health as it reduces stress. But let’s face it, traveling with a family of four or more can get expensive. Here are some great money saving tips for traveling with the family.
WHEN YOU TRAVEL MATTERS
Traveling around the major holidays and school vacations can not only be busy, but expensive. Make your travel plans just after holidays when airfare tends to be cheaper. January is considered to be the time to get the lowest priced domestic flights.
You may not know it, but the day of the week you travel makes a difference in price as well. Generally Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the cheapest days to fly with Friday and Sunday being the most expensive. Plan your week vacations from Tuesday-Tuesday or Wednesday – Wednesday to save on airfare. This often saves on accommodations as well and may mean taking less time off of work.
MOST AMAZING DESTINATIONS FOR YOUR BUCK
Unsurprisingly, Mexico makes the list. The country has been long ranked as an affordable and easy-to-reach destination for many Americans; reasonably priced direct flights are abundant.
New York City isn’t known for being a cheap destination, but go in January and you’ll get the best prices they’ve got. The city never sleeps, but it does slow down during the cold winter months — the perfect time for you to swoop in and take advantage of the decreased demand for flights and hotel rooms. Plus, there are plenty of free things to do in New York City, too.
Mexico isn’t our only neighboring country with deals aplenty — Canada also makes for an easy getaway, with well-priced flights widely available from most of the U.S. Seeing the falls from the Canadian side is a trip that my family and I took that we will never forget. There are many homes available to rent and many sites to see for free.
Atlanta has all the big-city perks at prices far more wallet-friendly than most of its counterparts. Splurge on a SkyView Ferris wheel ride for views of Centennial Olympic Park and beyond, and go in January for the lowest possible prices. There are lots of things to do in Atlanta during this time of year, from visiting the marine animals at the Georgia Aquarium to learning about local history at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
If January’s chill has you dreaming of pink-sand beaches, you’re in luck, as it’s a great month to visit Bermuda. Fly into Hamilton and stroll Front Street for a peek at the pastel buildings that are iconic to this glitzy British island territory, but stick to window-shopping if you want to keep your trip cheap. Biking and beach-hopping are the name of the game here.
The Dominican Republic is another popular destination for American travelers. January is the least expensive month to visit the two most affordable cities to fly into: Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.
You don’t need a passport to fly to St. Thomas, but you’ll have a hard time believing this jaw-dropping, colorful island is technically U.S. soil. Make sure to visit Magens Bay, climb the 99 Steps in Charlotte Amalie, and marvel at the sheer blueness of the water surrounding this popular cruise ship port. Go in January for the best flight prices; you’ll be glad for the savings when you see what accommodations cost on this luxurious island.
Denver has a ton to do, even in January, which is the cheapest month to visit. Hitting the slopes is hard to do at a discount (unless you go in the summer to hike instead of ski), but at least you’ll save money on airfare if you visit Denver during this snowy month.
With little more than an America the Beautiful National Parks pass ($80 annually, but free for current military members as well as for fourth graders and their families), you can have a budget-friendly family vacation for the ages. With Bryce Canyon, Zion, Capitol Reed, Canyonlands, and Arches national parks all within a seven-hour drive starting from the Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, you can visit seven percent of all U.S. national parks in one vacation for one price. Now that’s good value!
Montana’s gateway to Yellowstone National Park is a destination in and of itself, thanks to shops, restaurants, rental cabins, and spacious and comfortable hotels like the Clubhouse Inn. From West Yellowstone, you can rent a snowmobile to travel all over the place in winter, including into an empty Yellowstone National Park to see Old Faithful erupt in the snow and bison grazing by steamy geysers. Visiting Yellowstone in the warmer months continues to be one of the greatest family vacation ideas, too, of course, and one of the best national park road trips you can take.
Easy, affordable Southwest Airlines flights from many U.S. airports will have your family in San Juan in no time, and a taxi will carry you to Old San Juan from the airport in less than 20 minutes. From there, you have two 16th-century forts that share one inexpensive admission fee; Parque de las Palomas (aka Pigeon Park), which will either delight you or freak you out, depending on how you feel about hundreds of birds eating out of your hand; feral cats for miles; and more pastel-colored buildings than you could possibly photograph in a long weekend. The El Yunque rainforest and several pristine beaches are just a short rental car drive or Lyft ride away.
You could build an entire trip to San Diego around the Zoo and Wild Animal Park and no one would question it at all. But those two wildlife hotspots are just the beginning of what makes the city one of the best family vacation ideas. Baseball lovers will adore the downtown ballpark, while history buffs will enjoy exploring the USS Midway aircraft carrier and learning about Liberty Station’s military past as a naval training center in the 1920s. Plus, the natural beauty of Balboa Park and the sandy beaches lining the Pacific Ocean will surely make everyone in your family happy!
While Hawaii doesn’t usually make the list for most affordable destinations, Kauai is a mostly-undeveloped haven that has options for all budgets. The fourth largest Hawaiian Island, Kauai is a nature-lover’s paradise with waterfalls, a jaw-dropping coastline, tropical rainforests, and so many activity options (definitely bring along some snorkel gear!) In planning your budget trip to Kauai, I recommend avoiding holidays, and traveling during the relative off-seasons of September, October, April, and May.
A country on the eastern coast of Central America, Belize is a super friendly destination full of national parks, Mayan history, and beautiful coast. While there, I recommend taking a helicopter tour over the Great Blue Hole (or grab your mask and go scuba diving), relaxing on Caye Caulker, kayaking along Glover’s Reef Atoll, and exploring Lamanai, a Mayan archaeological site. For such a small country, Belize packs a punch, so my recommendation is to plan time for an equal amount of relaxation and exploration. Not only is it inexpensive once you get here, but flights from the U.S. are extremely cheap as well!
A town in western Jamaica, Negril is perfect for both relaxation and adventure alike. Seven Mile Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, jumping off the cliffs at Rick’s Café is pretty much a rite of passage, and you won’t regret the many jerk chicken opportunities. Be sure to ask me how to arrange for your family to get involved in a baby sea turtle release while in Jamaica. My family and I were blessed with this opportunity while visiting and it is an experience we will never forget!
While somewhat remote, St. Lucia is a diverse nation that accommodates a variety of budgets. In St. Lucia, expect to explore old sugar plantations, visit Castries Market, hike around Pigeon Island National Park, get a mud bath at Sulfur Springs, and go snorkeling. A good budget tip for St. Lucia is to book your visit in May and June, when you’ll get gorgeous temperatures yet miss the hustle and bustle of the December – April high season.
ACCOMODATIONS THAT DON’T BREAK THE BANK
All Inclusives Resorts come in a huge variety of price ranges. If you are a family that thinks they will spend the majority of their time enjoying what the resort has to offer and like to splurge on cocktails while on vacation, this may be the cheapest way to go. Traveling to all inclusive resorts during off season will mean cheaper rooms and include all of your meals, snacks and drinks. Have your travel agent watch for deals and specials. Many resorts have “last minute deals” that are great prices but may mean you’ll have to pack up and go in a couple weeks time.
Hotels with Full Kitchen Rooms Available Although these may sometimes be a higher price per night of your stay, having the kitchen will save you money! Grocery stores around the world now do delivery and planning ahead and placing an order ahead to stock your refrigerator will keep your pocketbook happy. Being able to feed your family breakfast, snacks, lunches and even dinners in the room will allow for much needed downtime and much less expense.
Rent a Home or Apartment The availability of homes and apartments to rent in all destinations has exploded in recent years and is a great way to save money on family travel. If you are traveling with another family or extended family, this is a great way to split the cost. It also gives you the ability to cook from home and keep your food bill down as we talked about above. Many of the homes have pools and hot tubs making it much like staying in a resort…minus the crowds and room service.
Camping or Glamping Depending on the level of luxury you want out of your vacation, one of these options may fit your budget and save money on hotel accommodations. Also, if you choose a national park as your destination, this is a great way for the kids to be involved in local activities and really become one with the nature around them. You may even consider renting an RV which will save you money on transportation around the park and to other nearby parks and attractions.
Other Money Saving Tips to Consider
Book with a travel agent. We have the knowledge and database to find you the specials you are looking for, lower rates and the most bang for your buck. And remember, IT COST YOU NOTHING EXTRA TO BOOK WITH AN AGENT and we do all the work. This includes dealing with delays, cancellations and all of the things that may leave you on hold for hours taking away from the enjoyment of your travel planning.
Book early or save with last minute deals. Not only will your prices be lower, oftentimes at a discounted rate, but booking early allows you time to pay off your vacation at a slower pace. Many times a minimal deposit is due and then you have up to 30 days prior to travel to pay it off.
Stay outside of the city center. Accommodation prices are lower the further outside the city you are. You may find it’s cheaper to rent a car to get where you want to go then to stay within walking distance. Your agent will be happy to price compare for you.
Eat and drink in when you can. It’s no surprise that food and beverage can be a large chunk of your travel budget. A trip to the grocery store or delivery from a local store can save you big money during your trip.
Eat at smaller restaurants with the locals. There are many hidden gems out there for dining. Eating with the locals not only allows your family to learn more about local culture and cuisine can save you money. Ask your tour guides or hotel staff where some great local restaurants are or google when you’re there.
Purchase tickets to local events early or look for FREE things to do in your destination. This will save you money while still allowing you to get out at your destination and make memories without breaking the bank.
