Vacations can be expensive, especially when you have kids in tow, but a family vacation doesn’t have to break the bank. We’re sharing some simple, but effective, ways to cut costs and save big on family travel.
Look for family-centric deals
Many resorts, hotels and cruises offer deals for families that allow kids under a certain age to stay and/or eat for free, or to participate in events and activities for no additional cost. These little deals can add up to big savings if you do some research and take advantage of them. Some places also have discounts for teens.
Travel in the off-season
Going anywhere when the demand is low will mean savings. The more rooms in hotels and seats on planes there are, the less you’ll have to pay for them. Going on vacation during off-peak times can be tough with school-age kids, but if your little ones aren’t yet at the homework stage, think about travelling when you know you won’t have to fight the crowds.
Rent an apartment
Hotels and resorts can be great, but they can also often come with hidden (and not-so-hidden) fees that add up. Whereas, renting a home or an apartment in your destination of choice can mean vacation savings for families. You can often find rentals for much less than hotel rooms and you’ll be getting more space for what you paid for. As a bonus you’ll also have a kitchen. Cooking your own means is one of the easiest ways to save when you’re on vacation, especially in more expensive cities.
Go with other families
Reduce the cost of an apartment or villa by sharing it with another family. Talk to friends or family to see who might want to take a vacation during the time frame you’re interested in, and then look into appropriately sized accommodation. The more people pitching in on cost of room and food, the less you ultimately have to pay. Just make sure to plan a trip with people you know you can get along with for more than a few days.
Find attraction discounts and freebies
Depending on where you’ll be going, you can save on admission to various attractions and points of interest by looking for coupons ahead of time. Scour sites like Groupon for deals in the area where you’ll be, or even look on attraction websites for deals on admissions. Often, booking tickets in advance can mean savings.
Lead photo: Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
