Family Vacation Ideas on a Budget

Sometimes the best vacations are the ones where you don't leave town.

Everyone needs a few days off to spend time with the family and have fun. Vacations have come to mean getting on a plane and going somewhere unusual, exotic and expensive. Fortunately, there are many ways to have a vacation without spending a lot of money. From the "staycation" to alternative lodging ideas, being creative and willing to explore unconventional vacation ideas is the best way to get a great vacation for less.

Stay Home Vacation

Stay home during your vacation. Have everyone in your family take the week off, but stay home and have a great time. Go out to eat at local restaurants, explore local attractions you've never visited and spend time being lazy in the comfort of your own home. Make a pact with your family to not do any major projects. Do the basic chores, of course, but keep it to a minimum. This is not the week to put in that new patio you've been thinking about. Fill up the kiddie pool, make some frozen drinks and hang out in your back yard. Keep teens home by taking them out at night. Plan a few day trips and turn off all cell phones and the TV.

Split the Vacation

If you are close with another family, consider coordinating a split vacation. For half the cost, you could rent a large vacation home big enough for both families. This is a good alternative for family reunions, too. Pick a spot you've talked about visiting together and look online for vacation homes. Reduce travel expenses by sharing the cost of renting a large van. Many farmhouses and villas offer pools, multiple bedrooms, full kitchens and lots of space for kids to play.

Alternative Lodging

If there is a particular place you want to visit, but you don't want to spend a lot on lodging, consider alternatives. Going camping combines two vacation ideas in one. You can camp out at night at reputable campgrounds — complete with showers and pool — but also see the sights in a location you've been wanting to visit. Check out local colleges, too. The students are gone for the summer and many will rent out dorm rooms as a way to recoup the cost of maintenance. In addition, there are still home-stays, hostels and YMCAs that rent rooms. If you aren't married to the idea of an upscale hotel as part of the experience, then there are plenty of places to stay that you can afford.

Get a Deal

Wait for the deal. Sign up online for airline newsletters, follow the Twitter accounts of travel guides and look for specials. Flights sometimes don't sell out, or you might find that a hotel, airline and rental car place banded together to offer a deal on all three fares. If you can leave at the last minute and don't have a specific place you want to go, be flexible and wait for the right price to come along.

References

• Disney Family: Daycation Ideas
• Budget Travel: Happy Campers
• Newsweek Budget Travel: Farmstays