Family Holiday on a Budget
With an unlimited budget, a family holiday can be plenty of fun. Because most of us live within a budget, however, most successful family holidays involve a lot of planning and thought beforehand about how to get the most out of your money. Any family holiday can be done well at low cost. You just have to cut corners on every part of your budget except the fun.
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Choose Your Destination Wisely
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Not all destinations are appropriate to families, and families of different-aged children have different needs. If you have small children, a simple, quiet beach vacation with little scheduling might be perfect. Older children want more excitement, so amusement parks or outdoor sports are better. Tailor your holiday trip to your family, not to your budget. Even if you have to cut time short in order to afford it, a fantastic week is much better than a stressful month. Also, try to time your vacation properly. Especially with smaller children, vacationing in the off-season will reduce stress and worry and make it easier to cope overall.
Travel Expenses
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With a family, if you don't have to fly, you probably shouldn't; while it's usually faster, it's also much more expensive, you don't have control over stops and even a single delay can be disastrous. Join AAA or TravMatix to get good route information, and find reasons to take your time on the road. Plan ahead; know where you're stopping and where you're staying for the night, have alternatives near these just in case, and pack plenty of snacks everyone will like to cut down on those emergency fast food stops.
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Hotel and Accommodations
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If you're going to a popular spot, especially in the off-season, look into renting a home or condo instead of staying at a hotel. You'll have much more room and privacy, and you'll be able to make your own meals. You also can save money by pitching tents at least a couple of nights, turning your holiday into an adventure. If you must stay at a hotel, find the best rates online first and then call around to see if you can get better hotels to match the price you found.
Look for Bargains
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There are always times and places that charge less for your vacation budget items. Destinations and hotels during off-season times generally offer great bargains, and you will find it easier to haggle down prices in a half-empty hotel. If you don't mind sitting through a couple hours of hard sell and saying "no," think about listening to a time-share pitch so you can get the rewards. Compare package deals with what you really need. While the all-in-one vacations may sound like a great deal, if you compare discounted prices separately, you may find that you can put together your own superior package.
Eat Cheaply and Well
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The larger the family, the more you'll spend on food. Take a few staples with you on the road, such as peanut butter and jelly, bread, chilled veggies and fruit, bottled water and trail mix. Quick snacks give you a ready and cheap response to a child's McDonalds-triggered whining for food. Accommodations with full kitchens give you the option of preparing your own pizzas instead of ordering in at three times the cost. Also, keeping quick protein-rich snacks nearby keeps everyone from getting too hungry to think clearly about how you're spending money.
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