With summer quickly, and sadly, coming to an end soon, many families are trying to squeeze in one last family vacation to get some good photos in and wrap the summer up. But some families may forego this important family time because they think they don’t have the funds to plan an awesome trip. Well, fortunately, planning a great family vacation doesn’t have to cost every penny you have. So if you’re one of the 96% of Americans who think vacation time is important and want to plan your family an end-of-summer vacation, keep reading to learn how to plan a trip on a budget.
First things first, always do your research. Which airlines offer the best deals? Are there any travel packages you can save money with? If you travel at certain times can you get discounts? You should explore any and all options when planning a vacation on a budget. The more research you do, the better chance you’ll have of saving some money. The best part is that you can do a lot of this research right from your smartphone. And remember, not all discounts or deals are advertised — so it never hurts to ask. You may find that simply asking about discounts can save you tons of money instead of assuming there are no discounts to take advantage of. So make sure you do plenty of research and ask around about deals before making any final decisions.
Along with doing your research, consider looking into alternative lodging options aside from hotels. More often than not, families look into hotels because they’re comfortable with them and they offer conveniences for families with younger kids. However, there are plenty of other lodging options to think about. For example, vacation homes are a great option for bigger families, or if several families are traveling together. And with 36% of vacation home buyers purchasing a house in a beach area, there are plenty of waterfront vacation homes waiting to be rented out. Or if you’re looking for a chance to teach the kids about nature, campsites are an extremely affordable, and fun, lodging option. Overall, just don’t rule out any other lodging accommodation that isn’t a hotel room.
And last but not least, you should try to plan your vacation activities ahead of time. While 63% of Canadians choose a vacation destination so they can get some rest and relaxation, most families with kids are going to want to plan some sort of activity during the vacation to keep the kids entertained. But if you wait until you get to your destination to plan activities, you could be missing out on some good deals. Additionally, it can be easy to spend way over budget when you don’t plan ahead. So to avoid spending way too much on vacation activities, decide what you want to do before you get there. Many attractions have family passes or bundle packages that can help save money. And if you buy tickets or passes ahead of time you can probably avoid added fees. So when it comes to activities and attractions, plan ahead whenever possible.
Planning a nice family vacation doesn’t have to break the bank. So be sure to follow these few simple tips to make sure your family has a great, and affordable, vacation this summer.