Going on vacation with the whole family is not easy. It can be expensive to take the entire household for the holidays, but there are ways that will allow you to save money. Cost cutting is important especially if you have a lot of family members with you. Be inventive when thinking of smart ways to pay for a family vacation.
Tips on How to Save on Family Vacations
Vacation-savvy families find ways to save to stretch the vacation budget. You can do the same by following some travel tips for people on a budget. You should be able to find some great deals online that will allow you to take the whole family out on a shoestring budget.
Out-of-Season Travel
By taking a vacation when other people are not traveling, you can take advantage of promos and discounts. Many hotels, airlines and tourist attractions offer lower rates during the low season to encourage tourists to visit. This allows travel and leisure companies to continue to make money when the majority of people are not traveling.
Stay Close to Home
You can spend less time on vacation by going somewhere close to home. Considering the cost of fuel and today’s airfare, driving to a nearby vacation spot makes more sense than flying the whole family to a faraway destination. You can bring a caravan to save even more by not staying at a hotel. Camping trips near your town also make financial sense.
Holiday after Special Holiday
Another good way to save on travel is to travel after a public holiday like Easter or St. Patrick’s Day. George. Some places will offer 50 percent off the hotel room while tickets may even be cheaper than half the price. If your kids can skip a few days of school, this might be a viable option for a family vacation out of town.
Choose an Unusual Destination
Popular travel destinations usually involve expensive airfare and hotel rates. If you’re taking the whole family on vacation, consider going to a less popular destination that doesn’t charge a premium rate. Instead of going to Paris, consider Prague or Budapest. You should get lower rates at these destinations even if you plan to travel during peak season. Wherever you go, be sure to use flight comparison sites like Momondo to make good savings.
Consider Work Days
Traveling over the weekend will always be more expensive than going on holiday during the weekdays. Weekends will always mean fully booked hotel and plane seats. You may want to adjust your vacation time in the middle of the week and leave on Monday and fly home on Thursday.
Traveling with the family requires thinking of smart ways to pay for family vacations. This will allow you to fully enjoy your trip without worrying about running out of cash. You can even cook at hotels that provide this convenience. This will allow you to save a lot of money to feed the whole family every day. Eating out is also fun, but perhaps too much fun given the number of your traveling companions.
Article author by Mark Peters – personal financial advisor.
