9 Budget-Friendly Family Vacation Ideas
Planning a fun family vacation on a budget can be tough, but it’s not impossible. With a little extra planning, you can enjoy a memorable getaway with your family without draining your savings account.
If you’re stuck on ideas, check out the following budget-friendly options.
1. Share a large rental home with another family
Renting a hotel can often cost as much as an Airbnb, so you may as well go all-in and rent your ideal place. If you like hotels, that’s fine, but if you prefer renting a full house, consider vacationing with another family or two and splitting the cost.
For example, if you’re headed out to a beach town, you can find luxury properties within walking distance to the beach that will cost less than a hotel when you split the rental.
2. Track all decisions that go over budget
In a perfect world, you wouldn’t need to spend more than planned, but in reality, it’s inevitable. However, it’s crucial to track where you’ve made decisions to spend more than planned so things don’t get out of hand. For example, if you need to spend more on accommodations, keep that in mind when searching for flights. If you forget where you’ve gone over budget, you could end up going way over by the time you’re done planning your trip.
3. Ask everyone to prioritize their desired activities
When you’re working with a budget for entertainment and activities, it helps to ask each person to rank all possible activities according to their importance. This will help you select the activities that matter most to everyone so you don’t waste money on things nobody is excited about.
4. Plan ahead with memberships and rewards programs
As long as you’re not planning a last minute vacation, look into how you can leverage memberships and rewards programs when you travel. For example, if you have an AAA membership, they offer some pretty big discounts on hotels, car rentals, and even attractions, but you need to be a member for a certain period of time to use their services. You can’t just sign up today and fly out tomorrow.
AARP also offers discounts and perks for traveling, and some credit cards offer rewards programs where you can earn points or miles to offset travel expenses.
5. Travel during off-peak seasons
Time your vacation so that you aren’t traveling during the peak season for your destination. This will vary based on where you’re going, and may not be avoidable in the summer. However, it is possible to enjoy a vacation outside of the most popular times. For example, if you’re headed to a beach resort, go in the very beginning of summer to avoid the peak. If you’re visiting a historical site in Europe, pick a time when less tourists travel, even if it’s going to be cold.
When you travel during off-peak times, you can usually get cheaper flights and accommodations. The best part is that attractions are less crowded and you can have a better experience.
6. Find low-cost and free activities
Before choosing your destination, think about how much you and your family might enjoy visiting free spaces, like parks and museums. If that’s something you truly love, find a destination that has plenty of free attractions and events, like local festivals, concerts, and outdoor markets.
7. Consider camping
Depending on your destination, you might be able to camp instead of renting a hotel room. It’s extra work, but it’s fun and can give your kids some practical life experience. For example, you can teach your kids how to pitch a tent, build a fire and keep it going, how to cook on an open flame, and how to conserve water.
8. Cook your own meals
Food is one of the most expensive things on a vacation, especially when you’re visiting theme parks or places that charge a high fee for basic meals. You can get around this by cooking as many of your own meals as possible. To do this, you’ll need to rent an Airbnb with a kitchen, a vacation home, or a hotel with at least a mini-kitchen.
9. Look for travel bundles
Sometimes travel packages come with the best deals, like all-inclusive resorts that cover the cost of lodging, meals, entertainment, and activities. There are also packages that include flights and accommodations for a lower price than buying each individually.
Affordable vacations do exist
Planning a memorable family vacation doesn’t have to drain your wallet. By looking for deals, being flexible, and sharing costs with another family, you can enjoy a vacation that aligns with your budget.
