More is Less: How to Stretch Your Vacation Budget
A family vacation can put a strain on the finances, but there are certainly ways to make your money go further. If you are prepared to be a little bit creative, you can stretch your vacation budget to do more things for less while still ensuring everyone has a great time.
Travel when It’s Cheapest
There are certain times of the year when it is cheaper to travel, especially as a family. If you can, book your vacation outside of the main holiday seasons. And when you are choosing your location, book outside of the peak season for that destination. This can be one of the easiest ways to save money when you travel.
Eat Out for Less
Eating out is one of the best things about going on vacation, but the costs can quickly add up when you are eating out as a family every night. Search for cheaper places to eat, read reviews from fellow travelers, and you should be able to save money when you eat.
Also, make lunchtime your main meal because you are likely to find more deals during the middle of the day. And you can stock up on cheap snacks and sandwiches during the day to keep your kids full so you don’t have to keep on buying them expensive snacks.
Choose a Convenient Location to Stay
When you are choosing your hotel, make sure you take into account more than just the actual price of a room. For example, one hotel might look more expensive, but it might also include free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and other perks that can help you save money. To find an excellent hotel that suits your stay, you can make use of sites like thishotel.com which offer detailed information about hotels in your destination of choice to help you make an informed decision. Additionally, you can also explore customer reviews to truly get a sense of what the hotel you are looking at delivers.
Also, consider the location. A hotel that is well located to provide easy access to attractions could help you to save money on travel costs when you arrive. For example, if you travel to Boston, staying at the Marriott could be a good option because it is near the highway, so you can quickly travel to wherever you want to go. If you plan on going abroad for your holiday, you need to remember that there may be a language barrier, so choosing a luxury hotel might help to ensure you get all the help you need. Chile Luxury Hotels and similar luxury hotels across the world are now even offering sustainable packages, so if this is something important to you, you may want to factor it into your decision when choosing a location.
Choose the Right Card to Spend On
The credit card you take with you can also add on lots of expenses if you are traveling overseas. Look for cards that don’t make extra charges for cash withdrawals and spending in different currencies. You could make yourself some serious savings over the course of your stay by choosing the right card for travel.
Even better, change your money before you leave and try to use cash for most of your expenses.
Compare Everything
There are many things that you can compare when planning your holiday, so use comparison sites to get a better deal on travel insurance, flights, and more.
Seek Out Special Offers
Always look for special offers before you travel and when you arrive. You might find that there are many special 2-for-1 deals you can take advantage of to your destination, and these can save you a lot of money on days out.
Also, keep an eye out for travel passes. In some destinations, usually cities, you can buy a travel pass that will cover all your public transport for a week, saving you a lot of money.
Save Money on Your Next Family Trip
There are lots of ways that you can save money on your next family vacation, so keep these tips in mind. Saving money does not mean you will have a less enjoyable time, so plan to save cash on your next trip and have a great time for less.
