Thinking about planning a family vacation? Are you already hyperventilating just thinking about the cost? Try some of these tips to lower the cost and minimize your stress.
1. Consider giving children a daily vacation allowance. Decide in advance on a daily amount that you can afford and/or is appropriate. Each day, agree together on what the requirement for "earning" the day's allowance will be: no whining, lugging their own suitcases, trying a new food and my personal favorite - no fighting. This is a great way to encourage positive behavior and teach your kids about budgeting finances at the same time.
2. Set up a dedicated savings account for your trip. If you are serious about your effort to fund your travels directly, rather than out of whatever is in your bank account when your travel date comes around, this is a critical step. It's usually a good idea to make the account accessible by ATM and mobile banking, as this allows you to draw money directly from the account while booking and later travelling. This way, you can avoid mingling your regular accounts with your "trip money," guaranteeing that the money you set aside for the trip is the money you actually spend.
3. Plan in advance for meals. It's amazing how much of my family's travel budget goes toward meals. The first thing I look for is a "kids eat free" family promotion, either included at the hotel or at nearby restaurants. For a few extra bucks, reserve a room with a kitchenette or at least a small refrigerator. You can save a lot on your food bill if you don't eat every meal out. In addition, if you are traveling with kids, it can be very stressful to eat out with small children. Eating a relaxed meal in your suite takes the pressure off mom and dad for one evening and gives the kids the opportunity to enjoy the amenities at the hotel/resort.
5. Look for promos. 90 percent of the time you will find great entertainment and restaurant deals available around town by checking online. You can also find coupons for attractions like zoos, theme parks, and museums in the local paper. I also keep my eyes open for coupon booklets in our hotel lobby and at the entrances to restaurants and attractions. I always find discounts for meals and entertainment, and it ends up adding up to quite a lot of savings.
6. Don't fall prey to clever hotel marketing. Nearly every hotel has a "kids stay free" policy through which kids under 12 - or sometimes even 18 - can stay in your room at no extra charge. However, these deals typically only amount to $10 to $30 per day depending on the number of additional guests. Instead, look for "kids eat free" deals or, at active resorts, "kids play free" offers. Excursions can be very expensive, and if traveling with a large family, can easily consume as much of the budget as lodging and transportation. Look for family- friendly resorts which offer these types of deals to maximize your travel budget.
7. If you belong to a discount club such as Costco or Sam's Club, check to see if they offer gas for members. If you are traveling a far distance, even a savings of a few cents per gallon can make a big difference. I recommend printing a list of all the locations along your route with gas stations and plan your stops accordingly.
8. Check rental car rates in advance. If you need a rental car for four or five days, you usually get hit with paying the high daily rate. Check the weekly rate instead. It often turns out to be cheaper to rent for seven days and return the car early.
