Planning a family vacation can be stressful. From booking airline tickets, hotel rooms, and transportation to packing all of the essentials, it feels like there are so many logistics to take care of before you even head out the door. Unfortunately, staying under budget often makes planning even more tricky. However, budget family travel doesn’t mean you have to skimp on what matters. On the contrary, with careful consideration and expert tips on saving on each part of your travel experience, your family will enjoy unforgettable memories without breaking the bank.
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But first, why? Why is it so important to make traveling with kids a priority, even when they are young?
Here are my top five compelling reasons why. [Read this post for more]
- Traveling with children creates a lifetime of shared family memories.
- Travel teaches them patience and flexibility.
- These skills will stay with them for life, like reading an old-fashioned map or navigating the subway.
- And it’s a break from technology.
- If you teach kids how to travel early, it will be easier for you in the long run.
Here are 15 practical tips for planning a budget family vacation so you can make sure your money goes as far as possible.
While planning the logistics of your vacation, do your research and find ways to begin saving before you set out on your adventure.
1) Organize your travel itinerary without hiring an agent.
Planning a vacation can be a long and tedious process. You have to scout for the best deals, book your flights, hotels, and activities. Hiring a travel agent makes this process much easier, but it comes with a hefty price tag.
Luckily, the internet empowers us to go on a trip without paying for an expensive travel agent, allowing you to plan every aspect of your vacation, from booking flights, reserving hotels, and activities all by yourself.
2) Create a monster travel fund.
Here are a few top tips for saving money for travel.
- Open an account specifically for your travel fund and only use it for your vacation.
- Drop the daily Starbucks fix. Imagine all of the money you will save.
- Add “vacation savings” to your monthly budget.
- Have a “No Spend Day” once a week and include the entire family.
- Make some extra cash by starting a side hustle like beginning a travel blog.
- Sell your stuff on Thred Up.
- Drop your coins into an actual piggy bank.
3) Travel off-season.
Now, this may involve a few missed days of school. But, traveling off-season will afford you better prices for everything — flights, lodging, transportation. And fewer crowds, to boot.
My kids missed a few days for our Galapagos expedition. So, at the beginning of the school year, I notified the teachers that they would be out of school for those days. Most teachers don’t mind kids missing a couple of days for a fantastic learning experience, such as travel.
4) Budget lodging doesn’t have to be blah.
- Try couch surfing or book a hostel.
- Go camping — not for me, but some families love a campout.
- Book a budget hotel instead of a fancy resort. Budget hotels are minimalistic but will have what you need — coffee, a quick breakfast, and clean sleeping quarters.
- Book a vacation rental with another family and split the cost.
- Consider renting your home or apartment while you are gone to earn a bit of extra cash.
- Or arrange a home swap.
5) Research the local transport options and plan ahead.
For example, learn how to use the subway or the tube; this mode of transportation is inexpensive and covers a lot of ground. In addition, the local bus system is super cheap, and most have an easy smartphone app for payment. Many places have Bikeshare or Scooter rentals. Or just walk everywhere, when it’s possible.
6) Find free stuff.
Free museum days are a great way to explore art, history, and culture without spending too much cash. Museums all around the world have free museum days. National parks also offer free days for kids, which means that you can take your children on an adventure to see nature without having to break the bank.
And everywhere you go, you can find fun stuff to do with kids for free. Just search “free things to do in __________” in Google, and you will find all kinds of options.
7) Consider all possible extra expenses while planning for budget family travel.
- Tips.
- Parking fees.
- Gas if renting a car.
- Check roaming charges for cell phone use with your provider before you leave.
- Fees if you have to exchange currency.
- Check if the hotel or lodging has free wifi. Some hotels advertise free wifi, but only in common areas. In the hotel room, wifi comes with a fee.
- And plan a little extra money for souvenirs.
8) Don’t overbook your itinerary.
Reservations for activities and excursions should be limited to specific days. Leave enough in-between time for relaxation and quiet time.
9) Pack light.
When packing for a trip, it is essential to travel as light as possible. This way, you don’t have to worry about checked bags fees and overweight luggage charges.
Save Money on Food While Traveling With Your Family. Here’s How.
10) Visit the local farmer’s market.
Shopping at the farmer’s market is not only cheaper than going to the grocery store; it’s also better for your health and more environmentally friendly. So, you spend less money on your food budget while supporting the local economy, you get to try new and exciting foods, make some great memories with your family, and it’s more eco-friendly. Grab a couple of bags of fruit to keep at your lodging for snacks. And maybe splurge on a bouquet of flowers.
11) Speaking of snacks, always keep plenty of them with you at all times.
When traveling with kids, snacks are a must. In addition, eating healthy snacks will help you avoid overeating or eating unhealthy food after being hungry for long periods.
Here are some of the most popular snacks for travelers:
- Protein Bars
- Dried Fruit (Medjool Dates are the Best).
- Beef Jerky
- Fig Newtons
- Homemade Trail Mix
- Cheese Sticks
- Pretzels and Hummus
- Plantain Chips
Click here for 55 simple to pack kid-friendly road trip snacks [plus a printable snack list].
12) Eat breakfast at your lodging.
Stock up on fresh fruits at the local farmer’s market. And hit the local grocery store for a few other healthy breakfast items for your hotel. Try greek yogurt and berries, oatmeal and a banana, a bagel, and almond butter, then add a hard-boiled egg for a little extra protein. Stash all of these items in your room and save money by eating breakfast in instead of out.
13) Pack a lunch.
Save money and eat healthier while traveling by packing your lunch and going outside for a picnic. Here are a few quick and light lunch ideas that are healthy and budget-friendly.
- Turkey and cheese rollups with spinach wrap.
- Ham and cheese or Pepperoni and cheese on Hawaiian rolls (a family favorite).
- Pita pocket sandwiches ~ Canned tuna, lettuce, and tomato. Or stuff with turkey, cheese, and your homemade hummus.
- Create your own Bento Box, or let the kids make their own.
- Bagels and cream cheese. Pack some Lox for something special.
- Whole wheat tortilla with hummus, cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes.
- Pita with almond butter and banana.
14) Cook dinner if you can.
Reserve a room with a kitchen, stop at the supermarket, and stock up — cook a couple of nights instead of going out. I know many aren’t big on cooking while on vacation; I am one of them. Try to eat in as much as you can. You have more control over your nutrition if you prepare it yourself, and you will save a ton of money.
15) Don’t make these mistakes when planning for budget family travel.
- Not having a dedicated travel fund.
- Traveling in the season when all of the prices are jacked up and all of the people are traveling, too.
- Taking part in overtourism — too many visitors in one destination resulting in damage to the local residents’ environment and quality of life. Many cities worldwide suffer from overtourism, including Barcelona, Venice, Rome, Machu Pichu, Amsterdam, and Reykjavik.
- Paying the fee for checked luggage. Use these space-saving packing tips for traveling moms to help you learn how to travel lightly.
- Eating at expensive restaurants every night.
- And ordering fancy drinks.
- Forgetting to account for extras such as souvenirs and tips.
- Over booking daily activities.
Traveling without breaking the bank is easier said than done. But with good planning, creativity, and determination, you can plan budget-friendly travel for your family that lives up to everyone’s expectations and creates memories that will last a lifetime and are way worth the money you have spent.
Do you have any pro tips to add to my list of budget family travel ideas? Drop me a line below. I would love to hear how you stay under budget while having the adventure of a lifetime with your kiddos.
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