Do you want to take your family on vacation without breaking the bank? If so, you may wonder what you can do and where you can go.
While going on a vacation can be expensive for a group, if you plan carefully, book in advance, and take advantage of discounts added to hotel rooms and family cruises, you can enjoy a vacation and have money left over.
Here are some budget-friendly ideas on how to have fun with the family on a budget:
Take a Tour of Your Local Area
This does not mean that you “tour” projects around your house or do work in the yard. It is often very budget-friendly and a fun challenge to explore areas of your homeland that you may not have visited before.
Take time to explore historical sites, local art galleries, or a new restaurant you have wanted to check out. You can even take advantage of discounted museum days. When touring your own town, you will find being thrifty is easy. You can sleep and eat at home!
Go Camping
There are two basic camping options to choose from. You can “rough it” and sleep outside, or you can rent a cabin to stay in. In either case, you have the opportunity to get outside and enjoy being surrounded by nature.
If you want to enjoy the camper or RV experience but want to avoid driving the thing from place to place, then consider renting an Airbnb. You can find all types of campers to use on your camping adventure.
The younger generation refers to this as “glamping,” which means getting out and enjoying the great outdoors without the “outdoors” part of the adventure.
Go to a Not-So-Popular Beach
Some beaches around the country (and world) are more expensive than all the others (think Laguna and Key West beach in the US!). However, if you know where to look, you can save money and enjoy the peacefulness offered by a remote beach.
A coastline beach is much more expensive than a beach along with the Gulf. While the water may seem a bit different, if you are visiting a landlocked area, the beach is the beach.
Book a Travel Package Through a Warehouse Store
This is not quite as weird as it may sound at first. There are several club stores, including Costco, that provide savings when you book your vacation through them.
If you have plans for a more expensive or elaborate vacation, you might want to consider what warehouse stores offer, speak to your local store today online or via telephone.
Stay with Family or Friends
While it may not be very glamorous, and many people may not look at staying with friends and family as a “real” vacation.
Staying with your family or friends is an affordable idea to take time away from home. Even better, you get to spend time with the people that you love and friends and family who live in other areas always make the best (and free) local tour guides!
In most cases, you will not have to pay for your lodging, and you may even be offered a few meals for free!
If you are going to do this, it’s good to practice good guest etiquette. You may wish to offer to pay for groceries or even cook a few meals to show your appreciation for the hospitality. You may even want to treat your host to dinner while you are visiting.
Plan to Travel During the Off-Season
While traveling during the summer months is the “norm,” delaying a trip by a few months may help save a lot of money.
Consider traveling during a fall break, or at any point after Labor Day (US/Canada). This is a great way to travel and stay on a budget.
Keep in mind, though, that off-season and peak-season travel are going to change based on where you plan to go. Make sure you do plenty of research before you book anything.
Another perk of Fall/Winter travel is the glorious natural sights of burnt auburn leaves and powdered sugar snow.
Take a Weekend Trip
If you are desperate to get away from everyday life, then getting out of town for a few days on the weekend may be just what you need.
While it may not be as restful as a 10 or even 5-day trip, it is better than nothing – and it is a more affordable option and a quick way to reset our energy.
Find a great destination that is perfect for a weekend excursion. You may be surprised at how affordable this can be.
Go on Your Vacation During the Week
This is the opposite of what was mentioned above; however, it still has as much merit. Usually, when booking a hotel or an Airbnb during the weekend, it is often more expensive than if you book the same location in the middle of the week.
If possible, and if you can take the vacation from work, a midweek vacation will almost certainly save you money.
Go to a National Park
One of the best things about nature is that it is free to enjoy. It is also a very beautiful way to reset and unwind. If you do not live nearby to a grand National Park such as Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, there are many other parks usually within reach by car.
There are 61 National Parks across the U.S. alone. Keep in mind that there may be a small entrance fee, but the rest of the time, your experience will be free of charge.
Explore Your Own Region
You do not have to go to some expensive or extravagant location to enjoy a vacation. You can find things to do in your own region. Consider visiting somewhere that is just a few hours away.
You are going to be out of town and can avoid some of the busier vacation areas.
As you can see from the travel tips and recommendations here, there are several ways to enjoy a family vacation on a budget.
Be sure to have a great time and stay safe and healthy!
