Want to save some money and
find cheap family vacations?
Planning cheap family vacations is often something that we need
to do because travel and entertainment is just so expensive. Caring for a family
is very expensive, and when you want to take your family on vacation costs can
get out of control. But, family vacations don't need to break the bank. With
some careful planning and some flexibility you can save
hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your family vacations. Cheap doesn't
mean that you have to give up the things that you want, it simply means that you
have to get creative to get the things you want without spending every dime you
have (or don’t have). Here are some tips to help you do
just that, with some research and perservance, you can save money when
planning your family vacation.
No matter how you buy your travel, do your
homework and you will find a deal, the internet is a good place to
start. The beauty of the internet is that there are so many options
available to you to find the best deal for your next family beach
vacation.
Great Tips For Planning Cheap Family Vacations
1. Plan ahead of time
Cheap family vacations can be just as
great as something that you pay a lot of money for if you plan ahead of
time. Most of the time, planning ahead can save you hundreds of dollars.
Most people are aware that when you purchase your airline tickets several weeks
or months in advance it's typically much cheaper then when you buy in the days
leading up to your departure. So, when you are planning your family vacations,
purchase your airline tickets as far in advance as possible. Your savings here
can go into buying fun things, eating out, or other forms of entertainment while
on vacation. Many airlines, tour operators, online travel agencies
and travel sites have newsletters that they will send you via email; these
usually include the latest cheap family vacations or last minute travel
deals.
2. Choose the season
The second best thing would be to choose
the
season to go. If it is an
off-season,
don’t be reluctant to pack your bags. For during off-season, not much people are
traveling to that place. Like winter and rainy seasons are believed to be off
seasons for the beach locations. At this time the costs of the hotels, the
availability of rooms and reservations etc. all will be conveniently available
and that too at remarkably
less price. Off-season will vary
depending on where you are traveling so do your research and find out when that
is. Off-season includes summer and fall for the
Caribbean
and when the kids are in school for theme parks like
Disney
and so on. Usually school breaks are the
most expensive time to travel to family destinations and cheap family vacations
will be hard to find.
3. Shop around
Check various travel sites and talk to some
travel agents to get prices. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples, know
what is included. That great cruise deal may
not include airfare to the port!
4. Consider all possible discounts
Another great way to save
money on airline tickets and car rentals is to
book
them
online. Several of the
online
travel web sites offer substantial savings to customers
who book all of these things at one time. Even if the savings is only ten
percent, ten percent adds up when you consider the amount of money you'll be
spending when you buy plane tickets for your entire family, rent a car, and pay
lodging expenses. That ten percent can go to fun things, or go into the planning
of future family vacations.
Do you have Air Miles or
frequent flyer miles you can cash in? AAA membership or other affiliations? Ask
about child or senior discounts if traveling with grandparents.
Do they have family rates or group rates? Don't be afraid to
ask.
5. Find hotels to accommodate large
families
Some hotels and resorts
accommodate large families. In some cases it may be cheaper to pay for a suite
or studio room than to get two rooms.
Vacation rentals are a
great way to save money on family vacations. Vacation rentals are bigger than
hotel rooms, giving your family more space. Since most come with full kitchens
you can cook some meals and save on restaurant expenses. Another way to save is
to book a vacation rental direct from the owner, instead of through a management
company, who essentially is a middleman.
Another great way to take
cheap family vacations is to stay in an area right outside the popular
area you wish to visit. Hotel rates and rental fees are usually
outrageous in very popular areas, but if you travel even a mile away the rates
are often much lower. Rates skyrocket during the seasonal months; you'd be
surprised by how much. When you are first considering family vacations, call
ahead to your destinations and inquire what their off season prices are, you'll
likely suffer sticker shock when you hear how much the prices are inflated when
the tourists come around. You can save so much that it's worth waiting just a
week or two to literally save hundreds or even thousands of dollars during your
family vacations. It doesn't matter how big your family is, the price difference
between the seasonal and off season prices may be enough to keep the richest man
home until prices drop!
6. Traveling during the week can save you money
Saturday and flights
during the week are less crowded and therefore more likely to have last minute
discounting. Some companies charge a bit less for vacation package that leave
mid-week. Also, business hotels are mor likely to charge less on weekends.
7. Read your newspaper's travel section
The Saturday travel sections in newspapers
are still a good source for travel news, tips and cheap family
vacations, departing from your city. Read them religiously.
8. Do some negotiating of your own
Just ask for a deal or a better price! This will
usually work if you are dealing directly with a hotel or car rental company
directly. It may also work with some travel agents.
9. Book late
When looking for
last minute
deals, start shopping around about 6 weeks prior to your departure to
get a good idea for prices and availability. Narrow down where you want to go
and
compare some prices. About 3 weeks prior to departure is
probably your
best time to book . When you notice packages begin
to sell out, you want to book before you miss out on that deal. The prices only
go so low and sometimes sell out before they really drop in price. Find out more
about
last
minute deals.
10. Book early
Some of the best deals may be had booking
early and not last minute. Most tour operators and cruise companies offer
discounts for early booking. If there is a
specific date you want to travel and or you have a specific resort or
destination in mind, you are better off to book early and secure your vacation
than to risk waiting for a cheap family vacation deal that may or may not
happen.
11. Book a Weekend Getaway
Weekend Getaways are usually cheaper than extended
vacations, they can be
booked
last minute , and are available
for
hundreds
of destinations ! Overall, keep in mind the cheaper
is not always better. If you save a few hundred dollars by adding lots of stops
to your flight or staying in a hotel you are not happy with, it won't be worth
it.
Save some money but don't compromise too much with what you
really want and need for your family vacation. Check out our
hot
travel deals
for some
cheap family vacations....
Family vacations can easily be great experiences for
every member of the family, especially when money isn't a constant
worry on the trip. Planning ahead and taking the steps to save
money where you can, will help alleviate the financial pressures so that the
whole family will have a good time, including mom and dad. Cheap family
vacations are not synonymous with poor quality because nothing has to
be given up, no compromises made. If you plan it right, you can stay in
nice places, enjoy the things you want to enjoy, you
can just do it for less!
