5 Tips for Planning a Great Family Vacation on a Budget

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do. Everyone needs to get away from it all every now and then—to escape the mundane workday world and immerse themselves in new sights, sounds, tastes and scents. The trouble is that a family vacation (even a modest one) can place quite a dent in your household’s carefully planned budget. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get away from it all. With a little forward planning, a little research, and a lot of patience, frugal holiday makers can plan a great family vacation that they’ll remember forever, without feeling guilty about how much they’ve spent when they get home.

Use these thrifty tips to ensure that your next wonderful family vacation is both awesome and affordable.

Don’t make Friday your fly day

Sure, there’s something inherently satisfying about jetting off on your vacation after a hard week’s work. However, the best priced flights are rarely found over the weekend. Travelling midweek can help you to make significant savings without having to compromise on your perfect destination. With kids, this may be a little difficult—we suggest winter break, when the crowds will be lesser anyways!

Go off the beaten track

Basic economics dictates that the greater the demand, the higher the prices. With this in mind, you can save a great deal of money while still enjoying a fun and memorable vacation, it’s simply a matter of putting in the time to research lesser known vacation spots.

You’ll still be able to do all the fun stuff, just at a fraction of the price.

Think ahead with food

Fine dining is at the heart of any great vacation, but that doesn’t mean that you have to pay top dollar for every meal. Families can make significant savings when they plan their meals a little in advance and avoid making decisions on impulse.

Find a hotel that includes breakfast in the rates. You probably won’t need to stop for lunch if you load up on the good stuff while it’s free. Or, if there’s a restaurant you really want to visit, consider going midweek or at lunch time instead of on weekend evenings. You may find that their off-peak prices are far more appetizing.

Take advantage of free stuff

No matter where you’re going there’s a good chance that there’s some cool stuff that the whole family can enjoy that’s absolutely free. Many museums and art galleries, for example, offer free admission or admission for just a small charitable donation. Of course, if you’re looking for fun free stuff, Mother Nature has it in abundance. Take your family for a hiking trip, camping, or on an epic bike ride. You’ll take home dozens of happy memories and return home with a happy family and a happy wallet.

Consider alternatives to hotels

Hotels are great, but they may not always represent the most affordable accommodation in your chosen destination, or the best value for money. Fortunately, there are many alternatives, even for families. Many hostels have family sized rooms which cost a fraction of what you’d expect to pay for a hotel. Plus, let’s not forget that services like Airbnb or HomeAway can also give you a great rate on a rented room or house which puts you right where the action is.

If you’d really rather stay in a hotel, don’t forget that travel agencies can often get you better deals on hotel rooms than if you were to book directly with the hotel.

Wherever you dream of travelling on your next vacation, make sure that you travel with the advice and guidance of someone who’s dedicated to bringing you value for money.

Contact a Biirdee travel consultant today to plan your next trip!