Vacationing is so much fun but can also be incredibly expensive! Here are 12 money saving tips that can save you hundreds or even thousands on your next family vacation.
My family loves to travel! We take at least one week long vacation and usually a couple weekend trips throughout the year. This is controversial among the homestead crowd and for good reason. We generally hear, “if you homestead you shouldn’t need a vacation because you are living the dream” or “it’s a waste of money.” These are both valid points. My family chooses to vacation because we enjoy seeing the world outside of our homestead and seeing the beauty that our Lord created. We also like to spend time together just having fun, not worried about chores or schoolwork. As far as the money goes, there are several ways my family saves big money on our vacations that I will share with you now.
Tip #1: Save up for Vacation throughout the Year
There are several ways to do this. You can open a savings account at bank and have it automatically transfer money every payday. You can take cash out on payday and put it back. Try the old jar on the mantel and put whatever extra you have into it throughout the year. The upside to the jar is kids like watching it grow and will add in their money as well knowing it means a fun trip in the future.
Saving for vacation means planning a year in advance. Where do you want to go? What is the most amount of money you can comfortably put back each month? These two answers may not align and you need to be realistic. You want to go to a private island resort but there’s no way you can save enough money in one year to do so? Save for two (or three or four) years in advance for that extravagant trip and take a small, weekend trip the year(s) in between.
Tip #2: Don’t Go into Debt to Go on Vacation!
This might should be tip #1 but it follows in line with saving all year. We scroll through social media and see all the wonderful vacations people are taking and are very tempted to use that little plastic card! Don’t do it!! You will regret in a year from now when you are still working on paying it off. Going into debt for entertainment purposes is a very slippery slope and can lead to years of heartache. Not only will you have to stress about making the minimum payment each month but you end up paying a lot more for you trip due to interest. Again, be realistic. What can you actually afford without causing hardship on you and your family. It may be just a day trip to a nearby lake and that’s ok! Don’t compare your vacation to someone else’s. You don’t know their story. They may be in debt up to their eyeball. Don’t be that family.
Tip #3: Use a Cash Back Rewards Credit Card
Wait, didn’t I just say not to put your vacation on a credit card?!? Yep but using a cash back or reward point credit card can be a smart financial move. If, and only if, you have the immediate funds to pay whatever you bought off. I use a cash back credit card every time I get gas. The trick is to log in and immediately pay it off before I drive away from the pump. I still get the cash back to use on future purchases (like vacation expenses) but will not wrack up my credit card. My husband uses an airfare points card the same way. So book your rental on your rewards credit card, pay off before it accrues interest, and use those rewards on other parts of your trip or for next year’s vacation.
Tip #4: Use Cash Back Apps
Apps and websites like Ibotta and Rakuten are a free and simple way to accrue money throughout the year on items that you were going to purchase anyway. It can take a little while to get into the habit of remembering to use them as you shop online. However, once you get the hang of them you can watch your cash add up. You likely won’t be able to pay for your entire vacation with your accrued cash but you may have enough to pay for a meal or tickets to an attraction. My sister in law was able to use hers recently to pay for part of their cruise.
Tip #5: Plan Your Vacation for the Right Time of the Year
It’s pretty much common knowledge but traveling at peak season will cost you a whole lot more. Avoid the beach on spring break and throughout the summer when schools are out. Same goes for cruises and most warm weather destinations. Avoid the mountains during the month of March and during the couple weeks around Christmas. Not only will visiting these places in the off-season save you money, there will also be a lot less people. Traveling in the off-season can be difficult if you have kids in public or private school. Look through their calendars and see if they have any long weekends that could work for a mini trip.
Tip #6: Select a Destination within Driving Distance
Even with gas prices as high as they are, it is still typically cheaper to drive than fly. Unless you have credit card travel points which we discussed earlier, road-tripping is the way to go. This is especially true if you are traveling with kids or more than two people. Also, traveling by car means you can take more with you. This means you will spend less money when you get to your destination.
Tip #7: Avoid hotels for Family Vacations
I highly recommend renting a home or condo instead of staying in a hotel. We have used both Airbnb and VRBO as well as found local property management websites via a Google search. The whole home rentals can save you in the following ways:
- It will save you on food expenses (see next section on planning out meals).
- It will save you on entertainment costs. Most rentals have board games, movies, and video gaming systems available. We have even stayed at several that have pool tables, ping pong tables, foosball tables, etc. You may get lucky and have a pool or hot tub you can use! If you have young children, having outdoor space (or at least a large indoor area) is needed for your sanity! If you can find a place with these amenities, you can spend plenty of downtime at the rental and avoid having to pay for boredom busting activities.
If you have to stay in a hotel, try to find one with at least a small kitchenette. That way you can still prepare some simple meals throughout your trip.
Camping is a great way to vacation for cheap. There are campgrounds and RV parks all across the US so you are very likely to find one near your chosen destination. You can even find campgrounds right on the beach. Camping in itself can be a fun vacation and kids love it! Find a nearby state or national park and pitch a tent. If you have friends or family with an RV, ask if you may borrow it or rent it for the week.
Tip #8: Plan Out Meals
Besides lodging and airfare, food is usually the next highest travel expense. Avoid eating out every meal. Planning out your meals in advance cuts this cost greatly. Groceries are typically more expensive in tourist towns, in rural mountain areas, and of course near the beach. So shopping before you leave home can save you big time. Cooking your own meals is also much healthier than eating out. The amount of food you can pack along will depend of the size of vehicle you are taking but bring as much as you can. Every dollar counts. We pack cold items and meat in Ziplock bags and put in the cooler with plenty of ice. We have never had anything go bad this way even if we stop overnight at a hotel and leave the coolers in the back of the pickup. Pantry and household items we put in plastic storage totes.
Remember to plan meals that are quick and simple with easy clean up – no one wants to spend hours in the kitchen on vacation!
Check ahead of time to see what appliances and amenities are available where you are staying and plan meals accordingly. A rental with an outdoor grill or firepit is always a bonus when it comes to easy meals.
Tip #9: Plan Ahead to Eat Out
Along with planning meals that you are going to prepare, plan to eat our at least once during your trip. Trying new restaurants and food is a fun part of traveling. Go online and research restaurants near your destination. Most places show a menu online with prices so you can make sure that where you choose is within your budget. You can also check apps like Yelp or TripAdvisor which will give you not only reviews but a price range if you can’t find a menu on the restaurant’s website.
Tip #10: Bring Entertainment with You
Items like beach toys, floats, beach umbrellas can cost a lot at surf shops near the beach. Save money by buying these before you go and using them year after year. If you are going to the mountains, bring some sports equipment and fishing supplies for free fun with the family. Bringing these things with you also reduces waste. Every time we have gone to the beach we have seen toys, inflatables, and even beach chairs (!) in the dumpsters because they either couldn’t fly back with them or fit them in their cars for the trip home. Talk about a waste of money and plastic!
If your family already has a side by side or ATV, consider finding destinations that you can take them along. Our family loves going to Colorado in the summer and driving the hundreds of miles of free trails. We pack a cooler with food and drinks and spend entire days just riding around.
Tip #11: Find Free Attractions
Most every city has free or very cheap attractions including parks, historic sites, and geographical sites. A quick Google search can give you some great ideas. For example, last time we were in New Orleans, we spent a whole morning at the City Park. It was absolutely gorgeous! And 100% free!
Tip #12: Vacation with Others to Save Money
If you can find other families that you wouldn’t mind sharing your trip with, you can save money by splitting the following expenses.
- Lodging. Look for rentals large enough to accommodate the families or couples going then divide the cost between the groups. These larger homes generally have more amenities (like game rooms) than smaller homes. We have been able to afford beachfront homes by splitting the cost where we would have never been able to with just us.
- Food. Each family (or couple) brings food for themselves for breakfast and lunch. Then suppers are divided. So every family has a night or two (depending on the length of the trip and the number of families) that they plan and prepare the supper for the entire group. This not only cuts each families cost but it’s a relief to only have to plan for one meal instead of a weeks worth.
- Attractions/ Excursions. This is where we have been able to do things that would have been absolutely unattainable with just our family. For example, we have been able to rent a private yacht for the day that took us to some amazing snorkeling locations. We were able to afford it by dividing between 4 families. Just make sure when you are booking for a large group that the place will accommodate that many people.
Having a trip to look forward to can help you push through those hard days but traveling can be stressful in itself trying to figure out how to pay for it. Use these money saving tips for your next trip and see how much you save!
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