How To Save Money On Your Next Family Vacation

By Leslie Gerard

If you are planning a family vacation, you may also be interested in saving some money along the way. When it comes to transportation, accommodations and entertainment, the cost of getting away is often anything but relaxing. The good news, however, is that there are ways to cut back on some expenses without cutting out all of the fun.

First and foremost, planning early may get you the best deals on accommodations and/or transportation. If you can, confirm your reservations online and enjoy ‘internet only’ rates offered by many hotels. Always be sure to check out the cancellation and refund policies in the event that unforeseen changes need to be made.

When packing for your trip, make sure that you have all of the incidentals that you will require during your stay away from home. More often than not, prices are higher at popular vacation spots than what you will find in your local grocer. By packing smart and buying everything you need before the trip, you could save a bundle by not having to shop while on vacation.

Dining out may be fun, but it’s also expensive. If you’re planning a vacation, consider choosing accommodations that offer a kitchenette or microwave and pack some of your favorite munchies from home. These days, many popular foods are available in convenient microwavable bowls, which can be discarded after use. Instead of spending a fortune dining out, you can save a few bucks by eating in.

As it relates to cost, when you travel is nearly as significant and where you travel. Peak seasons are the most expensive and, for most destinations, occur during the spring and summer months. If you want to save big, consider traveling in the fall or perhaps in the early part of the year. Speaking of making your travel plans, try to handle all of the details yourself if possible. A travel agent can make the plans for you, but they don’t come cheap. Therefore, you can save a considerable amount of money just by making your own vacation arrangements.

For the braver vacation-seekers, there is a terrific way to save a ton of money: camping. There are camping parks all across the United States that cater to families with recreational vehicles, pop-up trailers and even tents. Many of these campgrounds have amenities like hot showers and even electricity available for each of their camping spots, which means that even if you don’t have an RV you could rent a pop-up or purchase a tent and still have luxuries normally not associated with camping.

Additionally, some tourist attractions like Disney World even have their own campgrounds. For a fraction of the cost of staying in a hotel on the Disney property your entire family can stay in a campground that is just a few hundred feet from where a free tram will pick you up to take everyone to the park entrance. Vacations can be so costly these days that camping can literally help you afford vacations that you previously thought unaffordable.

The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional financial advice relating to vacation planning.

About the Author: Leslie helps

plan weddings

and spends lots of spare time reading

free bbq recipes

on the internet & watching shows like

Ghost Hunters

on scifi channel.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=198359&ca=Family+Concerns