Whether going on a vacation alone or with your family, wouldn’t it be amazing if you could simply enjoy your time without worrying about expenses and your budget?
As fuel and travel expenses increase each year, planning a family vacation is becoming more and more difficult. A vacation is like an R & R (Rest and Refit) for you and your family and should be taken from time to time. However, while sunbathing on the beach or skiing in the Alps, a voice in your head warns you that you are sinking deeper and deeper into debt because of this vacation, you might return more anxious than relaxed.
Whether you choose to go on a vacation to the snowy peaks of Alaska, the sandy beaches of Hawaii or simply somewhere in between like Phoenix or New York, there are always ways to make your trip easier on your bank account.
Following are some tips to save money on your family vacations.
Plan Your Trip
Although this may seem redundant, by planning it does not mean that you organize your trip. Here, planning means that you chart out what you want to do and make arrangements for it early on. You might get a cheaper deal on a hotel or home or cabin if you book it a few months earlier, much like airlines.
You can also talk to locals in the vicinity in advance to let you rent out some of their equipment to you when you come.
Know What To Buy
Hotel rooms and condos might be an attractive idea mixed with the thought of room service and free breakfasts, but you should do some research before you book a room. As mentioned above, renting out houses from locals or sharing a rented one with another family might prove more economical and give you the homely feeling at the same time.
Same goes for equipment. Where a local shop might charge you $10 for a skateboard, a local resident might charge $5 to give you the same board!
Ask For Discounts
If you must go to a hotel, there is no shame in asking for a discount. You can even compare prices with other hotels and share their quotes. You’d be surprised at how many discounts hotels can offer!
Travel With Less
More luggage means more cost and airlines are bound to charge extra with increased luggage. Cars also get heavy and therefore consume more fuel. Remember, nobody expects you to change clothes every day on your vacation, so take only what you need.
Fly On Weekdays
Weekend flights are, by default, more expensive than weekdays, thanks to the airlines’ business models. So, when planning your vacation, remember to make plans for a weekday. Perhaps you could take a day off work and leave early to get a head start on your Christmas holidays? Or return a day earlier than the crowd to get a better price and less traffic.
These were some of the basic tips that can help you skim some money off your vacation expenses and help you keep your mind at ease. There are several other techniques you can use to save even more and enjoy your vacation without worrying about sinking into debt.
Image Credits: Family Vacation from Dmytro Buianskyi/Shutterstock