9 Ideas for more affordable vacations
Here at KidTripster, we’ve got plenty of family travel advice for you. What’s our number one tip? Use your vacation days! If you’ve got paid time off, take advantage of it. It’s a benefit of your employment. Seems like a no-brainer, right? As it turns out, the number of Americans not using their paid vacation days is on the rise. According to a 2019 FTA/NYU Family Travel Survey, 55% of parents with paid time off didn’t take all of their vacation days.
So what’s preventing people from taking vacations? According to the FTA/NYU survey, the biggest barriers for going on family vacations are:
- 32% Affordability
- 26% Other demands on the family budget
- 13% Difficulty taking time off work
- 12% Think their children are too young
- 11% The hassle of air travel
“Being a modern family is hard on vacation planning, and our research indicates the challenges families face are only getting more difficult,” said Family Travel Association (FTA) Founder and President Rainer Jenss.
Given that the top obstacles for family travel are related to finances, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on vacation to get quality time with your family. Here are 9 ideas to make travel more affordable:
1. Plan ahead
Our best money-saving tip is to plan ahead. We polled several travel planning experts and they consistently told us that advance planning is the best way to keep costs down and to stay on budget.
Jenss offered this advice, “Planning well ahead is by far the best thing a parent can do to lower the cost of traveling as a family. I would suggest they use back to school time to start planning family trips. Check the calendar for breaks and holidays. If you book far enough out, it won’t break the bank.”
While there are sometimes last minute deals, the best prices can usually be found several months ahead of your trip. “The sooner you secure a price the better your final overall cost of the trip will be. Most suppliers use demand based pricing and offers are based on limited number of rooms so the sooner you plan the better chance you have at securing the best price and offer,” according to Kimberly Anwar, Owner and President of Magic Family Getaways.
It’s not an exact science, though. Anwar says there’s no specific number of months ahead of time to book in order to save the most money. Her advice is to find a time that works for the entire family, when everyone can take time off together, and then get started planning and booking.
2. Drive instead of fly
The cost of airfare is often a prohibitive factor for families. It can add up quickly, especially when you consider the add-on costs of checking bags and selecting seats next to your kids. Consider hitting the road instead.
“Road trips remain a top choice for travelers, especially families, because they are often more affordable and offer greater flexibility. You can plan a months-long adventure or a quick weekend getaway, creating memories that will last a lifetime. I’m sure many of us look back fondly on those memories of riding in the backseat on that family road trip!,” said Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon/Idaho.
AAA has itineraries for dozens of road trips in the U.S. and Canada. Dodds offered these tips for saving money on the road:
- Book lodging in advance. If you need to change your plans, most properties let you cancel a day or two prior to your arrival.
- Pack meals and snacks so you don’t have to eat at restaurants for every meal.
- Download an app like the AAA Mobile App fo find the cheapest gas prices, EV charging stations and money saving discounts along your route.
Want some ideas for how to keep kids occupied in the car? Here are 10 screen free ways to entertain them on the road.
3. Travel as a group
Consider planning a vacation with extended family or friends. Instead of multiple hotel rooms, rent a home or condo and split the costs. Not only do you get more time together, you can save money, too.
Tina Williams, CEO of Tripbound, said her company has seen a big increase in multi-generational travel and family friends traveling together.
Williams said, “This makes good sense for families looking for not only smarter, more affordable ways to travel, but it also provides an opportunity for family and friends to spend quality time together. Timeshare rentals are often half the cost of adjoining hotel rooms. Families traveling together can split the costs of these larger suites and save some serious dough. Families appreciate having their own bedrooms but also a shared living space for late night card games and laid back family dinners.”
4. Dine in, not out
The cost of dining out can add up fast while traveling with kids. It can also be challenging to eat out with picky or tired kids, and for families dealing with food allergies.
Save yourself some money by getting a unit with a kitchen instead. “When choosing a timeshare rental over a traditional hotel room, the savings extend far beyond the nightly rate. Food is one of the largest travel expenses and can really add up for families of four or more. Timeshare rentals offer a fully equipped kitchen, which makes cooking and meal preparation a breeze and you don’t have to run out and spend money on eating out three times a day,” said Williams.
If you prefer to stay in a traditional hotel room, simply having a small refrigerator or microwave in the room can be helpful. Need ideas for how (and what) to cook in your hotel room. Read our 6 tips for families who want to eat in while on vacation.
5. Take a long weekend
You don’t need a week off to recharge and reconnect with your family. Remember the value of a taking an extended weekend trip. Long weekends are more affordable given that you only need a hotel room for a few nights.
There are several upcoming holidays that fall on either a Monday or Friday. Plan for a long weekend getaway in 2020.
The long holiday weekend approach also addresses another obstacle cited in the FTA/NYU travel survey. Parents say they have difficulty taking time off of work. It can also be challenging to plan around the school calendar.
6. Be a tourist at home
You don’t have to leave town to take a break. Try a staycation and be a tourist in your own hometown.
When’s the last time you visited your local museum? How about that new playground you’ve been meaning to check out? Or the ice cream shop your friends have been talking about? Too often we leave town to be tourists, but forget that there’s so much to explore in own backyards.
We recommend that you search (and follow) Instagram hashtags for your city. You’ll see what the locals and tourists are posting. Follow your local tourism board’s social media accounts. They’re usually on the cusp of what’s new and happening in your hometown.
If it fits within your budget, get a hotel room on your staycation. You’ll get bonus points with your kids for booking a hotel with a pool. Don’t overlook how something as simple as a hotel pool or a complimentary breakfast buffet can be thrilling to kids. A few years back during a hotel stay we splurged and ordered room service. Our kids still talk about it as a highlight of our visit to Shanghai.
7. Go small, instead of big
Want a less expensive, but incredibly memorable vacation? No need to go big, stay small instead. We’re talking about tiny houses, tree houses, vintage trailers, yurts and more. The quirky quarters may be a little cramped, but, trust us, you and your kids will love the adventure.
There’s been an explosion of small and unique stays opening around the U.S. KidTripster writers have checked out several of these locations. We’ve found that they often cost less per night than a standard hotel room.
In most cases, you’ll also have a small kitchen and/or a BBQ meaning you can save money by eating in. Think hot dogs and s’mores.
Here’s a list of our top 8 tiny stays and our 5 favorite treehouses.
8. Maximize memberships
Be sure to maximize the memberships that you already have.
For example, your AAA membership can save you money on more than roadside assistance. The top three reasons why people call AAA are due to dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts. Try using your AAA membership for something more fun. The organization offers ticket discounts to all the major theme parks, as well as to museums and other attractions. Special member pricing is available on hotels and car rentals.
Same goes for your Costco and Sam’s Club memberships. Besides buying in bulk, your membership can also get you discounted vacations and car rentals.
Make sure you’ve signed up for loyalty programs with individual airlines and hotel chains. Yes, it can be a hassle to have multiple accounts, but these membership programs are generally free so take a minute to set up an account. You can rack up miles and points more quickly than you might expect. Sometimes being a member of the loyalty program can get you free flight or hotel upgrades. You can also receive “member” rates when booking directly online on sites like Marriott Bonvoy.
9. Use a travel agent
Are you someone who books everything yourself? It’s time consuming to research and book your own travel. Yes, you can do it all online, but should you?
Travel planners have expertise and connections that the average person doesn’t have. In most cases, you’re not paying anything extra for their assistance. They typically get paid by the destination.
Anwar, of Magic Family Getaways, explained the value of a travel planner. “What most don’t realize is that there are so many ways to work with a travel advisor who will assist you with a vacation plan suited to your family’s needs. The majority of advisors work for you for free. Travel advisors do know the tips and tricks to help you make the most of your vacation time and budget, they even can set up payment plans if necessary.”
Pledge to #TakeFamilyTime
Yes, traveling can be expensive. But you can’t put a price on the value of time spent with your family. You’ll get a big return on your investment.
“Traveling doesn’t only allow children to explore and learn about the world, it offers them the rare opportunity to explore and learn more about themselves. In inward journey as well as an external one. Traveling allows kids to learn new life skills, discover what interests them, meet new friends, have some independence, enhance what they’re learning in school, connect with nature, develop more self confidence, and bond more with their parents,” said the FTA’s Jenss.
When you look back later, will you be glad you worked those extra days? Or will you regret not taking that family vacation?
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