10 TIPS FOR A BUDGET-FRIENDLY FAMILY VACATION

Bitten by the travel bug, but aren’t sure how you’re going to afford it this year? A great family vacation doesn’t have to break the bank! Here are a few easy tips to make your family’s travel budget stretch a little further.

Make a real budget and stick to it. A lot of us “guesstimate” our travel budget by adding the cost of flights to the cost of the hotel and then adding a few hundred dollars for literally everything else. Be thorough! Look at the cost of the attractions you’d like to see, figure out the average cost of restaurant meals, local gas prices, and even whether or not you’d like to bring home some souvenirs. Organize these in a spreadsheet to create your daily budget and you won’t be shocked later.

Plan far ahead and try to be flexible. If you’re organized and carefully watch flight and vacation package prices, you can sometimes snag incredible deals. Lots of package vacations and cruises go on sale around Black Friday or Boxing Day – if you already know where and when you’d like to go, you can save a lot of money by planning to book around those dates.

Carry food and drinks with you. Avoid high prices at theme parks, airports and restaurants by packing meals ahead in a backpack for the day. It can be really fun to check out local supermarkets and see what they have to offer that’s different from at home – make it part of the experience!

Look for coupons and discounts. Even the big attractions will sometimes have discount days. Museums and local historical sites sometimes have cheaper entry on certain days or after certain times; research ahead!

Consider a self-catering stay. Staying in an apartment or house via a service like Airbnb or VRBO can save you a lot of money in the long run – the ability to use a kitchen and cook for yourself, save on multiple hotel rooms and access free residential parking can add up. Just make sure to watch for costly add-ons like cleaning fees when you book!

Look for hotels with free or reduced-cost meals. A lot of hotels will provide breakfast, but some also offer free snacks throughout the day or appetizers in the evening. Some hotels will offer discount vouchers for affiliated restaurants; call ahead or check their website to find out.

Look for reduced prices for kids. If you need to eat out at a restaurant, many offer kids’ menus or free kids’ meals with the purchase of an adult meal. Some attractions will offer free admission or cheap admission for kids under a certain age – consider adding those to your itinerary.

Find free stuff to do. Many cities will have free self-guided walking tours, public parks, beaches, historic sites and street markets and festivals. Google is your friend! Search ahead to find local blogs and travel guides that highlight everything free to do at your destination.

Consider camping or a road trip. Hotels can be expensive and big city prices can quickly get overwhelming. While gas and campsites aren’t free, you can save a lot of money by choosing to explore small towns and cities across western Canada or even the United States. Enjoy the great outdoors!

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