Are you planning a big family vacation? If so, that’s great. Now, here’s the even bigger question: Are you trying to figure out how to do it in a way that will save you as much money as possible? If that’s the case, you have come to just the right place.
We know that with the current state of the economy and the fact that fuel is still fairly high, it can be hard to plan a trip with your spouse and the kids (and maybe a few other family members) that will be lots of fun without putting you into (temporary) debt. However, we have five easy ways that you can save money on your next family vacation without skimping on the fun or breaking the bank:
Travel during off-season. A lot of times, people end up paying more money than they have to simply because they travel to places that they want to go to during peak travel seasons instead of going when there are less tourists (off season). Whether it’s a cruise or a ski lodge, make sure to speak with a travel agent about the times of year when the prices are lower.
Take advantage of your reward points. Do you have a credit card? If so, that probably means that you have racked up some rewards for using it that are good for lodging, transportation and even food. A lot of people don’t think to check to see how many points they have stored up, so while planning your trip, make sure to give your credit card company’s customer service department a ring.
Get online.?When it comes to finding?cheap flight codes?and fares, you’d be amazed at the rates that you’ll find by going directly to an airline’s website, signing up for newsletters from websites like Travelocity and Expedia and even following airline companies and places like CheapTickets and Orbitz on Twitter or becoming their friends on their Facebook page. Oftentimes, they will post really great deals on sales that may last for only 24 or 48 hours and are only offered to people who will purchase tickets via the internet.
Go all-inclusive.?There are cruises, resorts and international trips that will offer all-inclusive packages. In some cases, this includes your hotel and lodging. In others, it can be those plus your transportation and even your food. This can be really ideal for serious budgeters or if you are planning a trip that will include several people outside of your immediate family.
Choose your hotels wisely. When it comes to where you’ll stay once you arrive to your destination, there are all kinds of options. You can stay with family members or friends. You can register to be a part of a house swap (such as on HomeExchange.com). Or, you can go the more traditional route and book a hotel reservation. There are websites like Hotels.com that are designed to help you find the best rates possible. However, whether you decide to have them assist you or you go on the search for yourself, make sure to look for hotels that are family-friendly, serve breakfast for free and provide ample room for you and your loved ones. If everyone is comfortable, it is money well spent.
This is a guest post written specifically for this site. Opinions expressed are of the author.
