Family trips create memories that last a lifetime and with a little procrastination and planning, you could be enjoying a fabulous family vacation at a cost-effective price. Whether you’re traveling abroad or you’re planning a road trip around the US, below you’ll find some handy tips that will help you to keep your spending to a minimum.
Reduce Your Overnight Stays
If you are going to be traveling from place to place during your vacation, try to make the travel arrangements during the night. Sleepover trains or night flights are great for getting you to your next destination whilst also reducing the number of nights that you’ll have to pay for a hotel.
Take All of the Freebies You Can Get
Many hotels offer some great freebies when you stay in them, including shampoos, conditioners and soaps. Be sure to use them while you’re there and don’t forget to pack them into your suitcase for your next holiday as these aren’t just free but they’re often the perfect size for traveling. This is great if you’re traveling light or you’re just taking hand luggage with you.
Look for the Best Deals Around
Planning a trip may seem like a lot of hassle but with a little bit of research you could save yourself a fortune. There are some great websites available (e.g. Groupon) that will help you to find discounted holidays and trips so be sure to check these out before you book your vacation. And, once you’ve found your dream hotel, look around for other deals before you pay for it. Tapping the hotel into Google should bring up any exclusive deals that may be available, and you may be surprised at just how much you can save!
It’s also worth looking at credit card reward schemes when paying for your trip as you may be able to score some freebies by building up points. For example, there are a number of Chase transfer partners available when you get a Chase credit card, including air miles with British Airways and hotel stays with Marriott.
Shop Like a Local
To get the most out of your trip, you’ll want to visit all of the local sights and tourist attractions. And the best way to save money when you’re doing this is to shop around like a local. Check out the local newspapers and magazines to see if there are any special deals going and don’t forget to search online for any coupon codes too. You may find that booking in advance through certain websites will be cheaper than paying for a ticket at the restaurant / attraction on the day.
You may also find that local attractions, museums and monuments offer free entry one day a week or month, so it’s always worth looking to see if this is the case before you book anything. Research your trip beforehand so you know where you’re planning on going and then head to the site’s website to see if there are any free or discounted entries on certain days. You can then plan your trip before you go so you can be at this location when the price is cheaper!
Opt for Different Flight Paths
When you’re flying to a destination, you may be able to save a lot of money if you don’t take a direct flight. Even though this might seem like a lot of hassle it’s often a great way of cutting down the cost of your flights and you could tie in the flight with a stopover in another city that you’ve been wanting to explore. Allowing yourself a 24-hour stopover in this location will take the stress out of having to change flights and will give the kids chance to catch up on their sleep before you head out again. This is often a much better way of traveling as it breaks down the journey, especially if you have young children.
Booking a round-trip ticket with one airline may seem like the easier option but don’t be afraid to book with two different airlines as this could save you even more money. Flying out with one airline and back with another won’t make any difference to your journey but can often be a great way of securing cheap flights in both directions. Apps like Skyscanner will show you the cheapest possible routes with different airlines as well as stopovers so you can make sure you’re getting the best price for your flights.
George Jackson jokingly called himself a nomad yet it’s actually not too far from the truth. He regularly explores new corners of the world with his wife and their two kids. He shares his travel stories and top trip tips around the net.
