Saving Valuable Money on your Family Travels

Saving Valuable Money on your Family Travels

Family Travel can be expensive. Between the accommodations, the food and the transportation, you can easily spend hundreds of dollars before you know what hit you. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. With these 4 ways to save money on your next family vacation, you'll return from your trip not stressed about a lack of money, but relaxed and calm.

1) Reconsider your Hotel

Yes, staying at a comfortable location is essential to a successful vacation. But comfort doesn't have to be expensive. Depending on your destination, there may be some more affordable Bed and Breakfast options, modern hostels that still offer private bathrooms and single family rooms, or other alternatives. Of course, some special needs may require that you stay in a hotel. If that's the case, consider staying just a bit outside of the tourism areas. In combination with Tip 4), you won't be far away, and the prices drop considerably.

2) Visit the Grocery Store

It's tempting to go out to eat frequently when on vacation. Nobody wants to cook when it's time to relax! But that doesn't mean every meal has to be spent at a restaurant. Consider grocery shopping at least for breakfasts and some lunches and snacks, and you'll be surprised how much money you save by only going to the restaurant for dinner.

3) Pre-Plan Your Activities

Whatever your final destination, there is probably a reason you're going - whether that's the beautiful beach, the breathtaking nature, the historic sites or another aspect of the destination. But there will be plenty of other activities as well, and going on the trip without a game plan can result in significant expenses. All of a sudden, your kids want to visit that amazing amusement park they had no idea existed the same day that they'd like to see the fishes in the aquarium.

By pre-planning your activities together as a family before you leave, you ensure that compromises are made ahead of time and you don't spend the extra money. And if you do your research, maybe you'll even find some great, free activities you didn't know about!

4) Don't Be Afraid of Public Transportation

For special needs families on vacation, transportation can be daunting. Unless you're driving your car to your destination, you likely think you'll depend on either a rented car or taxis to avoid being stranded at the hotel. But in most cases, that's not true at all. Public transportation, from buses to subways, offer a cheap and reliable way to get around, and is much cheaper than the alternative. And especially in cities, these buses and subways are often made to accomoddate special needs.

In these cities, a family ticket generally costs you about 15 dollars for an entire day and comes with the assurance of not getting stuck in traffic. If you've followed our first tip and are staying outside the center, you'll still get to where you need to be without wasting time or pulling out your hair.

And there you have it - 4 easy ways to save money on your family vacation, costing you nothing but a bit of research and preparation.

Of course, we recognize that every situation is different, and that your special needs may not allow for one of more of these possibilities. In that case, don't worry! Contact us for more easy ways to save money and keep the stress level low the next time you plan your vacation.