5 Tricks to Make Family Travel Cheaper

Use These 5 Tactics and Tricks to Trim the Cost of Family Vacations

Dec 24, 2008

Family vacations are good for the whole family, but they aren't easy on the budget. Here are 5 quick tips to shave cash, even hundreds, off the price of your next trip.

It's important to know that budget family vacation doesn't have to mean one-tank trip, and it doesn't have to mean camping (although that is a fun option too!). Here are 5 tricks that will save cash.

Trick #1: Fly on Weird Days, Weird Times of Year or to Another Place

If you want to fly during the summer or school breaks or just on Saturdays, you will pay the premium. If you can fly in the off-season, shoulder season or weekends, you can save hundreds (especially when a whole family is flying). The more flexible you can be, the better. You don't have to travel outside school days. Check with your child or children's teachers first about what is allowed.

You also should search other airports, even other cities (particularly if you already plan to rent a car). Sometimes one airport change can save a fortune on four or six tickets.

Trick #2: Be Spontaneous

Some of the best deals pop up at the last minute. Keep a travel fund tucked into a special account, and start signing up for alerts. There are some great alerts from major travel booking sites like Expedia and Travelocity, but you can also get alerts from major hotel chains, tourism offices and last-minute travel sites. TravelZoo.com is a wonderful source with a wide range of deals, sometimes major bargains.

Trick #3: Go Against the Grain

Everyone hits the beach in the summer, the mountains in the winter. Do the reverse. You'll get off-season rates many times. Plus, there's something so serene about the beach in winter and something so refreshing about the mountains in summer.

Trick #4: Revise Your Lodging Notions

If you always stay in your comfort zone at chain hotels, rethink that. Some of the most wonderful accommodations are small independent inns, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals. Better yet, consider camping. You can save literally hundreds off a vacation budget, and kids just love camping. If you aren't the outdoorsy type, look for upscale campgrounds. You might be surprised at the amenities.

Trick #5: Go Somewhere Else

If you've always dreamed of visiting France, it doesn't have to be pricey Paris. There are many smaller, wonderful cities where everything from lodging to dining is a fraction of the price. The same goes for many popular destinations. Doing Hawaii? Hit a less-visited island. Go off the beaten tourist track a little and you will save money and, quite possibly, have a more interesting vacation.

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