When someone in the family talks about the family vacation, our eyes gleam excitedly. It is easy to think about family vacations but planning for them takes time and effort. Planning a family vacation can be expensive, sometimes. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have to be. If you are looking to plan an affordable family trip, then this blog is for you!
13 Ways To Plan A Budget-Friendly Vacation
- Look At Family Vacation Packages
The Internet is full of travel websites offering amazing family travel packages. You can browse through them, and some of them prove to steal deals as they offer budget-friendly accommodation, travel, meals, etc which makes your other expenses a little predictable.
Nevertheless, a disadvantage of the travel packages is that they plan the whole trip for you and you don’t have any role in that, hence, it doesn’t give you the flexibility to explore the place the way you want.
Hence, it is better to do research before booking family vacation packages and check if they are convenient, cheap and suitable for you and your family.
- Plan An Itinerary
Creating an itinerary is another important part of planning your trip and allocating your budget accordingly. While planning an itinerary, ensure that you look up the distance between the places you are travelling to, and plan it accordingly.
- Travel Off Season
Travelling during the off-season reflects a huge price difference in airfare and accommodation. It allows you to beat the crowd and explore the city at your convenience. Nevertheless, it is important to research the destination well about the peak and off seasons.
For example – Dubai is a popular holiday destination. The peak season to visit Dubai is winter. If you travel during June-August you will get the best deals since it is off-season, but it is extremely hot and the temperature can soar as high as 50 degrees Celsius. If you believe that you can manage the heat, then you can fulfil your wish to travel on a budget. However, if not, it is advisable to look for alternative destinations.
- Research Destinations
Researching the destinations of your taste is one of the essential things to do while planning a family vacation. If you have a particular place in mind, then search for cities near that place that are most affordable and suited to your needs and your budget.
Furthermore, while planning for an international trip, take the help of the Internet to research the transportation, accommodation and currency of the place. This will help you have an estimate of how much you need to spend to travel, stay and do things there.
- Compare Prices
Compare prices on different websites such as:
- Skyscanner
- Kayak
- Trivago
- TripAdvisor
- Expedia
- Kiwi etc,
To get the best deals, search for affordable airlines that fit your budget. Comparing prices will help you grab the best deal and save a lot of money.
- Use Public Transport
During your trip, avoid using cabs as it will help you save money. Try to navigate through public transport. Look up routes online and ask the locals, they can guide you for the same. Doing prior research about transportation and planning your trip accordingly will prove to be pocket-friendly.
- Avoid Luxury Hotels
Look for affordable accommodation and avoid the fancy 5-star hotels or resorts. Hostels and homestays are great options are budget-friendly accomodations. Nevertheless, don’t completely compromise on the quality of your stay as you must ensure that the accommodation is safe, clean and at a secure location.
Often travellers share their ordeal that when they reached the location of the hotel, they didn’t find it and other hotels were booked. Hence, don’t book a hotel that seems sketchy; you can go through the hotel reviews to find it out.
- Track Expenses
Note down every expense while travelling, it will help you to stay within budget. Moreover, how you allocate your budget also matters a lot, therefore plan it wisely. Some expenses that you should keep in mind apart from flight and accommodation are:
- Shopping
- Food & Beverage
- Activities
- Travel Gear (such as neck pillows, luggage etc)
- Roaming & SIM charges (if travelling to another country)
- Miscellaneous
- Medical Cost (Vaccinations and health checkups, if required)
- Emergency Fund
- Currency exchange & Bank Charges (While using foreign currency)
Hence, it is important to be a little flexible with your budget as it will help you enjoy your family travel without being too heavy on your pockets.
Moroever, setting a realistic budget is also essential for planning an affordable family vacation.
- Talk To Locals
Once you reach your destination, talk to friendly locals and inquire them about places the famous places to visit nearby, and the easiest way to get there. Locals can provide you with the best insight.
10. Book In Advance
Book your tickets, accommodation, and other required reservations in advance. Booking in advance allows you to receive early bird discounts. Moreover, you can get better deals on flights and hotel bookings as well!
11. Purchase Travel Insurance
It is important to purchase travel insurance as it can save you a lot of money in case you need to cancel at the last minute. Additionally, a travel insurance will provide you with any kind of emergency help if you need during your trip.
12. Look For Offers And Discounts
Check on the internet if you are eligible for any discounts, or coupons, or if your credit card offers discounts on travel and stay. These discounts may not significantly reduce your vacation cost, but small savings can have a good impact on your purse. Moreover, some credit cards offer a 10-15% discount on flight and hotel bookings.
Suggested reads: Fun Activities To Do With Family On Weekends
Benefits & Drawbacks Of Being A Single Parent
Tips For Travel
- Don’t Share Your Travel Plans On Social Media
You must not share your travel-related details or post on social media during your trip. It lets people know that you are not at home, and they can take advantage of that. You can do it later when you reach your home.
There is a viral story of a girl who shared her travel on her social media, and once she was back from her family vacation, her house was burglarized. The burglar had seen her posts and knew that the family is not home.
While it was a rare case, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
- Research Tourist Scams
In tourist hotspots, scammers run plenty of scams that tourists may fall for. For example – in Paris, “the gold ring scam” is very common, in which a person may pick something shiny and give it to you. However, if you accept it, they will start asking for a lot of money.
Hence, it is important to research tourist scams prevalent at your destination before you travel!
- Make Sure You Know The Currency
If you are planning to travel to another country, ensure that you know their currency well. Additionally, research about the conversion rates.
Moreover, some countries like Saudi Arabia have Arabic text on their currency making it difficult for a non-Arabic to use it properly. In such situations, people may take advantage to scam you. Hence, it is essential to learn about the currency you are dealing with.
- Travel Responsibly
Before travelling to a different country, try to learn about their culture, so that you may not disrespect them in any way. Moreover, ensure that you do not litter as it is important to be respectful and responsible while travelling.
- Ensure You Have All Necessary Documents
While travelling, ensure you have all the necessary documents such as a visa, passport, etc. Also, keep their copies with you for any unforeseen circumstances.
- Keep Emergency Cash
Keep some emergency cash in the local currency as it will help you in case your card fails.
Benefits Of Planning A Family Vacation
There are a lot of benefits of planning a family trip, some of them are:
- Quality Time With Family
Spending time with your family will provide you with a healthy bonding experience in the absence of regular distractions. It will also allow you to strengthen your relationship with family members, and create amazing memories together.
Read the blog on the Importance Of Spending Time With Family to know more about its benefits.
- Learning Experience
When you travel to a new destination, you get an opportunity to learn about different cultures. Moreover, you get to try out exotic cuisines. Such exposures and interactions teach you to respect other cultures.
- Reduces Stress
Although planning a trip can be hectic, it will be worth the hard work you do while planning. You will have fun, adventures, and great moments with your family that will provide everyone relief from their regular schedule.
Conclusion
Planning a family trip can be hectic sometimes, but it is worth the experience you get. It tends to build a stronger family bond and create memories together.
It isn’t impossible to plan a budget trip as long as you keep a realistic budget. However, there are several things you can do to plan an affordable vacation like setting realistic budget, doing proper research, etc.