At the best of times, it can be difficult for families to budget for the funds to get away and enjoy a moment of rest and relaxation, but that task proves even more difficult in the current economic conditions. Fortunately, it is not impossible. The following list of travel tips provides affordable vacation ideas for families who want to escape the rat race this year and enjoy a little time together without breaking the bank.
Take a Stay-Cation
It used to be that family vacations meant packing mom, dad and the kids into the family van or boarding a plane for a long cross-country road trip, but with the tough economic times of the last few years, families are finding plenty of opportunities to take a day trip away from their own backyards.
From state parks and theme parks to regional resort towns around lakes, beaches or mountains, budget-conscious travelers find plenty of opportunities to kick back and relax with just a tank or two of gas away from home.
Talking to friends and family who have taken similar trips or searching for nearby family vacation destinations online can help you discover some of these nearby places for family fun.
Take advantage of discounts and special offers
Like the vacationers who visit them, hotel and attraction owners are well aware of the recession and are offering special deals and discounts to entice vacationers to spend their hard-earned money on them.
To find these special offers, visit the websites of the destinations, hotels and attractions you want to visit and look for a link to the page that contains their current discounts and promotions. Additionally, placing a call to the destination may uncover recently announced special offers that may not have been posted on the website.
be spontaneous
Although it’s not always possible, the ability to drop everything and leave a few days early can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. While this may not be feasible for a family that only has a short window of opportunity to get away, families with young or homeschooled children and parents with flexible work schedules can take advantage of these last-minute opportunities.
Although it takes some diligence, and the ability to make a quick decision, the Internet makes it easier than ever to find these deals. Travel comparison sites like FareCompare.com and Orbitz track the latest deals and pass them along to their readers. Airlines such as Southwest Airlines frequently post last-minute airfares and hotel packages online.
To be among the first to know when these deals are available, keep track of the sites that track vacation deals and sign up for their newsletters or deal alerts. If you don’t like giving out your email information, you can also follow them on Twitter or Facebook. Just be sure to check back regularly for their posts and updates to take advantage of any urgent offers.
off-season travel
In good times or bad, vacationers can save money and avoid the crowds by traveling in the off-season. Peak times for family vacation destinations vary by location, but most are from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Vacationers who visit outside of these dates can avoid fighting the crowds and paying peak rates associated with high season.
If off-season vacations aren’t an option, consider traveling weekdays during peak season. Many resort towns get busy at the end of the week until Saturday night, but are quieter on Sunday until midweek and may even offer discounts on rooms and attractions for these days off.
A word of warning though: when traveling in the off-season, some attractions may be offered on a more limited basis or not at all. Be sure to call ahead to check which locations will be open and what their hours will be.
don’t eat your budget
Finally, one of the easiest ways to save while traveling is to avoid paying tourist inflated prices for food. Booking a hotel room with a kitchenette or even a small refrigerator can help you store and prepare food for easy meals or packed lunches.
Even theme parks offer in and out privileges. Getting your hand stamped and leaving the site for a picnic or even going to an off-attraction fast food restaurant can dramatically reduce the costs associated with visiting the park.