We have been planning our family vacation for a couple of months now.
When we first started planning things the prices of gas were a little lower.
I am amazed at how high the price of gas is now and it scares me a bit to think that in just a few months we will be filling our Suburban up and going on a road trip. I am sure that we are going to spend a lot more on gas this year than we have ever spent when going away. This is why when I was approached about sharing tips with my readers about saving money while traveling on a budget I didn’t want to pass it up!
Tips for Saving Money While Traveling on a Budget:
- Use apps to your advantage: There are many apps that can save you money. Whether it be GasBuddy to help you find the cheapest gas near you or ATMHunter which allows you to avoid fees when withdrawing money. ScoutMob is also a great app that offers 50% off of deals to restaurants and salons. (Unfortunately they are just getting started so the deals are only available for Atlanta, New York and San Francisco at this time, but they are quickly expanding to other cities!)
- Brown Bag it: Make an effort to make your own lunches or breakfasts when traveling. It’s cheaper to stock up on fruit, snacks and cold cuts than eating every meal at a restaurant. (We typically pack cereal b/c it doesn’t go bad and we all eat cereal before heading out for the day. We like to make sandwiches and snacks up to put in the car in a cooler if we know we will be away from the hotel for a lot of the day also.)
- Dine out wisely: Many restaurants offer “kids eat free” deals on certain nights. Find locations near you on KidsMealDeals or use their FREE app.
- Take advantage of deals: If you’re a member of organizations that offer discounts, look into where you could be saving money. AAA offers its members a variety of savings which range from discounts to attractions to local restaurants.
- Take advantage of cheap vacation packages: LuckyChic is a luxury bidding site which also features vacation packages which include hotel, airfare, and access to exclusive events. Just recently an LA Fashion Week package sold for $35.70!
- Shop around: Take your time when buying souvenirs. Shopping around will allow you to find the most reasonably priced souvenirs. Remember, seashells found on the beach make sweet mementos and may be more heartfelt than buying a keychain.
- Explore public transit options: Do some research about public transportation where you’re going. Taking the subway or a bus instead of renting a car or hailing a taxi will save you a lot of money.
- Happy hour keeps your wallet happy: Drinking can often be very expensive and the drinks can quickly break the budget. Research happy hours or local deals using Yelp.
- Do your research: Instead of paying for pricey guided tours, research free walking tours where you’ll be visiting. The experience will often be the same, but you will be saving money!
- Pack smart, pack light: When flying, make sure to strategically pack your suitcases, in doing so you’ll avoid over-packing. You can aim to only bring carry-on bags, avoiding checked baggage fees. If you are checking bags, make sure they meet the weight limits, which can often lead to extra fees.
- Take the road less traveled: Explore small, local restaurants instead of flocking to large chain or touristy restaurants. You will avoid paying for novelty and you’re likely to have a more authentic travel experience.
- Bring along emergency essentials: Remember to pack small samples of any medications you might need to take. You will save money if you have your own on hand instead of having to buy a whole new container in case of a headache or stomachache. (We like to make up a little medicine bag with all of the essentials as well as bandages and Neosporin or another antibacterial cream. Don’t forget the hand sanitizer!)
- Heck, bring essentials: There is nothing more irritating than shelling out money for something that you just forgot to pack. Be sure to remember your toothbrush and other small but easy to forget essentials.
- Get maximum bang for your buck: Don’t forget to take pictures! You will have the photos to remember your vacation forever by remember to capture the memories. Be sure to bring extra film/memory cards and batteries. I always hate when my batteries in my camera go dead and they are extra expensive in the gift shops!
- Keep safety in mind: Make sure you save money reasonably; it’s not worth trying to risk you or your family’s safety to save money.
When we are planning our family vacations I literally spend a good month or longer researching things on the internet. I have found that a lot of places give discounts or better deals if you call them directly. Often times I either get a better discount calling directly or booking online then I would have gotten had I paid at the door. We also try to bring things with us that we may be needing. Things might be more expensive at your vacation spot, especially if you are going to a touristy location. If you are going to a Swim Park don’t forget your beach towels because they might cost double or triple at the swim park. (Convenience often costs a high price!)
We always bring a cooler packed as full as we can get it with things like milk, eggs and other things we can make quick while at our rental property. Other quick things like poptarts are nice to have handy. My boys like to eat these in the vehicle on the way to our destination in the morning, and they also eat them later on for a snack between meals.
We also try to plan out our whole trip. This will help save on gas and time, possibly saving you more money.
If you are going to be traveling to more than one town try to plan as much as you can in one town in one day in order to save you. Also, don’t forget about the free places you can often visit. Parks are great places for the kids to run and stretch their legs, they are free and they make a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch.
Have fun and enjoy your vacation while saving a little along the way!
(All links in this post were provided to me. I do not work with any of these companies, nor am I being paid in any way for this post. I am posting this article for others that may be interested in saving money while traveling.)
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