Here are some of my top Frugal Family Travel Tips!
I love going on vacation! Pulling us away from work. Exploring new and exciting places with the kids. It gives me a chance to stop the planning and scheduling that constantly runs through my head and just live in the moment.
This past weekend, Mr. Bean’s parents totally spoiled us on a staycation in Waikiki. We stayed at a nice hotel. Played non-stop on the water slides. Stayed up late playing on the beach. And ate so much good food. It was a blast and created so many fun family memories.
But as much as I love vacations, I can’t stand the idea of spending money unnecessarily. Tourist area prices for food and activities are outrageous!
So instead of going on a spending spree and putting ourselves in debt every time we book a family trip, I look for little ways to plan ahead. By doing a few small but crucial things, I can make sure we enjoy our vacations and stay out of debt when we return.
Frugal Family Travel Tip #1- Save Up
When Mr. Bean and I got married, we had a friend who really wanted to come. We got married in Hawaii, where we live, so it was a destination wedding for him. He was a recent college graduate with no money and a decent amount of student debt. Instead of missing an awesome trip, he said “Screw it! I have a credit card!”
This type of YOLO attitude is super fun and can provide life-changing experiences for some young travelers, but should not become a permanent way of vacation planning. That’s how to grow a huge amount of debt and more stress than any vacation can help you relax from.
To stay well vacationed and debt free, create a Vacations Expected Expenses Fund. (Check out my post on Expected Expenses)
Save for Expected Vacation Expenses
As part of our financial automation (How I Hide Money From Myself) I have a set amount of money automatically transferred to our vacations fund.
Every month, a few hundred dollars automatically goes to our travel fund. (When we were earlier in our career, it was only $20-50.)
- Living so far from my family on the West Coast, I want to be able to afford to see my family every year.
- Being in Hawaii, we have to take advantage of our beautiful islands and plan 1 or 2 staycations each year.
- Now that the kids are getting bigger, we want to take them on experiences throughout the country and the world as part of our homeschooling journey.
By having that money already saved and dedicated to vacations, we are able to experience amazing trips without worrying about where the money will come from when we get back.
Knowing that we can afford it makes vacations so much more relaxing.
(We also use cash-back credit cards and throw some of those “surprise monies” into our travel fund each month. Right now, Chase Freedom Unlimited is offering a $200 sign-up bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months. We personally use this card. Only use credit cards if you can guarantee to pay them off each month.)
Frugal Family Travel Tip #2- Cheap Out on the Snacks
Hands down, food is one of my favorite parts of vacations. I don’t have to cook and I get to try out yummy new dishes!
We have no problem dishing out a few hundred dollars to take friends and family to a nice experience restaurant a few times a year. But I can’t stand the idea of paying $10+ for a single plate of eggs and bacon at a poolside bar every day. Especially when there are 4 of us.
All those excessive convenience foods can really add up without giving you much value.
When on vacation, I like to plan a few “nice” meals out that I can really look forward to and enjoy. But eating like that for a week straight will not only cost big bucks, it will also give me a big butt!
Take Advantage of Free Breakfasts
When searching for hotels, I always click the box to search for FREE BREAKFASTS.
Not only do you get a decent meal to start your day, but you also don’t have to hunt down a restaurant in a new city first thing in the morning.
Free breakfasts also usually offer a few decent choices of food that you can snack on later. I love to grab a few pieces of fruit or yogurt to snack on later in the day. Or build a simple PBJ with the toast bread and jam to take on a hike or beach day.
Best Western and Holiday Inn Express are two of my go-to brands for free breakfast.
I can keep the kiddos fed and well snacked without paying $10+ every time we pass a snack shop.
We still might plan a nice breakfast or 2 at a local restaurant each trip, but those free, no-stress mornings are the best!
Hit Up the Local Grocery Store
Before heading to the hotel, or first thing the next morning if you arrive late, stop at a local discount grocery store.
Grab some snacks, fruit, or sandwich fixings. Vacation time is when I let the kids go crazy and get all those junk foods we never eat at home. But we also balance it with fruits to prevent upset tummies. Nothing is worse that a puking or constipated kid when you’re trying to have fun on a waterslide.
Having those easy grab-and-go snacks in your room makes it so much easier to avoid those overpriced hamburgers at the bar.
Last weekend, I saw a mom with 5 kids by the pool. She had bought a loaf of bread, packs of ham and cheese, and a bag of apples. While the kids ran around crazy on the splash pad, she threw a couple of sandwiches together by the pool while sipping fancy bubble water (which she also bought in a 12-pack at the store).
Plan For Allergies or Special Diets
My daughter, Jelly Bean, has a gluten allergy and Mr. Bean is full vegan. Sometimes it can be hard to find them filling meals they can enjoy while on vacation.
This last trip, I got smart and called the hotel ahead of time to make sure they have a microwave available to guests. I grabbed some of those pre-made, shelf-stable rice packs and chili cups from Target. We were able to just throw them in the microwave and keep on playing.
Frugal Family Travel Tip #3- Travel Off Season
When it comes to visiting new places for cheap, the best thing to do is travel off-season.
Hotel prices, theme park prices, plane tickets, pretty much everything is cheaper. And it’s usually way less crowded!
As a homeschooling family, we totally take advantage of the fact that we can run away to have fun while everyone else is stuck in school.
If you are able to pull the kids out in the middle of the year, do it!
I might be a horrible influence, but I fully believe that kids learn so much more from traveling and spending time with their families than they do in school. Be a rebel!
Wrap- Up
Traveling and taking vacations is a wonderful way to experience new things and/or take a break from everyday life.
Make sure to save up for your trips ahead of time. And only spend money on the things that are important to you. With a few simple tricks, you can have the time of your life, without breaking the bank.
What are some of your favorite Frugal Family Travel Tips? Leave a comment below.
I’m reading this at Orlando airport on my way to Costs Rica. I just scarfed down my peanut butter and jam sandwich which tasted awesome as I was starving and the price was perfect! And I’ll get my morning coffee in Costs Rica where theu serve the good stuff!
I love this!!! Save those dollars for the important stuff! COFFEE!!!!!