 Summer -- it will be here before you know it. So it is time to kick your vacation planning into high gear, especially if there are kids in the equation. That's because you have to find a locale that offers not just what you want but what your children will find fun and interesting, too.
On top of that, it has to be affordable. That can be tough when you're buying multiple plane tickets, staying in hotels, dining out and shelling out cash left and right for kids' souvenirs and rounds of minigolf.
These 10 tips will help you snag good travel deals and plan an affordable vacation:
1. Use the Web to find the best bargains in air travel and the cheapest rates for car rentals, hotel rooms and vacation packages, whether you travel in the U.S. or internationally. Also check sites that specialize in family travel. Travel With Kids lists promotions each month, as well as deals at major resorts, and has loads of vacation ideas and tips.
2. Visit off-the-beaten-path destinations. You can save big -- often more than 50% -- and avoid the crowds by picking a vacation spot that isn't a tourist Mecca.
3. Do Disney on the cheap. OK, so maybe you really want to travel to a major tourist destination, perhaps even one of the most popular family-vacation spots: Disney World. But you'll have to pay a pretty penny to spend your holiday with Mickey Mouse, right? Not necessarily. Walt Disney World has four value resorts, with rooms starting at $82 a night and packages from $1,600 for a family of four that include lodging for six nights and theme-park tickets. You can use the free bus system to get to the theme park. Or for real budget accommodations, consider camping for $43 a night for a partial hookup at the resort's campground. For more Disney discounts and deals, check out Mousesavers.com.
4. Travel after peak season. This might not be an option if you have school-age children. But families with infants and toddlers can take advantage of discounted rates by traveling in the fall. If you want to head south of the border, off-season comes conveniently during the summer. Caribbean and Mexican resorts and hotels are much cheaper from April or May through the fall, says Teresa Plowright, the About.com guide for Travel With Kids. And some have kids-stay-free promotions for children under certain ages during this time.
5. Be flexible. You can save money by letting the available deals on flights and lodging determine where and when you'll go rather than picking a location and time frame, then trying to find affordable flights and lodging there. For example, Airfarewatchdog.com lets you see the best airfares departing from your city, and you can sign up for e-mail notifications for deals from the airport nearest you.
6. Don't fear flying with infants. Gone are the days when airlines offered discounted rates for all children. But most airlines still let you hold a child younger than 2 on your lap for no charge -- or pay a discounted infant fare for a seat for your tot. Besides, attending to a baby for a couple of hours on a plane beats many hours in a car -- especially when you need to concentrate on the road, not your child.
7. Pick spots within driving distance. Driving is a good way to save money, Plowright says. But it can be as expensive as flying if you drive a gas-guzzling vehicle and have to pay for a hotel room on the way to your destination. So the key is to pick a destination that's just a few hours' drive away. In addition to saving money, you'll minimize the times you'll hear that inevitable question coming from the back seat: "Are we almost there?"
8. Consider camping. If you're really pinching pennies -- or just want to keep your kids away from a computer screen for a week -- pitch a tent rather than book a room. It's a great way to experience our state and national parks, and even places such as Disney World have campgrounds. You can also send the whole family to summer camp, which can be a great value vacation.
9. Don't write off all-inclusive packages as too expensive. If you head south of the border, you can score big deals at Mexican resorts that offer everything -- food, drinks, transportation and a room -- for a package price. Sometimes the deal even includes airfare.
10. Don't be afraid of luxury locales. So maybe you want to treat yourself to a luxurious vacation but you're worried that your children won't be welcome. "Even luxury places are welcoming kids," Plowright says. Over the past decade, she has seen a trend toward accommodating families at hotels and resorts that once were the domain of adults only. "It's hard now to find a place that doesn't cater to families," she says.
By Cameron Huddleston |
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