5 Simple Tricks To Save Money On Vacation

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It’s that time of year — the time for family vacations, getaways and sightseeing. Whether your destination is a beach, campground, or even traveling internationally, I have got some simple tricks to help you save money on vacation.

Learn To Save Money On Vacation

Cook Your Own Food

Anytime you travel — especially with little ones — be sure to come with a meal and snack plan prepared. By packing your own food, you will have healthier choices for you and your kiddos and ultimately save money on vacation. Of course, part of vacation is taking a break, so DO eat out but keep your visits to restaurants to a minimum to get the most bang for your buck. You could even check out the restaurants nearby so that you know how much money to budget for food expenses.

Travel Light

If you are flying, try to get all that you need into your carry on. A good rule of thumb is to get out everything that you think you’ll need and then put 50% of it back. You might be surprised by just how much of the stuff you don’t really need.

Do Your Research

My husband makes fun of me because I start planning for our September road trips in June. However, I know he appreciates the hard work because it pays off. I use apps like Roadtrippers, Evernote and plain old Google to figure out what restaurants are most family friendly, to find free events along our route, and to scout out local grocery stores.

By working in a little bit of time to plan here and there you will find yourself more at ease when travel day arrives (and you will have a good hold on how much money you need for your trip.)

AirBnB vs Hotel

When you have littles having a home to spread out in is luxurious! When you rent a home for a vacation instead of staying in a hotel, you get access to a full kitchen, washer and dryer, separate bedrooms for privacy and usually a private outdoor area. By choosing to book a home instead of a hotel room you can choose from a variety of prices and amenities.

(Tip: look for new Airbnb sellers who have only a few reviews. Their home will often be cheaper than sellers who have established a good reputation.)

Bring Your Own Entertainment

Another way to save some money on vacation is to pack some entertaining activities. Visit your local Target or Walmart before you leave and grab a couple new $5 movies that no one has seen. Have a family of bookworms? A couple days before your trip, hit the library and choose a couple of novels/picture books or books on tape. Do you or your children enjoy more creative outlets? Go to your local craft store and purchase a coloring book and nice pens or, if you have little kids, plan a couple crafts that they would enjoy.

Vacation is also a great time to pull out the cards and board games. If you need to travel light pack a few decks of cards but if you have some extra car space make it a priority to pack some games for the entire family to get involved in. Family game nights were some of my favorite memories growing up!

Going on vacation can be a blast but it doesn’t have to break the bank. We hope you enjoy your time as a family on your summer ventures this year and also save money on vacation!