Family Travel Budget Tips
Who doesn't love to save money?! Traveling can be expensive but there are some great ways to save some money no matter what your desitination is.
For a road trip, pack a lunchbox for each child. Fill it with nutritious snacks (and some fun treats too). Stop at parks or rest area picnic spots for light meals. Saves the expense of restaurant meals and is easier on little tummies while travelling.
If you have a AAA card, don't forget to use it for discounts! Many hotels offer a special AAA rate (though sometimes you will find this isn't the lowest rate available). Some activities also offer a AAA discount; it is always worth asking!
If you will be staying in one large city for a few days, you might want to purchase an Entertainment Book for that city. They offer many discounts for restaurants and activities. Make sure to order it in advance as it does take a couple of weeks to arrive. We have ordered the books for several of our destinations and have always saved enough money to more than pay for the book.
During our last trip we decided to purchase discount cards through GoCardUSA. We were really happy with our money savings; also it was nice to pay for the card before leaving on our trip and not have to keep paying at each activity along the way. The discount cards allow for entry into as many of their included attractions as you would like to attend in the number of days on the card you purchase. They are available for several major cities in the U.S.
If possible, travel off-season. Many hotels will offer a better rate for low-occupancy times. Some attractions lower their rates when they are not busy, as well. Don't be afraid to ask for a discount. We have received some really great deals at rather pricey hotels by asking!
Check the website for any activities you plan to go to. Some offer a special rate for tickets purchased online. Others have a printable coupon on their website.
Set a souvenir budget and stick to it. We have done this two different ways. On some trips we have given the children their entire budget at the beginning of the trip; they decided how to spend it and didn't receive any more if they ran out before the end of the trip. On other trips we have distributed the souvenir money day by day; the kids could spend it each day as they got it or save it up to use later. I have heard of some families who decide on the type of souvenir allowed and purchase their child only that (such as a t-shirt from each location or mouse ears at Disneyland).
Find out if your hotel has a refrigerator or microwave in the room. If it does, you can easily take some of your own snack foods and beverages; this offers big savings over buying from room service or vending machines.
Save money at restaurants by asking for a glass of water. Your family will stay better hydrated while you save a few dollars at each meal.
Look at restaurant.com to see if you can print a discounted meal certificate for a restaurant or two at your destination. You can often find a great local restaurant with a nice discount through restaurant.com.
Look for restaurants where kids eat free. Our website has listings for almost every state:
www.familyfriendlyamerica.com
If you are taking a road trip, one of your biggest expenses might be the gasoline. There's not much you can do to avoid paying for gasoline unfortunately, but you can try to save on it as much as possible. We have found it worth driving a mile or two away from the highway while putting in gasoline. Even a block or two can make a difference; the stations near the highway are almost always more expensive. We have saved about 10 - 15 cents per gallon just by going away from the highway a bit.
For more tips, activity reviews and listings of kids eat free restaurants, visit our website at www.familyfriendlyamerica.com
For a road trip, pack a lunchbox for each child. Fill it with nutritious snacks (and some fun treats too). Stop at parks or rest area picnic spots for light meals. Saves the expense of restaurant meals and is easier on little tummies while travelling.
If you have a AAA card, don't forget to use it for discounts! Many hotels offer a special AAA rate (though sometimes you will find this isn't the lowest rate available). Some activities also offer a AAA discount; it is always worth asking!
If you will be staying in one large city for a few days, you might want to purchase an Entertainment Book for that city. They offer many discounts for restaurants and activities. Make sure to order it in advance as it does take a couple of weeks to arrive. We have ordered the books for several of our destinations and have always saved enough money to more than pay for the book.
During our last trip we decided to purchase discount cards through GoCardUSA. We were really happy with our money savings; also it was nice to pay for the card before leaving on our trip and not have to keep paying at each activity along the way. The discount cards allow for entry into as many of their included attractions as you would like to attend in the number of days on the card you purchase. They are available for several major cities in the U.S.
If possible, travel off-season. Many hotels will offer a better rate for low-occupancy times. Some attractions lower their rates when they are not busy, as well. Don't be afraid to ask for a discount. We have received some really great deals at rather pricey hotels by asking!
Check the website for any activities you plan to go to. Some offer a special rate for tickets purchased online. Others have a printable coupon on their website.
Set a souvenir budget and stick to it. We have done this two different ways. On some trips we have given the children their entire budget at the beginning of the trip; they decided how to spend it and didn't receive any more if they ran out before the end of the trip. On other trips we have distributed the souvenir money day by day; the kids could spend it each day as they got it or save it up to use later. I have heard of some families who decide on the type of souvenir allowed and purchase their child only that (such as a t-shirt from each location or mouse ears at Disneyland).
Find out if your hotel has a refrigerator or microwave in the room. If it does, you can easily take some of your own snack foods and beverages; this offers big savings over buying from room service or vending machines.
Save money at restaurants by asking for a glass of water. Your family will stay better hydrated while you save a few dollars at each meal.
Look at restaurant.com to see if you can print a discounted meal certificate for a restaurant or two at your destination. You can often find a great local restaurant with a nice discount through restaurant.com.
Look for restaurants where kids eat free. Our website has listings for almost every state:
www.familyfriendlyamerica.com
If you are taking a road trip, one of your biggest expenses might be the gasoline. There's not much you can do to avoid paying for gasoline unfortunately, but you can try to save on it as much as possible. We have found it worth driving a mile or two away from the highway while putting in gasoline. Even a block or two can make a difference; the stations near the highway are almost always more expensive. We have saved about 10 - 15 cents per gallon just by going away from the highway a bit.
For more tips, activity reviews and listings of kids eat free restaurants, visit our website at www.familyfriendlyamerica.com
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