You probably know the old saying about how the only thing certain is death and taxes, well we think that there is one more thing in life that is certain, traveling costs money. But just how much we spend is most definitely not certain.
There are so many possibilities, from the very low budget to the lap of luxury, and everywhere in between. However, when traveling with a family those high-end luxury excursions are almost never a viable option, but if you look around you can find a bargain on fantastic and affordable family vacations.
That said, we do understand that even the lower cost trips can be pretty pricey these days, so we got to thinking, and while running back through our old memory banks we came up with some of our favorite places that can still be enjoyed at a reasonable price. And even though we don’t travel as a family much anymore, we still remember how to look for family vacations on a budget.
Driving to Save Dollars
A big part of how much it costs to go somewhere depends on how you want to get there. The lowest cost is almost always going by car and staying at family friendly budget hotels and motels. These usually have swimming pools, and in our experience both kids and adults love a pool. So that’s a good start.
We highly recommend that you choose a destination fairly close to home for this type of vacation, that way the trip doesn’t become all about the driving. This is sometimes called a stay-cation, or as we like to call it, Gypsynesting in your own backyard, but we do feel like expanding the area is also acceptable.
So if you live in the Midwest, maybe the Wisconsin Dells, or a nearby theme park like Six Flags would be a good idea. Or further out west, several National Parks such as Grand Canyon, Yosemite, or Yellowstone are wonderful choices. They are all bucket list items that we are thrilled to have ticked off our list. Down south, a beach getaway is never too far away along the Gulf Coast or in Florida.
We have had a couple amazing visits to Washington, D.C. too. And our kids, who were teens at the time, had a great time as well. One good idea for saving some money on these types of trips is to stay outside the main part of town because hotel rates can be half or even less of the downtown prices. That goes for the restaurant prices too.
And you can save even more on any adventure like this by camping. There are obviously campgrounds at and around the National Parks, but guess what? There are private campgrounds almost everywhere, including near any city you might want to see. Whether in a tent, a trailer, or a big, fancy motorhome, this is always cheaper than staying in a hotel, and camp cooked meals are an added bonus.
Traveling by car is still one of our favorite ways to get around because we really like the freedom to go wherever and whenever we want. It’s great because if we see something interesting or fun along the way we can just pull off the road and make a quick itinerary change.
Let’s Fly Away
When traveling farther from home, flying becomes more attractive and can actually save some money. When you add up the cost of fuel, wear and tear on the vehicle, hotel rooms, and meals for all of the extra time driving takes, then at some point flying becomes the better bargain. Plus, sometimes it is simply impractical or impossible to drive.
For example, once our kids were a little older they were into history and ancient ruins, so we looked at the Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula and found it to be just about the prefect destination for a big family trip. Cancun, Mexico makes for a great base camp for enjoying the turquoise waters and white sand beaches it is famous for, and also offers much more as a destination for both relaxation and adventure.
But there was no way we were going to drive there, so we figuring out how to keep it affordable even though we had to fly. In fact, we found we didn’t even need a car once we got there. We saved a bunch by staying in the town of Cancun instead of at the beachfront resorts, and by using our feet, Uber, or cabs to get around town, then taking busses for our longer excursions.
The Mayan ruins at Tulum and Chichen Itzá are both an easy escape for a day trip or longer. And we discovered an incredible experience near Playa del Carmen at an underground river called Rio Secreto. This is way more than just a cave, it is truly a river below the surface. We floated downstream for quite a distance and got to “see” the darkest dark ever. Absolutely no light whatsoever. It made us feel like we were floating in space.
We totally understand how flying has become more and more stressful and expensive, but if you are able to be a little bit flexible on your travel dates, you can still find some good deals and maybe even avoid some of the crowds by traveling on weekdays and in the lower seasons. It is always worth it to avoid the big holiday weekends and busiest times of year. Your budget will thank you.
Making an Affordable Family Vacation Even More Affordable
As we just mentioned, when you choose to travel can make a huge difference in how much it costs. But we have come across a few other ways to stretch our travel dollars. Perhaps the best one is free stuff. That’s right, there is a whole bunch of free stuff out there just waiting to be scooped up by savvy travelers.
Many cities have free guided tours available, just check online when you arrive. We have used these in several places and found them to be really great. They are usually led by volunteers who are local and quite knowledgeable about their hometown. The tours can be a clever way to not only learn about a new city, but to get some real inside information on the best restaurants, attractions, and local events. Bonus point, the guides usually know where the best deals are too.
There are also tons of free hiking and biking trails just about everywhere we’ve been. Our favorites are the rail trails, where old train tracks have been converted into bike paths. The best thing about them is that trains can’t go up steep hills so the trails are fairly level and easy. We have found amazing trails that are easy to ride even in very hilly areas, but we really like the ones that follow along a river or the beach.
Now, even though our kids have flown the nest, we still remember how important affordable family vacations can be for making lasting memories, enjoying each other’s company, learning new things, and just plain relaxing and recharging.
So let’s get going…
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
