After being cooped up for more than a year, we couldn’t be happier that our country is opening up once again! One of the things we’re looking forward to is TRAVELING. Whether it’s a quick road trip or taking a much anticipated flight cross country, we’re super excited about the possibilities while also being budget conscious.

Travel does not have to be expensive. Even travel with your family can be budget-friendly if you know how to plan your trip properly. We’ve pulled together some tips for family travel on a budget, plus a few of our favorite tips to help you experience wonderful travel adventures without draining your bank account!

Choose a Budget-Friendly Destination

The first thing to consider when traveling on a budget is your destination. A budget-friendly destination can drastically reduce your travel expenses, especially if you are traveling with multiple children. Budget-friendly destinations can range from specific locations to regions and everything in between. As a general rule of thumb, if you are looking for a budget-friendly destination you should avoid major tourist sites or expensive cities. You should also avoid notoriously expensive destinations. For example, theme parks, at least if you are trying to keep your travel budget low.

Find Budget-Friendly Lodging

In addition to a travel destination, you must also consider where you’re going to stay. There is a surprising amount of budget-friendly lodging available for family trips. For instance, Airbnbs, rental apartments, and low cost hotels. As a general rule of thumb, you should look for Airbnbs or rental apartments if you plan on staying somewhere for a week or more. These types of arrangements will save you money and allow you to cook your own food. You might also be able to save on laundry expenses. 

Tips for Family Travel on a Budget

That leads us to sharing some essential tips you should follow when you want to travel with your family on a budget.

Tip #1: Focus on experience-oriented trips rather than expense-based trips

Consider experience-oriented trips rather than expense-based trips when traveling on a budget. What this means is that your family trips should focus on creating experiences and not spending money. For example, visiting a country and experiencing local activities and destinations. This includes going to a local market, visiting local parks, hiking, sight seeing, etc. Other experience-based ideas for a family vacation can include camping, seeing world heritage sites, and so on.

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Tip #2: Set aside a budget for souvenirs

Souvenirs are special keepsakes that remind of us of our travels. However, they can be very expensive. If you do want to purchase souvenirs for your family during your trip, you can plan ahead for the expense by setting aside a budget for souvenirs before you ever leave for your trip. A budget will help you keep your overall spending on track, while allowing your family to get something meaningful during the trip.

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Tip #3: Pack or make your own food whenever possible

Food can be expensive. You can save money on food by packing your own meals or making your own meals during your trip. Stopping by the local grocery store to purchase the basics will most likely be less than eating out for every meal. Even planning an inexpensive breakfast and lunch will allow for more funds to be spent on a nicer dinner.

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Tip #4: Travel during the off-seasons

We know lots of people are anxious to start traveling now (or in the near future), but if you’re looking to save money on plane tickets, train tickets, hotels and other travel expenses, then the best option is to travel during the off-season. Off-season travel and accommodations will help you save a decent amount of money in the long run, especially if you are traveling with your family. Another great perk for traveling during the off-season is that you’ll also be avoiding crowds.

Travel can be expensive, but when done right, it is possible to travel with your family on a budget. Keeping the above tips and considerations in mind will help to keep your spending on track. Happy travels!

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