Save Money on Family Vacations with These Tips

Filed in archive Saving on August 3, 2009

© mattbaron

While many tips have been given in the articles about saving money on vacations, here are a few more that need to be added to this list. Remember that vacations can still be memorable without having to spend money you don't have. Doing things together as a family is more fun than hitting all the expensive spots.

1. Buy your tickets online. This will let you see current deals and it is often cheaper to buy them online.

2. Carry refillable water bottles with you. You can easily refill them at various water fountains. It will be much cheaper and healthier than buying sodas.

3. Bring your stroller instead of renting one. At the big parks, this could save you more than $7 a day.

4. Research your planned stops in advance. Some tourist spots are not worth the money that they are asking. After a little research, you can choose the best spots and the ones that are more worthwhile and meaningful to you and your family.

5. Make tasty snacks at home before you leave. This can be things like banana bread, zucchini bread, cookies, brownies, muffins, and granola bars. You could also throw together some kind of trail mix, too, for a healthy snack.

6. Make a collection of postcards as souvenirs. This will give each of the children a low cost souvenir and it will enable them to have a collection of places they have been.

7. Plan free days in with your more expensive days to the big places. Spend time at the hotel pool, walk around a nearby state park, go to the beach, etc. This will enable your family to avoid expenses and still have a good time.

Don't forget a few safety tips for your house while you are on vacation, too. These vacation tips from the Vernon Hills Police (IL) should help you keep the home front more secure.