You want an affordable family holiday but don't want to turn it into National Lampoon's Vacation? For a household on a budget, the idea of a great family vacation might seem out of reach. Read on for the best tips for planning a budget family vacation no matter how tight money seems to be.
The American Autoclub estimates that a family of four might look to spend at least $244 per day for meals, travel and lodging costs. And that figure doesn't include entertainment or shopping.
As usual the best way to plan a budget family holiday is to start with a look at your resources and how much money you have available. You need to budget realistically. If you're driving, set a fixed spending amount ($170 per day for example) and stick to it. Include all your expenses like gas, meals, admissions and an entertainment/special activity allowance.
Involve the whole family in the process. Tell your kids how much you have to spend and why. Most children will understand, and might even relish the challenge. It is also a great way to teach your kids the value of money and sensible budgeting.
Here are some family vacation planning tips including some you have probably never even thought about:
BEST WEBSITES FOR DISCOUNT HOLIDAYS
The internet is the best tool for finding the latest deals and vacation packages. Start with the bigger names such as expedia.com, orbitz.com, travelocity.com and lastminute.com. Holiday sites like priceline.com allow you to name a price you are willing to pay. For example, you can state that you are willing to pay $200 for an airline flight and priceline.com will find a suitable flight for you. It might mean flying redeye in the middle of the night, or arriving in an airport which isn't the closest available to the city you want, but being flexible is key to budget family travel.
PICK CHEAPER DAYS
Try to travel on days other than Friday, Saturday or Sunday which are the busiest and therefore the priciest days of the week.
CHECK YOUR LOYALTY SCHEMES AND FLIER POINTS
Don't forget to check your credit card points or airline frequent flier miles. If you are short of the required points, many companies allow you to top up points with cash.
And don't throw away your junk mail. There might be discounts or vouchers for family vacation packages in there.
CONSIDER TAKING THE TRAIN
Today's trains can be as comfortable as first class airplane seats. Taking the train can also be a romantic and less stressful for young children: you won't have to consult your map at every turning for directions and you can watch the world go by gently and smoothly. Train fares too have discounts, vouchers and package deals. Offer the train fare is much cheaper if you book well in advance.
THINK ABOUT A HOME EXCHANGE
Home exchanges, where you swap houses with someone else in another city and/or country isn't as risky as it sounds. There are reputable home swap companies who make the vetting and payment process much easier. One of the most famous home swap companies is exchangehomes.com. You could drastically cut your vacation cost and get to experience a city like a local.
Selasa, 24 Oktober 2017
Senin, 09 Oktober 2017
Family Vacation Destinations To Visit On Your Next Getaway
For people around the world that have to deal with either a demanding work life or even just really awful weather, there is nothing they look forward to more than going on vacation. As the time gets closer to break out, you and your loved ones start putting together a list of potential family vacation destinations in the hopes that no matter where you actually go, everyone will find their own personal oasis.
The toughest part of choosing where to go on vacation with your family is narrowing it down to one location somewhere on the planet. Once you've gotten past the areas of the world that are either inhabitable or out of your budget, you still have whole areas of Earth to choose from. It can be a daunting task, and when you travel with family, there can be other considerations so that all parties involved in the trip are happy.
In the event that you're looking to start your own family vacation planning, here are a few destinations to add to the mix:
Carson National Forest - Carson National Forest is one of five National Forests in New Mexico and covers over 1,000,000 acres and has its highest peak hit heights over 13,000 feet! The weather in the area allows for people to enjoy the entire year, which is great for those looking to vacation but aren't sure if they can take time off during what would be nicer weather times of year. Visitors can enjoy great activities such as fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and, of course, skiing and snowboarding.
Taos - One of the most interesting places in the United States, Taos has earned a reputation for being one of the greatest places to ski anywhere in the world, and that's saying something! However, residents of Taos, as well as visitors, can tell you that there is more to see and experience than just skiing and snowboarding. You are, of course, able to explore the legendary Rocky Mountains, one of the many beautiful landscapes you will encounter. The town also boasts one of the most vibrant art scenes in the country. Taos is also an amazing place to explore for those interested in the original inhabitants of the area, the Pueblo tribes. An area as rich with culture as Taos is, it is no wonder that the area has one of the most impressive tourism statistic anywhere.
Angel Fire - If there is one thing to say about Angel Fire, it's that there is actually something for everyone throughout the year. Given the usual reputation for Angel Fire to be more of a skiing destination, Angle Fire has made a place for itself during every season of the year. Temperate weather during both the colder and hotter times of the year, great sunshine and clear skies for stargazers, tremendous spring blooming, and an actual Autumn make for one of the nicest places to simply get away from it all. What's nice is that while ski resorts are very much a part of life in the area, Angle Fire prides itself as being more small town than resort area, something that certainly bodes well visitors. With the Rockies surrounding the town with over 11,000 feet of mountain heights, you'll really get a true sense of the word 'getaway'.
Family vacation destinations should be about one thing - family. It can be really easy to get caught up in the minutiae of everyday life, and this is certainly the case when planning a getaway of any kind. It's always important to never lose focus on spending time with each other & cherishing the little moments that make any family vacation memorable.
The toughest part of choosing where to go on vacation with your family is narrowing it down to one location somewhere on the planet. Once you've gotten past the areas of the world that are either inhabitable or out of your budget, you still have whole areas of Earth to choose from. It can be a daunting task, and when you travel with family, there can be other considerations so that all parties involved in the trip are happy.
In the event that you're looking to start your own family vacation planning, here are a few destinations to add to the mix:
Carson National Forest - Carson National Forest is one of five National Forests in New Mexico and covers over 1,000,000 acres and has its highest peak hit heights over 13,000 feet! The weather in the area allows for people to enjoy the entire year, which is great for those looking to vacation but aren't sure if they can take time off during what would be nicer weather times of year. Visitors can enjoy great activities such as fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and, of course, skiing and snowboarding.
Taos - One of the most interesting places in the United States, Taos has earned a reputation for being one of the greatest places to ski anywhere in the world, and that's saying something! However, residents of Taos, as well as visitors, can tell you that there is more to see and experience than just skiing and snowboarding. You are, of course, able to explore the legendary Rocky Mountains, one of the many beautiful landscapes you will encounter. The town also boasts one of the most vibrant art scenes in the country. Taos is also an amazing place to explore for those interested in the original inhabitants of the area, the Pueblo tribes. An area as rich with culture as Taos is, it is no wonder that the area has one of the most impressive tourism statistic anywhere.
Angel Fire - If there is one thing to say about Angel Fire, it's that there is actually something for everyone throughout the year. Given the usual reputation for Angel Fire to be more of a skiing destination, Angle Fire has made a place for itself during every season of the year. Temperate weather during both the colder and hotter times of the year, great sunshine and clear skies for stargazers, tremendous spring blooming, and an actual Autumn make for one of the nicest places to simply get away from it all. What's nice is that while ski resorts are very much a part of life in the area, Angle Fire prides itself as being more small town than resort area, something that certainly bodes well visitors. With the Rockies surrounding the town with over 11,000 feet of mountain heights, you'll really get a true sense of the word 'getaway'.
Family vacation destinations should be about one thing - family. It can be really easy to get caught up in the minutiae of everyday life, and this is certainly the case when planning a getaway of any kind. It's always important to never lose focus on spending time with each other & cherishing the little moments that make any family vacation memorable.
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