Somewhere deep down inside of us, we all have a yearning to explore. It’s why little children pretend to be explorers and grown adults play video games that revolve around fictional planets. It’s why people love hiking and visiting new places. And while there aren’t many undiscovered areas on this planet, there will always be new places for you and your family to see and experience. The only problem? Travel can be expensive.

Try These 6 Budget-Friendly Tips

If you want to travel with your family, but are worried about the high cost of bringing kids along, you’ll be glad to know that it doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive. By planning ahead and being flexible in certain areas, you can explore the world without erasing your bank account.

1. Break Travel Up Into Bite Size Trips

Most families think traveling isn’t affordable because they try to cram too much into a single trip. For example, there are families who want to knock out all of Europe in one fell swoop – going from England to Spain to Portugal to France to Italy to Germany. Not only is this draining, but it isn’t financially feasible. It’s much better to break travel up into bite size trips over a number of years.

2. Create a Budget

 Every trip should have a budget to help you understand exactly how much money you have and how financial resources should best be allocated. This not only keeps you on track, but also removes some of the stress that comes with not knowing how much you’re spending. The goal is to be as detailed as possible without ruining the trip experience because you’re fretting over money. Give yourself some flexibility, but put a cap on how much can be spent. 

3. Look for Complimentary Breakfast

 If you have lots of kids, there are two words you should always look for when choosing a hotel: complimentary breakfast. Even if you have to pay an extra $20 per night for a room with free breakfast, a family of four will easily make up the difference in money saved from eating out. (Not to mention the fact that it’s super convenient.) 

4. Book Ahead of Time

 If you’re flying, you’ll want to be proactive and book your plane tickets early. According to CheapAir, which conducted a study on more than five million flights, the best time to buy a domestic ticket is 47 days prior to departure. 

5. Look for Free Options

 Free is your best friend when traveling with kids. While a $20 admission to a museum might not be a lot when you’re traveling solo, it’s $80 when you have a family of four. In fact, everything gets multiplied by the number of people in your party, which is why we suggest looking for as many free things to do as possible. This includes parks, walking tours, exhibits, and special events. 

6. Consider the Exchange Rate

 If you’re traveling out of the country, it’s not a bad idea to check out foreign exchange rates. If you can find somewhere that has a weak currency when compared to the American dollar, you can save a ton of money.  For example, Argentina is a great place for Americans this year. You can save almost 20 percent compared to last year!

 Make Travel Affordable

 There are many ways to travel, which means you can find a way to explore the world, regardless of whether you’re on a tight budget or have unlimited money for discretionary spending. Hopefully, the suggestions in this article will help you give your kids the irreplaceable gift of travel.

Categories: General