Traveling with your family or a large group can be challenging for a number of reasons. First, you need to make sure you have time off of work or school and then you have to find transportation and accommodations that will be big enough for everyone. Once you find everything you need, then you have to decide how you're going to pay for it. Unfortunately, family travel can be expensive which is why many people don’t travel with their families. Here are some ways that you can make your next group vacation fun and affordable.
1. Travel in the “Off” Season
The truth is that most people can travel during a few times of the year. Summer holidays, school breaks, and the end of the year. Since so many people travel at the same times, airlines and hotels can charge more for flights and rooms because there is greater demand. If you decide to travel in times other than these you can often find savings of hundreds or more depending on where you are going to go. This might mean you have to sacrifice having nice weather and travel in the winter, but you will save money and avoid a lot of the large crowds that flock to tourist destinations during the peak travel months.
2. Pack Light
This next step is part of saving money on flights. One way that you will save money is by packing lighter so you don’t pay for as many check bags. One way to avoid this is to fit everything into a carry on bag, or into a free check piece of luggage so you don’t have to pay extra. You might consider splitting a larger suitcase with a family member so you don’t have to each pack an additional suitcase.
3. Use Flight Trackers
One way to save on flights is to set up a Google Alert in Google Flights that will notify you when the price for a certain flight reaches a certain point. Also, there are a number of 3rd party sites or newsletters you can find that will give you this information. You can even visit the websites of airlines and look at the different prices to learn when you should fly to get the most bang for your buck.
4. Use a Credit Card that Has Travel Rewards
Some credit cards reward you with cash back on flights or hotels when you make purchases with them. These points will add up, and you will be able to save a lot of money on your next trip. This shouldn’t cost you much extra money since most of the items you buy on your credit cards like groceries or daily essentials need to be purchased regardless. If you are spending money on the necessities of life, at least you should be getting rewarded for it. However, be very careful not to let the balance you own grow too large. It would be smart to pay off your balance every week or every month so you don’t get trapped in debt.
5. Go on a Cruise
A cruise is a great way to travel and can often be cheaper than traditional vacations because everything you need is included in the ticket price. When you pay for a cruise you get your lodging, food, and entertainment included. Plus, companies such as inCruises have made traveling even less expensive. Another good idea is to look at cruises during the off season to get the best price possible.
Overview
Traveling with a family on a budget is possible! Don’t let the cost of taking a trip scare you off. If you plan ahead and use some creativity, you can save a lot of money and still have a very memorable trip.
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