Now, we’re sure that if we could all have our own way, we’d be spending many weeks each summer exploring a sunny destination with our families in tow. And then, for a week or two during winter, we’d pack everyone up and hit the mountains for a spot of skiing. The fantasy sounds good, doesn’t it? Alas, if you’ve ever tried to organize a big trip you’ll have quickly learned that traveling is a pretty expensive business. So how do families afford to do it? Below, we take a look at six ways you can have a vacation away with your clan to look forward to.
Make it a Priority
You have a lot of things you need to spend your hard-earned money on; the house, food, children’s activities, and all the other necessary expenditures of having a family, for instance. But somewhere you’ll have money that you spend on luxuries, be it fashionable clothes, dinners at restaurants, or too many presents at Christmas. If you want to afford those getaways, then you have to make them a priority. Put all the money you’d be spending on the things you can cut back on into your holiday fund!
Choose the Right Destinations
No matter what type of vacation you want, you’ll have a number of options that’ll all achieve the same end: a very good time for you and your loved ones. However, not all of these destinations will be equal – some might be more popular, but they’ll also be more expensive. When you’re looking at taking a trip, make sure you’re looking at how much a destination costs when you’re deciding where to go. Even if flights and hotels are roughly the same, the cost of food, attractions, and travel might vary wildly.
Intelligent Spending
If you book a trip without really considering what you’re spending money on, you’ll probably end up paying more than you need to. It’s usually possible to find great deals and discounts on travel, so before you book your trip make sure you’re taking a look at DontPayFull.com to see if there are any promotions available. Also, only pay for what you know you’ll need because, when it comes to traveling, the easiest options will probably include many details that you don’t. There’s no point booking a hotel that includes lunch and dinner for the whole family when you know you’ll be out exploring and won’t have time to eat the food they prepare for you. Figure out exactly what you need to pay for, and then don’t pay for anything extra. Keep in mind that you don’t always have to pay for things upfront either. There are now many “buy now, pay later” options available, or you could take out a short-term loan (head to https://www.spotloan.com/
Traveling Smart
Being able to afford to travel is as much about how you travel when you’re at the destination as it is what you do beforehand. There are many great traveling tips that’ll help you save money as you go. This could be things like preparing your own lunch, making the most of free events and activities, and looking for any deals on things to do; it’s usually cheaper, for instance, to book ahead of time rather than pay when you get to an activity. We’re living in the golden age of travel, when there’s plenty of ways to keep costs down – make sure you know some of the tricks before you go!
Look at Alternative Options
A vacation doesn’t have to mean boarding a flight, checking into a hotel, and then exploring the local restaurants and culture. It can be whatever you want to be. For example, if you love the outdoors, then taking your family on a camping trip might be just as fun as city-hopping – and it’ll only cost a fraction of the price. Also, the internet has opened up plenty of alternative travel options, too. If you have a home in a desirable area, you might be able to house swap with someone who lives in a destination you want to go to. With this option, you’ll only be paying for the cost of traveling!
Be Flexible
It might be a bit harder to afford a trip with your family if you’ve only got your dream destination in mind. If you have an itinerary of everything you want to do which isn’t negotiable, then you might have to settle for saving up until you can get it exactly right. However, if you’re happy to be flexible with your plans, such as where or when you go, you’ll find you’re able to get better deals.
Nobody said affording a family is a walk in the park, but with a bit of patience and tricks, you’ll be walking on the beach in no time!
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