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Cup of Jo readers are always asking how to take family vacations that won’t break the bank. Here, in partnership with Capital One, 11 parents share their best tips and tricks for how to travel on a budget, including the best souvenir you can get at the supermarket…
On getting there:
We buy our airline tickets in two parts. First I buy our tickets to the destination (so the trip is locked in) and then a month or so later buy our return ticket after continuing to stalk airfare sites. That way, the costs are broken up and we get a good deal. We’re happy to make some stops along the way to save on airfare — we try for a long layover so we can see a glimpse of the ‘middle’ city. The price difference is worth it, and it’s not a terrible thing with kids to break up a flight into more bite-sized ones. — Emily McMaster (mother of two, ages 8 and 11)
When my daughters turned six, my husband took them on solo vacations (separately). Each girl got to pick the destination, so long as it was within driving distance. One chose Philadelphia and one chose Skaneateles, a great old town in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Saving on airfare freed up money for hotels with pools, which is all they really wanted out of a vacation back then anyway. Well, that and ice cream. — Jenny Rosenstrach (mother of two, ages 14 and 16)
We bring portable inflatable booster seats for kids ages 4 to 11. This saves us on the $10 to $15 per day cost of renting a booster seat from the car rental place. — Nikki Ridgway (mother of two, ages 2 and 4)
On lodging:
I’m from a family of five, and when we were growing up, my parents would always book the hotel room for four and hide my little sister when we were checking in. She was the shadow child on all our trips, lurking behind large columns in hotel lobbies. Once we were in our room, we would request a cot. Thankfully, with two kids, I don’t have to deal with this dilemma, but these memories stick with me to this day. —Jennifer Tung (mother of two, ages 10 and 12)
A huge money saver: We often stay in our friends’ homes, whether they are on vacation or we are swapping homes. When we plan a trip, I reach out to people I know in that area. Sometimes, when we are going away I text friends to see if anyone would like to come stay at our home (usually local friends who live an hour or two away). I like to think of it as a circle of giving and receiving! — Lena Corwin (mother of two, ages 4 and 7)
Book a hotel room through a travel agent in order to get free breakfast and other perks, like room upgrades and meal vouchers. We often arrive at the hotel restaurant right as breakfast starts at 7 a.m. and then return for a second round before heading out for the day. — Nikki Ridgway (mother of two, ages 2 and 4)
Last summer, I took my kids on a camping road trip. The sites Hipcamp and Glamping Hub are much easier to use than the government camping websites and offer more interesting accommodations — like yurts and even tree houses. Just make sure to search by price range because some of the listings can skew more glampy than campy. — Kendra Smoot (mother of three, ages 3, 6 and 11)
Know when spending a little more money is worth it. One time we decided to save money on a hotel by taking an overnight train from Hungary to Croatia. At some point during this crazy night we realized we just can’t handle the overnight drama that comes with international train travel! We ended up booking an emergency hotel stay the morning we arrived. — Linsey Laidlaw (mother of three, ages 4, 7 and 10)
On sightseeing and activities:
Take the bus, preferably the front seat of a double decker. It’s usually the cheapest option and a great way to see huge swaths of a city, with excellent people-watching opportunities. — Sonya Terjanian (mother of two, ages 14 and 15)
Make sure everyone brings every ID they can (student IDs, corporate IDs, membership cards), since you never know which are going to be honored or snag you discounts at museums and attractions. — Joanna (mother of two, ages 5 and 8)
The local library is a gem when you’re traveling with kids. There are always fun things to do, like story times, and you can take a break to read and relax. And most libraries in big towns or cities will have an English language newspaper that you can check out if you don’t speak the language. — Brooke Williams (mother of one, age 10)
On meals:
We go to a supermarket when traveling abroad and hype it up as a fun ‘field trip’ activity. One, it excites me as a designer since I geek out over all the cool packaging. Two, we get affordable souvenirs for friends and family (way cheaper to purchase local gummies, chocolates and coffee from the supermarket rather than at the airport or a specialty gift shop). We also stock up on milk, fruit, yogurt and cereal, so we can have simple breakfasts in our hotel room instead of going out for a sit-down meal. — Erin Jang (mother of two, ages 2 and 6)
We also never travel without our Capital One card. It can help you find great deals (for example, Capital One Venture cardholders can earn 10x miles by booking and paying at Hotels.com/venture). And Capital One’s website has plenty of resources when you’re planning a trip, like the difference between airline vs. travel credit cards. For more on family apps for saving money — and having fun while doing it — check out this post from Capital One.
What would you add? Do you have any tips for planning family vacations on a budget?
P.S. How to entertain a toddler on an airplane and 16 ways to travel with kids (end enjoy it).
(This post is sponsored by Capital One. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Cup of Jo running.)
