Affordable Family Vacation Ideas
Very few normal families would disagree with the idea that luxurious vacations are not always doable. And a more realistic statement would be that it feels nearly impossible for many families in the U.S. to take any sort of vacation at all. So, when we see people on social media traveling with their young families, it can be hurtful to think that we might not be able to do the same.
In my late teens and early twenties, I worked at a certain popular theme park near Orlando, Florida, and I can’t begin to tell you how many families would express to us that they had saved up for years (sometimes decades) to be able to afford to fly to Orlando and come to this particular theme park. I’m talking around $10,000+ on average between airfare, lodging, theme park admission tickets, food, souvenirs, etc. for a standard family of 4. The cost would be even higher today, over 10 years later. Even Central Florida residents without connections can easily expect to spend hundreds of dollars at a theme park.
The idea of flying abroad and having a luxurious vacation in a place like Paris, London, Australia, etc. is even more of a farfetched dream for some families. When I was a kid, we seldom traveled anywhere. And when we did travel, we would go places where family lived and would stay with them. There was a period of time when I was little where we would drive up to New York for Christmas each year and stay with my grandmother. To me, that was a super cool trip, especially when there was snow involved (I’ve lived in Florida pretty much my whole life, so snow was a big deal), but I imagine my parents may not have felt great that we could never go anywhere further away. It wasn’t until my early-mid-twenties that I could start traveling a little bit, because I had my own money and no kids at the time.
Unfortunately, that is the reality for so many Americans, especially when they have kids to support. But that doesn’t mean that regular families don’t deserve to take a trip every once in a while. One that is both fun and affordable.
I have compiled a list below of affordable vacation ideas that will help you make memories without having to save thousands of dollars for years on end.
1. Camping. I am not a camper myself, but I’ve been told that a camping trip can be done for as little as $10/night depending on where you live. Of course, the cost of a tent and other camping gear can rack up pretty quickly, but this would still be a relatively inexpensive trip compared to booking a hotel and renting a car.
2. Staycation. Going somewhere local for vacation is a great option if you don’t have that much time off from work and/or you don’t want to be bothered with the cost of airfare, hotel, and a rental car. Luckily, I live in Florida where there are many staycation options. For example, for the cost of gas and a modest hotel/Airbnb, I’d be able to take my family on a beach vacation less than 2 hours away. When I was a teenager, one of my friend’s parents owned a condo on Daytona Beach and we used to go there often for weekend trips. Lots of great memories were made.
3. Stay with family/friends. If you want to go somewhere more than 2 hours away for your vacation, I totally get it. If you fly somewhere and have to pay for a rental car, you can mitigate the cost of your trip by traveling somewhere where you know a close family member or friend. This wouldn’t be ideal for everyone, and I know not everyone has family/friends that they can stay with elsewhere, but if you do, you could save on the entire cost of lodging.
4. Cruises. Cruises are great because they are a package deal that come with a set price. When you book a cruise, you won’t have to worry about paying for food separately, booking a hotel, or renting a car. All your needs will be met on a cruise. I have seen cruise tickets for as little as ~$300 per person. I once took a cruise to the Bahamas, and it was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.
5. Travel during off-peak seasons. There are numerous benefits to traveling during less busy seasons. This includes cheaper airfare, lodging, less crowds to deal with, and other accommodations. I can tell you right now that theme parks in Orlando on Christmas Day vs. theme parks in Orlando during off-peak seasons are as different as night and day. If you’re planning on traveling to Florida, or if you live in Florida and want to have a staycation, the best time to do so is between November and February, excluding holidays. I would opt for mid-late-January, personally.
6. Take advantage of free activities wherever you go. When I traveled to Washington D.C. a few years back, we stayed at a Sleep Inn in Virginia instead of staying in D.C., which saved us quite a bit on lodging (only about $70 per night). Lodging in big cities is generally going to be much pricier than staying on the outskirts of town. Once we started walking around D.C., I discovered that many activities/tours/museums, including the Smithsonian museums, were free. These free activities are a great resource for parents who want to make the most out of their trips but don’t want their wallet to take a hit everywhere they go.
On a similar note, when I traveled to London back in 2018, we walked around a lot and didn’t pay for admission for pretty much anything. We were able to visit The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square for free, and we didn’t pay to tour places like Westminster Abbey or St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was enough for us to simply take pictures in front of iconic landmarks in London.
7. If you can, travel with another family. It may or may not be difficult to navigate a vacation with 8+ individuals, especially when there are multiple children involved, but it can save so much on the cost. Imagine booking a whole house on Airbnb and being able to split the cost between 2-4 adults.
XOXO, Alexis.