How to Plan Amazing Family Trips on a Budget

Imagine stepping outside on a crisp early fall day. The sun’s warmth kisses your face and a gentle breeze hints at more lovely autumn days ahead. Soon, your kids will burst through the door, brimming with stories from their first day of school. As you walk to the mailbox, you find yourself eagerly anticipating hearing their stories about new teachers, old friends, and their day of activities. 

Your excitement falters as you see the dreaded credit card bill. That amazing family vacation you splurged on this summer now looms large on your statement, and suddenly, the joy of the trip feels overshadowed by financial anxiety. Why does family travel have to be so expensive? Is exciting family travel on a budget even possible?

If you’ve ever found yourself longing to give your family a memorable vacation but are held back by the daunting price tag, you’re not alone. After working and saving diligently, the expense of flights, hotels, food, and activities can seem overwhelming. Traveling with kids often feels like an extravagant luxury that’s out of reach without sinking into debt.

We’ve been in your shoes and understand the struggle. Even a short getaway can leave you reeling from the credit card bill. As full-time travelers, one question we hear often is “how do you afford it?” We’re here to share the hidden reasons family travel can be so expensive and reveal some tried and true strategies for slashing costs so you can hit the road more often without breaking the bank!

Why is Family Travel So Expensive?

There are a number of reasons why family travel can be so expensive and cost prohibitive for the everyday family. The first of which is the restrictive nature of a traditional school calendar. Most schools operate 9-10 months of the year, forcing families to vacation during the summer months or over the holiday seasons (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, etc.) when hotels, airlines, and even gas stations increase prices due to high demand!

Speaking of sky-high prices, airlines are notorious for being a money pit for families. Not only are international flights from the U.S. expensive, but, oftentimes, so are domestic flights. They charge you for everything: tickets, carry-on luggage, checked luggage, and more. Many airlines even charge extra for families to sit together, despite regulations intended to ensure family seating. Why should families who are already purchasing more tickets, have to further splurge for the “luxury” of being able to have their underage children sit with them on a flight?

Of course, cost issues don’t stop when you get to your destination either. Finding a hotel room that fits a family of 5, or more, can be pricey. This is especially true outside of the U.S. where basic rooms often accommodate only 3 guests. As a result, larger families have to book multiple rooms, which can quickly double or triple the price! 

Feeding a family on vacation can get costly as well. In many places, even fast food meals can cost more than $10 per person if you’re not careful. It’s frustrating to try and find a place that’s affordable when you or your kids are already hangry. Let alone, pay for the meal and watch your kids barely touch their food! (We’ve been there… several times.)

With all of these costs it’s no wonder some families rarely get a chance to have a proper vacation together! 

10 Tips to Make Family Travel More Affordable

1. Choose Your Destination Wisely – You’ll first want to spend time determining what kind of vacation you want to have. If your goal is to make your travels affordable, then pick a few similar, yet slightly different, destinations. Be sure to consider more than just the cost of flights and accommodations. Try to have a general understanding of the cost of living in the areas you’re deciding between as well. Finally, take a good look at the number of budget-friendly activities that are available. From there, you can then choose the most cost-effective destination to accomplish that goal.

If you’re looking for a beach vacation, a trip to Myrtle Beach will be a lot less expensive than going to Nantucket. If seeing gorgeous European cities is your goal, you might try Bratislava, Budapest, or Valencia over Paris, Rome, or London. The point is that there are so many ways to go about accomplishing your travel goals. Try picking a lower cost destination that will still give you a “wow” experience. 

1. Schedule Family Travel During the Off-Season – The absolute most expensive times to travel are during the summer and during holiday seasons when everyone else is traveling as well. The best deals tend to happen during the off-season (or shoulder season) – spring and fall in most places around the world. 

You may say this is impossible because you have school-aged children, but hear me out. When you’re traveling as a family, the discounts on airfare, lodging, rental cars, and more are often worth the hassle of taking your kids out of school. You may be surprised how open school administrators would be if you approach them with a carefully constructed plan. Here are some suggestions for a successful approach:

• Do Your Research – Know your state's laws and the policies of your school before assuming your child can or can’t have unexcused absences. Some districts just won’t budge but many have the ability to provide pre-excusal. 

• Communicate Proactively – Be open, honest, and direct with your child’s teachers and administrators. Let them know when you will be gone, for how long, and what plans you have for making sure your child doesn’t fall behind. Having the administrator’s blessing can also help conversations with teachers go more smoothly. 

• Get the Assignments Before You Leave – Middle school and high school students can ask for their assignments ahead of time, while younger kids might need a parent to speak directly with the teacher. Let your child get work done in the downtime of your trip – during a flight or drive is perfect. 

As a family who has homeschooled for the past several years, I know it’s possible for kids to get school done in some pretty interesting places. Staying on top of this might not be the most fun but you (and your child) will be thankful when they get back to school and are right on schedule. 

• Ask for Extra Credit – Since your child will miss in-class participation credit, ask if they can receive credit for sharing what they learned or experienced during their travels. Many teachers will find ways to reward this kind of initiative. Maybe your child could write a report or give a presentation to demonstrate what they’ve learned. 

1. Start a Family Travel Savings Account – When I was a teenager, my bank had a program where they would take a few dollars from my savings account each week and place it in a Christmas account. At the beginning of December, I would receive a check from that account that would allow me to spend money on Christmas presents for family and friends. This forced savings taught me that, by setting aside just a few dollars each week, I could save a nice amount to put toward something I wanted to do later. 

If family travel is a priority for your family, start a travel savings account. By placing just a few dollars from each paycheck into that account, and maybe choosing to drink coffee or have a meal at home instead of out, you’ll make steady progress. It could be an actual bank account or it could even be a big jar that allows everyone in the family to contribute and see money growing towards your next big adventure.

1. Take Advantage of Travel Perks You Already Have – If you have a membership to your local amusement park, zoo, aquarium, or museum you might already have a reciprocal discount at other locations all across the country. Many zoos offer free or discounted admission through a partnership agreement. These arrangements could offer you the opportunity to visit a location in your vacation destination for a fraction of the cost. Be sure to know all the perks available to you!

We benefited from this strategy for many years while we held annual passes to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Not only did our passes get us free parking and admission to that park, but also to its sister parks around the country, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and the SeaWorld Parks in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego, along with some other smaller locations. While not cheap, these passes were well worth the investment because we used them frequently. 

1. Use Miles & Points – Admittedly, this takes some work and planning, but if frequent travel is a priority for your family, it is worth the effort. Airline travel and lodging are likely to be your 2 highest cost items when you travel. Having a few travel-friendly credit cards in your wallet can help reduce those costs. By simply using those credit cards to make your regular purchases, you can accumulate miles and points that can then be strategically used for travel expenses. 

Of course, as with any credit card, it is important to keep in mind that the only way you actually get a benefit is by paying off the statement balance each month. Never, ever carry a balance from month to month!

1. Research Your Options for Family Accommodations – As noted above, most hotels are not particularly family-friendly. If you have more than 3 or 4 people in your family, you may be forced to book an extra room (or 2) and/or pay a premium for the extra people. Oftentimes, that extra room is not guaranteed to be next door or even on the same floor, which could be a deal-breaker for families with small children. If you’re set on a hotel, shop around for the best pricing. Booking.com has come through for us on several occasions with a better deal than booking directly through the hotel. 

If you’re willing to try non-hotel options, here are some options to consider:

• Airbnb

• VRBO

• TrustedHousesitters

• Hostels (Don’t worry, many have private family rooms!)

1. Save on Food – This tends to be an area where budget plans go off the rails. Be diligent and plan ahead. If you wait until everyone is hangry before you start looking for a place to eat, you’ll make some expensive choices. Here are some ways to save on food:

• Stay Where Your Family Can Eat for Less – Your accommodations can help with this area. If you must stay in a hotel, try opting for one that provides free breakfast (our personal favorite tends to be Holiday Inn Express). Not having to pay $8-10 per person for breakfast food can save you a lot of money. In addition, you’ll all start your day well fed and ready to go. 

If your hotel doesn’t have free breakfast, stop at the grocery and pick up some food that can be kept in your room. Shelf stable items are always great options (cereal/granola, bread, peanut butter, bananas, snack bars, etc.). If your room has the benefit of a refrigerator, then you can grab some other items (berries, yogurt, milk, cheese, lunch meat, etc.). 

As mentioned above, an Airbnb, a TrustedHousesitters home, or another form of rental can save you lots of money by allowing you to buy groceries and cook some of your own meals rather than paying restaurant prices more than once a day. As a general rule of thumb, we try to aim for a per person, per meal price of $5. Obviously, this can be accomplished much easier by making some of your own meals. We often double a recipe so we can get two dinners out of marginally more ingredients. 

• Eat Fewer Meals – We tend to eat only 2 meals a day while traveling. By eating 1 less meal you might think that we’re constantly going hungry throughout the day. While that can sometimes be the case (it’s okay to feel hungry on occasion), we find that it tends to be enough for our family.

We make sure to eat a hearty breakfast/brunch and then a well-balanced and filling dinner. When you dig into it, we’re not really eating less food, just fewer times per day. This also cuts down on the constant need to consider where and/or what to eat. Of course, be sure to stop occasionally for a treat during your excursions. (You definitely want to enjoy a pastry in France or a gelato in Italy!)

• Carry Snacks – Pack snacks! Not only will this tip help keep your costs down by eliminating impulse buying when hunger strikes, you’ll also know what’s in the food you’re giving your family. A little advanced planning can allow you to offer healthier options, provide more variety, save money, and spend less time on stops along the way. If you’re road-tripping and have a cooler with you, there will be endless options to try, but there are lots of portable snacks that can be kept in a day pack or purse as well. 

Here are some great options to consider that are portable and will keep your family fueled for the journey: muffins, granola/energy bars, homemade popcorn, fruit (apples, oranges, and bananas are the ultimate portable foods), peanut butter sandwiches, crackers and cheese, trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, vegetables like carrots, celery, broccoli florets, snap peas, and bell peppers (bonus for adding a dip like hummus).

• Invest in Good Water Bottles – Carrying your own water bottle allows you to stay hydrated – something that can be challenging when traveling – and fill up when needed. (You’d be surprised how staying hydrated can help you feel fuller for longer.) You’ll also save lots of money over time vs purchasing those plastic water bottles. This also reduces waste from buying plastic water bottles. We have all enjoyed our Healthy Human water bottles for years. 

Recently, Ellie has switched to LARQ and the rest of us are considering making the change as well. While those water bottles are more expensive, they also have the capability to filter out sediment and kill bacteria with 2 different lid options.

1. Make Family Travel Trade-Offs – We are currently traveling as nomads for the next 12-18 months. The only way we can sustain that is to make trade-offs. An expensive flight can be offset by staying in a hostel instead of a hotel. A few pricey days in Dublin or London can be offset by doing a couple of weeks at a pet sit (more on that in a future post). 

My point is that splurging is great as long as you plan for it by making up the cost somewhere else in your budget. Maybe you splurged on your entire vacation last year so this year, you take a series of day trips to nearby tourist spots that are closer to home and more budget-friendly. 

1. Utilize Public Transportation – Unless you live in the northeast, most Americans aren’t used to all of the public transportation options that are available worldwide and how convenient and affordable they can be. Rather than renting a car, taking a taxi, or getting an Uber, try using commuter trains or public buses instead. 

In a bustling city like Paris, you’ll likely get there faster and save money in the process. In Dublin, we saw hundreds of buses making their way throughout the city. In addition to commuter buses, there were lots of “hop-on/hop-off” buses for tourists to use to make their way around the city. Many times, you can even purchase a bus or train pass for the duration of your stay.

1. Search for Family Discounts – Did you know that many of the museums in Europe provide free admission for kids under the age of 18? This includes the most famous museum in the world - the Louvre - and the Palace and Gardens of Versailles! (One evening each month, the Louvre even offers free admission to everyone.)  

In addition, many cities throughout the world offer a city pass that allows you to pay one price and receive admission to multiple sites over the course of several days. You need to do a bit of preemptive planning to ensure you get your money’s worth, but these deals are worth finding!

How to Plan Family Travel on a Budget?

To plan family travel on a budget, prioritize booking off-season, look for deals on family-friendly accommodations (like Airbnb), use points and miles when possible, and opt for free activities like hiking and visiting public parks.

Don’t let the fear of high costs keep you from creating unforgettable family memories. With a bit of planning and some savvy strategies, you can make travel affordable and accessible. Embrace the journey and enjoy every moment with your loved ones.

What are your best family travel hacks? How do you manage travel expenses for your family? Share your tips and join the conversation in the comments below. If you found this post helpful, join our UFA Community for more family travel advice and inspiration. Let’s make those travel dreams a reality together!