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Traveling to new places as a family opens up a whole new world (literally!) of experiences, cultures, food, and – most importantly – lifelong memories.
And although there’s a wide perception that traveling as a family is expensive, it’s actually fairly simple to enjoy budget family travel. No, we don’t mean visiting places no one’s ever heard of or making so many compromises that you miss out on any actual fun. We’re talking beaches, theme parks, cruises, major cities…the whole enchilada!
Saving Money While Planning Your Family Vacation
When to Travel
One of the best budget travel tips is to consider when you travel. For example, major holidays and school breaks such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break are typically the most expensive times to travel across the board. Everything from airfare to accommodation and even activities spike in price during these times. On the flip side, traveling during off-peak times or in the “shoulder season” right before or after major holidays (such as the week before Labor Day, rather than the week of) is a fantastic way to enjoy affordable family vacations.
Expect special zones dedicated to a range of entertainment; from a silent disco with music streamed to headphones from two live DJs, to local gourmet food vendors and a fashion section featuring local designers. Check into Sama Sama Hotel KLIA just right next to the festival.
Picking an Affordable Destination
Another essential in planning budget family travel is choosing a relatively affordable destination. Many, many factors go into how expensive a place is, so in addition to obvious costs like flights, don’t overlook things like rental cars or other transportation options, parking, restaurants, and excursions/activities.
A destination within driving distance of your home may seem like the best option, but if accommodation and entertainment are notoriously expensive, that changes things. Some places, including Orlando, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia, consistently prove to be some of the best budget-friendly U.S. vacation destinations for families — especially if you skip the flight and get there by bus.
- Free walking tours
- Go on a DIY scavenger hunt
- Free entry days to local museums
- Visiting a state or national park
Booking Cheap Transportation
It’s not always possible, especially when taking baby friendly vacations or weekend getaways with kids, but if you can ditch traditional transportation methods, you can save quite a bit of money.
For example, taking a bus or train to your destination is almost always substantially cheaper than flying. Even if you do fly, is it possible to skip renting a car once you arrive? If you stay somewhere particularly walkable, like many beach towns, you may be able to get away with taking a rideshare, shuttle, or public bus from the airport to your accommodation. This is one of our best budget family travel tips, as you save on the car itself, plus gas and parking.
Saving Money While You Travel
Image credit: ©All Is Amazing
Children are easily pleased, so you don’t have to spend much to have fun on family vacations. With just a few minutes of research, you’ll find that even perennially popular hot spots like Miami have tons of free things to do. You can also search sites like Groupon for city passes that offer discounts to several attractions.
Here are some general ideas for free kid-friendly activities in any area:
- Free walking tours
- Go on a DIY scavenger hunt
- Free entry days to local museums
- Visiting a state or national park
| Bus lines | Daily Buses | Avg. price | Avg. duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buses from Ninh binh to Hanoi | 22 | $16 | 21h 35m |
| Buses from Sapa to Hanoi | 22 | $16 | 21h 35m |
| Buses from Halong Bay to Hanoi | 22 | $16 | 21h 35m |
| Buses from Ho Chi Minh city to Hanoi | 22 | $16 | 21h 35m |
| Buses from Ha Giang to Hanoi | 22 | $16 | 21h 35m |
Saving Money on Dining
One of our very best budget family travel tips, regardless of where you’re going, is to eat in whenever possible. Look for accommodation that has a kitchen, or at least a refrigerator and/or microwave, so you don’t have to eat every meal out. Make a grocery store your first stop in town, or if you’re driving, bring supplies from home.
Even better, look for hotels that offer perks like free breakfast or complimentary social hour.
1 - Visa at local embassy
U.S. passport holders can apply for a Vietnamese e-visa online through the official website of the Vietnam Immigration Department. The process typically involves filling out an online application form, paying a fee, and providing a digital copy of a passport-sized photo and the biographical page of your passport.
2 - E-visa
The distance between the capital cities, Washington D.C. (USA) and Hanoi (Vietnam) is approximately 8,045 miles (12,942 kilometers) if one is traveling by air. The distance between the two largest cities, New York City (USA) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) is approximately 8,149 miles (13,112 kilometers).
