Settling on a vacation spot everyone in the family can agree upon is only half the battle. Once you know where you are going there is the challenge of budgeting for transportation, meals, souvenirs and other incidentals. The following tips are ones I have compiled from my own family’s cross-country adventures. Some may seem a bit obvious, but the fact is they are effective and have served us well over the years. Hopefully they can do the same for your family as well.
COUPON BOOKS. Never underestimate the power of a coupon. I used to completely ignore those kiosks loaded down with coupon booklets in hotel lobbies. But once I had my own family I began making a game out of how many coupons I could gather at the entrances to hotels, restaurants and other attractions. Don’t pass them by—-I always find discounts for meals and admission to tourist attractions and end up saving at least a few dollars for each coupon I redeem.
SKI DEALS. In popular ski areas such as Colorado and Lake Tahoe, locals never pay full price for lift tickets—-they simply head to the grocery stores, which sell them at a discount. Also, if you are planning to spend an extended period of time at a ski area, look for the local “Entertainment Book.” For $30 or $40 it is worth buying and using the coupons for ski resorts and restaurants.
SOUVENIRS. I mentioned this tip in my blog: “Visiting Hawaii on a Budget,” but it bears repeating. One of the best ways to save money on vacation especially if you have people at home who are expecting gifts upon your return is to shop smart. You can save a ton of money by purchasing your souvenirs at major retailers like Wal-Mart and Kmart. I have never visited a city where I haven’t scored big by doing so. These discount stores are stocked with souvenir t-shirts, baseball caps, bags, stuffed animals, and other touristy trinkets. In Hawaii all of the Wal-Marts have huge souvenir sections and even in Green Bay, Wisconsin both Kmart and Wal-Mart have areas where you can purchase local goods and everything related to the Green Bay Packers, including those famous foam cheeseheads. And the best part–the prices are a fraction of what you’d pay for the same items at local attractions or other tourist spots.
One more note about souvenirs: When I was a child a few weeks before my family went of vacation my parents would allow my brothers and I to earn souvenir money by doing extra chores around the house, then they and my grandparents would match whatever we earned. The money was presented to us on the first day of vacation. It’s a good way to teach your children a thing or two about impulse shopping. A cheesy souvenir might not appear that attractive if your child has to spend his or her own money on it.
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