What tips do you have for saving money while on vacation?

Question

We are a family of four with two small children.

Answer 1

Avoid restaurants if you can (maybe one hot meal a day) . For the rest, pick up whatever you need at a deli or grocery store. Avoid tourist traps, you eat there, you shop there,  it costs more. Resist the temptation to go shopping and buying "nice gifts" for everybody back home.

Answer 2

1- Decide what vacation you want, place, time of that, so make expenses plan.

1- Organize your payments schedule .

2- after you can save the rest if no expansion.

good luck

Answer 3

It depends a lot on how you're traveling, but here are some suggestions:

If you're driving, pack lunches that you make at home and eat at a park or rest area along the road.  Same goes for snacks and beverages.  Once you get to your destination, you can do the same thing.  Try to get a motel room w/ a fridge so you can refrigerate lunch meat, fruit & pudding cups, etc.,

Also, if driving - try to make only as many stops as you need to, based on when you need to fill up and potty breaks, and keep a constant speed on the highway/interstate.  That will keep your MPG at a steady average.  

A lot of times, theme parks will have coupons on the back of pop cans, or you can get coupons from local businesses like grocery stores or food chains.  

If you are going to a particular attraction, like a theme park or theatre or something, stay at a hotel that is further away.  Usually hotels will increase their rates just for the convenience of being located near an attraction.  

Have a great & safe vacation.

Answer 4

Be sure to plan ahead. Most families spend most money on food during vacations. If you haven't already chosen a hotel, find one that offers a complimentary breakfast and load up! smuggle muffins if you can :)

Look for hotel rooms or public places where you can cook inexpensive food like pasta, spaghetti, bbq chicken (public fire pits depending on where you go). Treat the family to a nice dinner out maybe once -- but otherwise refrain from it. Why pay someone to serve you fatty, expensive food?

Find the deals- check out AAA's travel discounts, etc when you're planning a vacation.

Go somewhere that doesn't require a lot of added costs. Places like Disney World can cost a fortune for a family with park passes, food in the parks, and of course ,toys for the kids. If you go to say, a beach, your spending will be limited to ice cream on the beach, but otherwise your daytime entertainment is free! Plus, on the beach with small children, they won't be tempted and beg for Mickey and Minnie mouse ears, etc.

Answer 5

Instead of eating in the restaurants, go to the local supermarket and see if they have a deli counter. Many times you can buy deli items BELOW what they would cost in a typical sit down restaurant.