Everyone knows that one of the main tips to save up is traveling during the low season, but this seems like an impossible task when having children who are school age.
Summer vacations represent a real challenge for parents with little kids, because long periods without school and going away traveling is often very expensive during those dates. If this is your case, don’t go crazy! There are still other ways to enjoy some well-earned vacations with your family and getting away from routine while saving up some money.
With summer just around the corner, we share with you 5 tips you can take into account for your next family vacations:
- Plan in advance
This is something BASIC when it comes to saving up! Vacations are for getting relaxed and not to get even more worried. If you choose the option “Buy today and pay tomorrow” you will only be postponing feeling yourself pressured by paying the bills when coming back home. The key is planning it at least 3 months in advance.
Tip: Did you know that a research study made by Topaz International suggests that buying your airplane ticket at least 21 days or 3 weeks before the trip can get you better fares? For example, if you have thought travelling in July, try to book your flight the first week of June or before.
Check every day the offers or subscribe to local airlines newsletters, in order to be alert for possible flights offers and buy them far in advance.
- Choose a destination and create a vacation budget.
Once you have chosen your destination and you had contemplated the airplane tickets’ fare, as well as the daily lodging, food and amusement parks or attractions, create a small daily budget. Remember that beach destinations are much more attractive for kids because they offer an endless and free playground area, which could reduce the costs.
Tip: On the internet you can find several tools such as “TripAdvisor” or “BudgetYourTrip” that are free and they could help you to define an approximate cost about how much you could get to spend in that destination.
With this you can establish a daily average cost. These guides of budget will help you to include every single subject and not to forget one; for example, do not forget to have a small contingency fund for any emergency of bringing with you a credit card for any non-contemplated eventuality.
- Savings versus credit cards.
Financial experts recommend that in order to have a healthy economy, families should save up at least 10% of their salaries every month, and at least the third part should be used for having vacations or short-term projects, but this is not always possible.
If this is the case, you can also charge a part of the outlay to the credit card but trying to pay the balance off prior to the vacations.
Tip: How much and when do you have to save up? Us News recommends making weekly contributions over the average daily cost calculus that we have previously done, until getting to the goal. To know how much you need to save up, divide the cost between weeks: 52 for international trips and between 12 for domestic ones.
- Compare lodging prices: Renting a house versus a hotel
The most expensive part of traveling is often the transportation and the lodging, and this multiplies when it is a large family. Renting a property near the beach in a touristic destination is, without any doubts, one of the simplest ways to reduce costs of your vacations, provided that you choose an option that best fits your needs but most of all, the one that gives you more value for your money.
There are many things to consider when choosing a vacation rental home but the main ones you should consider are: Location of the property, security and extra goods they offer you.
Tip: Choose a vacation rental home that also offers you the rent of an automobile directly with them, the price will get considerably low than if you do it through a third party or an external car dealer.
Mi Casa, Tu Casa; is a private vacation rental home in Playa del Carmen, Mexico that has 3 rooms, 3 bathrooms and a pool, located at 7 minutes from the beach and the 5th Avenue, with a near Commercial zone, inside a private residential development with 24 hours security.
We offer all you need to make your family vacation in Playa del Carmen an unforgettable, comfortable and relaxing experience; and we offer affordable and competitive prices! Besides, you can hire extra services with us such as renting a mini-van, as well as the option of a cleaning service, with an additional charge that will make your life much simpler.
- Reduce the costs of going out for meals.
On the other hand, cooking your own meals represent an improvement on the vacation budget, since you can visit markets and local supermarkets and get some fresh food at affordable prices, besides you are reducing the possibilities that a member of your family gets sick because of eating bad food out there.
Tip: Cooking simple meals and easy to prepare, are a perfect option to save up during vacations, for example: cereal for breakfast, pasta, grilled meat and tuna salads are on the menu for traveling families.
Although you can also combine making meals by yourself and other days going out or requesting our service of chef in the house. Remember that some vacation rental homes like Mi Casa, Tu Casa; offer this service with an extra charge, for the days you do not wish to cook.
If you want to know more about us, make a booking or if you have more questions or comments, do not hesitate on contacting us at [email protected], it will be a pleasure to answer any further questions.