Cheap Family Travel: Best Tips to Stretch Dollars

Traveling with kids poses a special challenge, and it is best expressed in dollars and cents. It doesn’t have to be a financial challenge to take the kids on vacation, especially when you know some of the best tips for cheap family travel.

Look for “kids are free” deals. The cheapest way for families to travel is when you don’t have to pay for the kids, and believe it or not, there are plenty of opportunities. Several cruise lines, offer kids under specific ages to cruise free. Discovery Cruise Line began offering a special deal as of May 1, 2009 for kids under 17 to sail free and stay free at their Grand Bahama Resort at certain of their resorts, with the added bonus of kids under 12 able to sail free, stay free and eat free at select Grand Bahama Resorts. MSC Cruises is another choice for kids under 17 to sail free on all cruises sailing before January, 2010. Disney Cruise Lines has a policy for kids under 3 that cruise free. One important note to remember is that, to sail free, the child must be staying within a stateroom with two paying adults.

Other freebies to watch for: Many hotels, including Holiday Inn and Sheraton allow kids to stay free with at least one parent in the room. Wyndham Resorts, through August of 2009, offers the great deal of kids 12 and under to stay, eat and play for free at any of their seven resorts located in Mexico, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

Save on Food Costs. Check for restaurants in the area that offer kids to eat free. Buffets offer great deals for kids to eat all they want of a variety of foods for one cost. To save even more, ask for a hotel room with a mini-fridge and microwave; stop at a grocery store in the area to stock it with a variety of foods and drinks that kids can snack on.

Save on Things to Do. Before you leave for vacation, check into purchasing a card that will allow free entry into a number of attractions in the area you will be visiting. Websites such as www.smartdestinations allows you to pay one price per person that will gain entry into over 40 attractions in cities all over the United States; saving as much as 35% on individual ticket prices.

[smartads]Revisit local attractions. Family travel doesn’t have to mean going far away. There are always great sites to visit locally; parks, zoos, amusement parks or museums. Check with the local library for any free concerts or performances that may be scheduled. Movie matinees during the summer are often offered free of charge, and music or art in the park events are also featured. Short day trips can bring just as much anticipation and enjoyment to a family with the added benefit of being low in cost.

Traveling with a family doesn’t have to incur huge sums of money. Great deals, discounts and offers are continually featured to entice families to book trips and travel; making vacations for families both cheap and affordable.