| If you are like most Americans, you are on a strict | | | | come with low admission fees. |
| budget this year. One glance at your checking account | | | | Cut Your Vacation Short: If you don't like the idea of |
| and it may seem impossible to take that yearly family | | | | staying close to home, look at your budget. If you have |
| trip. Stop right now! Get that thought out of your head! | | | | some money to spend, why not shorten the length of |
| Despite what you might believe, you can still have a | | | | your traditional family trip? You can still get your time at |
| great family vacation, even when traveling on a strict | | | | the beach or Disneyland, but your trip will only be |
| budget. How? | | | | 3-nights instead of 5 or 7. Since you still get a good |
| Vacation Close to Home: When we think of family | | | | vacation at a popular destination, you are less likely to |
| vacations, we often envision days in the car or hours | | | | feel as if you are shortchanging yourself or your family. |
| on an airplane. Yes, this might have been your | | | | Travel During the Off-Season: It is fact that most |
| vacations in the past, but now you are closely | | | | families vacation during the summertime. It is easier to |
| monitoring your finances. Why don't you look closer to | | | | get time off from work and the kids are on summer |
| home? I bet you haven't given local vacation hot spots | | | | break. However, this is peak travel season, meaning |
| much consideration in the past. When you look, you | | | | you will automatically spend more money. In the United |
| should like your options. Many areas are home to | | | | States, most schoolchildren get holiday, winter, and |
| theme parks, museums, campgrounds, state parks, and | | | | spring breaks. These week-offs vary around the |
| more. | | | | country, meaning it won't necessarily be peak travel |
| Make a Vacation Out of Mini Trips: As previously | | | | season. For you, this should result in better prices. Not |
| stated, we often think of long, extended trips when it | | | | only will you find better hotel rates and cheaper airline |
| comes to trips with the family. If you need to stay local, | | | | tickets, but retailers and restaurants should offer more |
| create a series of mini-vacations. These can be done | | | | money saving discounts. |
| throughout the year or crunched into one week. For | | | | In short, there are many ways to not only plan a family |
| example, day one can be at a local museum for kids; | | | | vacation on a budget, but a good one at that. So what |
| day two can be at a state park with hiking trails; day | | | | are you waiting for? Don't let your current financial |
| three can be a nearby amusement park, and so forth. | | | | situation get you down. With a little bit of careful |
| By staying at a cheap hotel, your family will still get that | | | | planning, you can get that break you and your entire |
| "normal" vacation feel. Most importantly, you save | | | | family deserve. |
| money especially if some of your activities are free or | | | | |