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Every parent knows just how expensive holidays can be with the family, and needless to say how stressful. It’s hard to figure out what will keep your kids happy without breaking the bank. You might think kids are hard to please, but you’d be surprised at just how easy you can keep them entertained without dipping into your savings.
What do you think your kids really want out of their holiday? Aside from asking them, for the most part, what they are looking for is fun. They want to eat great food, get treats they wouldn’t get at home and have a blast before crashing for a restful night of sleep. So, all you need to do is fill their time with fun, that shouldn’t be too difficult, right?
Consider the following tips from TopSavings.net that will help make a great family trip without spending a fortune.
1. Off Peak
Of course, this is more difficult if you have school-aged children. However, if you can miss the peak season by 4-6 weeks you can save serious money on your flights, car rental, and your hotel stay. You will also have more freedom to enjoy the sights as there will be fewer tourists around.
2. Perfect Planning
The great thing about being organized is that you can research ahead of your trip. Plenty of attractions sell their tickets online, and when they’re purchased in advance they tend to be discounted. So, whether it’s a zoo or a museum, a theme park or a water park, hit the web to see what deals can be found. Talk to your kids about the types of things they would enjoy doing on holiday and then research the area that you’re visiting.
3. Find the Deals!
With various discount offers available online, you can save serious money this holiday year. Why wouldn’t you want to save money and budget on your stay? That way you have extra spending money to enjoy the local sights. Check out the internet to find what deals are available in your destination of choice.
4. Meals
You will need to factor the cost of meals into your budget. You can do that by checking out the typical prices of the area where you’ll be visiting. You should also consider buying groceries. It will be much more cost efficient to enjoy breakfast at your Bloomington apartment or hotel than buying three restaurant meals a day. This is especially helpful if you have a large family. If your hotel has cooking facilities you can extend that to enjoying dinner in your room, too.
5. Snacks
Unless you’re all-inclusive you will need to budget for your meals, but don’t forget about the snacks! You’ll save money by hitting the supermarket and planning your snacks in advance. You don’t need to waste cash buying drinks and snacks at small markets where the prices are tripled. This will keep you on a budget, and keep the kids happy.
6. Take It Easy
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes parents make is overestimating their children’s energy levels. Yes, sometimes they bounce off the walls and it seems like they’ll never come down from that sugar high. That doesn’t mean they can handle a full day of walking and sightseeing, though. Make sure you plan your day to factor in regular breaks for your kids. This allows them to re-energize, and it prevents them from moaning about whether you’re there yet. Vary your days with time at the beach (free) and visiting a museum. Your kids will thank you, and so will your wallet.
7. Technology
It’s a blessing and a curse, but it will keep your kids happy during your travels. Always make sure your gadgets are fully charged, and pack a power bank in case of emergencies. There’s no harm in keeping your kids entertained with a mobile device as you enjoy a late dinner on the beach. The greatest thing about holidays for kids is staying up way later than they’re allowed to at home, but that doesn’t mean it should ruin your night.
8. The Perfect Budget
It goes without saying that you need to build the perfect budget in order to not wreck it. If you need to purchase hygiene products when you arrive, ensure that you factor those into the budget. Don’t forget meals, snacks, drinks, spending money, and, an emergency kitty. You know that traveling with kids is difficult, so always have contingency money planned into your budget in case you run into unplanned troubles.
9. Exchange Rates
When you’re creating that perfect budget, you will want to consider the exchange rate. Your pound used to go further so you should keep up to date with the average exchange rate of your destination to balance your budget. If the foreign currency is weak then you’re in luck. Rather than spending more, you can reduce your budget instead.
Ready To Travel for Cheap?
While family holidays used to be stressful, exhausting and draining (on you and your wallet), they don’t have to be anymore. Use the above tips to ensure you save some serious money. Now you can relax about booking your next family holiday, and enjoy while you’re on it, too.
