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Traveling as a family opens the door to new experiences, cultures, foods, and—most importantly—lifelong memories. But let’s face it: the idea of budget-friendly family travel often gets a bad rap. People picture rundown motels, boring destinations, or skipping every fun activity to pinch pennies. That’s not the vibe here.
We’re talking real vacations—beaches, theme parks, big cities, even bucket-list trips—without draining your bank account.
With smart planning, a flexible mindset, and a few creative hacks, affordable family travel is absolutely possible.
At Wanderu, we’re not just budget travel experts—we’re budget travel superfans. We make it easy to compare bus and train tickets, so you can book the perfect trip without spending hours price-hunting.
Ready to travel more and spend less? Let’s dive in!
Saving Money While Planning Your Family Vacation
Winston Churchill once said, “Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.” That’s exactly why we’re sharing five foolproof tips for planning budget family travel. These money-saving tips come in clutch before you depart on your incredible family vacation.
When to Travel
Timing can make or break your travel budget. Avoid peak travel periods—like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break—when prices for flights, hotels, and activities all surge.
Instead, aim for “shoulder season.” Travel the week before or after major holidays, plan a trip in early fall or late spring, or even consider weekdays over weekends. Not only will you score better rates, but you’ll also avoid crowds.
Consider slow travel. That means staying in one place longer, like two weeks rather than one. Many hosts offer discounts for extended stays, and long term hotels ofter offer lower rates with more amenities. You’ll save money on transportation, food (thanks, kitchen!), and attractions just by settling into a slower rhythm.
Picking a Destination That Works With Your Budget
Destination choice is one of the biggest budget factors. Sure, a spot within driving distance might seem affordable—but if lodging, dining, and entertainment are pricey once you get there, you’ll blow your budget fast.
Instead, focus on destinations where your dollar stretches further. Cities like Williamsburg and St. Louis are consistently ranked among the most affordable family vacation spots in the U.S. And places like Savannah, Santa Fe, and New Orleans offer culture, food, and fun—without the premium price tag.
Don’t write off international travel, either. Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Costa Rica offer incredible family adventures on a shoestring—especially if you can snag a deal on flights.
A little research goes a long way in finding off-the-beaten-path gems that offer the same magic for less.
Booking Cheap Transportation
Transportation is a major line item in any travel budget—but it doesn’t have to be. If you can skip the flight, you’ll often save hundreds.
That’s where Wanderu comes in. Our easy-to-use app helps you compare bus, train, and rental car options in one quick search, so you can find the cheapest, fastest, or most flexible ride.
Even if you do fly, consider skipping the car rental once you land. Stay somewhere walkable or near public transit and use rideshare or shuttles to get around. It’s one of the easiest ways to cut costs—plus, no need to deal with parking or gas.
Finding Budget Accommodation
Accommodation is often one of the biggest expenses on vacations, but thankfully, there are ways to find deals.
First, accommodation outside the city center or a couple of blocks off the coast will always be cheaper. Plus, staying a bit further from tourist hotspots gives you a chance to really immerse your family in the local culture!
You may also be able to save on the nightly rate if you book multiple nights. Many hotels and short-term rentals offer deals like ‘Stay 4, Pay 3,’ so often, the longer you stay, the easier it will be on your overall budget. Of course, mid-week stays are also less spendy than weekends.
Another excellent budget travel tip is to book an apartment or home instead of a hotel room. Having more space, access to a kitchen (and maybe even laundry facilities), and a dedicated parking space can save on eating out and many other costs.
If your family is outdoorsy or adventurous, consider roughing it and booking a campsite or “glampsite” to save some serious dough. There are many unique family-friendly options throughout the US, and most offer amenities like community kitchens and/or outdoor grills, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and even onsite entertainment.
Research Free & Cheap Activities
Children are easily pleased, so you don’t have to spend much to have fun on family vacations. With just a few minutes of research, you’ll find that even perennially popular hot spots like Miami have tons of free things to do. You can also search sites like Groupon for city passes that offer discounts to several attractions.
Here are some general ideas for free kid-friendly activities in any area:
- Hiking
- Hitting the beach
- Find murals in a city for photo-ops
- Free walking tours
- Go on a DIY scavenger hunt
- Free entry days to local museums
- Visiting a state or national park
For some budget inspiration in some of our favorite destinations, check out our guides to the best free things to do in Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, DC, New York, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Diego, Vancouver, Portland, Montreal, Baltimore, and San Antonio.
Saving Money While You Travel
We’ve given you plenty of tips for planning family travel on a budget, but how do you save money once you arrive? We’ve got you covered with three fantastic ways to save money while traveling with kids.
Saving Money on Dining
One of our very best budget family travel tips, regardless of where you’re going, is to eat in whenever possible. Look for accommodation that has a kitchen, or at least a refrigerator and/or microwave, so you don’t have to eat every meal out. Make a grocery store your first stop in town, or if you’re driving, bring supplies from home.
Even better, look for hotels that offer perks like free breakfast or complimentary social hour.
You can also do some research on nearby restaurants to find out which ones offer kids-eat-free deals, happy hour, and other promotions.
Use Hotel Freebies
Hotel freebies are a valuable resource when it comes to enjoying family travel on a budget. We mentioned that picking a hotel with free breakfast can save quite a bit of money, but there are other included goodies you should take advantage of, as well.
Use the hotel’s toiletries, enjoy any complimentary drinks or snacks, and feel free to ask for extras. Don’t go overboard, of course, but it’s perfectly acceptable to request one or two rounds of refills, and to take those items home. Hotels don’t reuse or refill guest toiletries, and anything left behind often gets tossed out.
Plus, hotels might offer complimentary bike rentals and other experiences that can fill a whole day with fun for the family.
Insider tip: Ask the front desk if they have board games, movies, or other activities for kids. Many hotels loan these items out, but they don’t necessarily advertise it.
Experiences > Souvenirs
It’s important to remember that memories always matter more than material things. Your family is certain to remember that helicopter flight over NYC rather than the T-shirt you picked up in one of the city’s souvenir stores.
Consider honing your photography skills to frame an epic photo and agreeing to buy an ornament or something similar that the whole family can share.
More Budget Family Travel Tips
Aside from ways to save money while planning kid-friendly and baby-friendly vacations, and things you can do on your trip to save a bit of dough, here are a few more things to keep in mind for your next family getaway.
Age-Appropriate Family Vacation Ideas
Your specific needs and wants will be completely different if you’re traveling with babies versus teens, so be sure to keep that in mind when choosing a destination for a weekend getaway with kids. A highly walkable city is ideal for both, but a family with a new baby will want to skip the adventure-filled trips that include whitewater rafting or horseback riding.
Planning a multigenerational trip with grandparents or other family members, or even bringing kids of several ages, also needs to be approached differently. Some of the best vacations for kids under 10 may not necessarily be ideal for elderly relatives or even older teens. In these situations, seek out destinations with lots of different activities. Suggestions include theme parks, beaches, cruises, national parks, dude ranches, and major cities like San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.
Travel with More than Just Your Family
Traveling with a friend’s family or invited extended family is another of our favorite budget family travel tips. This allows you to share the cost of things like accommodation, food, a rental vehicle, and fuel. Plus, you may also be able to swap childcare on a couple of nights and sneak away for a date!
Travel Off the Beaten Path
We touched on this earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again. Visiting lesser-known destinations, “hidden gems,” will almost always be significantly more affordable than popular hotspots. Fewer people traveling means prices for accommodation, food, transportation, and local activities will all be a lot more reasonable.
Another benefit of going to off-the-beaten-path places is they’re less crowded overall. Less traffic, a lower chance of activities selling out, and not waiting excessive amounts of time for restaurants are all better for families.
A limited budget doesn’t have to mean limited travel. Using some of these budget travel tips and family vacation ideas, you can get away with the kids and create long-lasting memories more than you probably expected!
As you start planning your next family vacation, turn to Wanderu. From travel inspiration on our blog to one-stop shopping for train and bus fares, rental cars, and hotels, we make it simple and hassle-free to book kid-friendly travel. Head to our website or download the Wanderu app today, and get vacationing ASAP.
