Easy Luxury Vacations

posted by Joyce on Apr 12

I’m sharing with you all sorts of valuable information about taking a family vacation on a budget, but even if I give you every single money-saving tip I can find, there are some other aspects of the family vacation that should be addressed so that everyone is having fun!

• Write down your budget, make it detailed, and stick to it!

If you’ve budgeted $1,000 for food, be sure you’re going to be able to feed everyone the entire time for $1,000. It’ll save you a lot of stress and aggravation and you can make adjustments elsewhere if you find you’re close to going over budget.

• Always ask for discounts.

You won’t ever get them unless you ask for them. If they’re available, you should take advantage – for you and your vacation budget!

• Remember to be flexible!

Be able to change your plans if need be and “go with the flow”.

• Publish it.

Regardless of what you’ve done or where you’ve gone, it’s always fun to remember it. Take a large scrapbook with you. As you are driving, dictate what happened that day and leave space to paste in photographs, postcards, admission tickets, etc.

• Build excitement for the trip!

Once you’ve selected a destination, share copies of your travel brochures with your family. Then watch the excitement skyrocket.

• Make lists.

Some “Last-Minute Lists,” to use before departing, can include: “Don’t Forget,” “To Do,” and “Pack Now.” It’s a great time-saver, and ensures non-replaceable essentials like medications and such aren’t left behind.

• Cruise the internet for deals.

You can find reduced prices on everything from lodging to airfare to car rentals to entertainment – and everything in between. In previous blogs, I’ve listed several recommended traditional travel sites. Now, I want to mention Booking-buddy.com. Simply put in your info and it will scour several travel sites so you can compare prices and options. Whatever your dream destination, you can point and click your way into an affordable, enjoyable vacation without ever leaving home.

• Maintain a routine while on vacation.

It’s tempting to set aside bed times and other daily routines while traveling. But sticking as closely as possible to normal routines—like meal times, and bed times—will help your family to enjoy each day’s activities and return home less stressed.

• Schedule some down time.

Because family travel can be so expensive, parents often attempt to book as much activity in a day as humanly possible. Unfortunately, that whirlwind approach can be more tiresome than fun—for parents and children. One option: schedule a mid-day “rest stop” to unwind, or finish activities by 7 p.m.

posted by Joyce on Apr 9

There are many effective ways to save for your family vacation. When you spend 40 hours a week slaving at your job, you deserve to have some time to get away from the rat race, relax, and enjoy your family.

1. Have a plan

Unless you’re independently wealthy, you’ll need a plan for saving up the money you need. While this may seem like a simple proposition, some people find it difficult to lay aside some money each pay period. The key here is discipline.

2. Open a separate vacation savings account

Open up a separate savings account specifically meant for your vacation money. If your employer offers direct deposit, you can usually specify a certain amount of money be put into this account. Some banks will schedule an automatic direct transfer to your savings account if you don’t have direct deposit or if you are not able to deposit money into two separate accounts.

3. Modify weekly entertainment expenses

Examine the amount of money your family spends weekly or monthly on family entertainment and fast food restaurants. Then reduce that amount, storing the remainder away for your trip. So that a pending vacation doesn’t become a joy-buster, shop around for freebie and reduced-cost entertainment options to enjoy during the months before you depart.

4. Save your change

Another good way to save up money is to save your change. When you use cash, resolve to only use paper money. Then take the change you receive and put it aside at the end of every day. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it can build up.

One family reported that they kept a “vacation jar” in a convenient place and each family member would deposit change and the occasional dollar bill into it. When they emptied the jar and had it counted, they had managed to save $5,000 – enough for them to enjoy a tropical getaway to Grand Cayman Island!

While you may not have that much in your change jar, emptying it at vacation time can mean extra spending money or that little boost you need to go on your dream vacation.

5. Involve your kids in the saving venture

This is a great time to teach your kids the valuable lessons of saving and budgeting money.

6. Think outside the box

Look for other ways to add extra cash to the vacation coffer. One family saved aluminum cans and took them into the recycling plant periodically for cash. Throughout the course of a year, they managed to accumulate an extra $1,000 for their vacation.

You could have a rummage sale to earn extra vacation cash as well. There are plenty of opportunities out there to add to your vacation savings. You just need to think outside of the box and resolve that any extra cash you get will go toward your family vacation.

7. Budget realistically

Vacations need not be expensive. Budget an amount and stick to it. If you’re driving, set a fixed spending amount ($150 per day, for example). Include all of your expenses, gas, meals, admissions, special activities, etc.

Involve your children in the process. Share with them that conserving money on one day allows them to go to a water park on another day. Be creative.

To save money, you can eat only one meal in a restaurant per day. For the other two, prepare your own food and either eat in the hotel room or have a picnic. Take turns letting the kids choose the type of food—and, if you are really adventurous, the restaurant—each day. This way, the children feel important and it minimizes arguments.

And remember, there is life after your vacation.

A good point to keep in mind when determining how much you can afford to spend on a vacation is that other periodic expenses may be waiting for you when you return, such as back-to-school costs and next year’s taxes.

That’s why I highly recommend a separate account for your vacation savings. That way you have your vacation money separate from your everyday money and won’t have to stress about “robbing Peter to pay Paul” when you get home from your trip!

posted by Joyce on Apr 7

These suggestions are not for the faint-of-heart, but offer great opportunities for great vacations, new experiences, and new friends.

“Non-traditional” lodgings include furnished apartments, house swaps or renting a villa.

• Home Exchange

If you prefer to mingle with the locals rather than other tourists, look into a home exchange vacation. One couple spent their eight-week honeymoon touring Europe without ever staying in a hotel; instead, they stayed in private homes while their European hosts stayed in their New York City apartment.

Sound risky? Maybe—but tens of thousands of people have exchanged homes since the 1950s. For an annual membership fee (usually around $50), home exchange clubs help members arrange exchanges, as well as offering tips to make the exchange go smoothly.

According to ExchangeHomes.com, a home exchange can cut travel costs by as much as half. More importantly, though, a home exchange vacation makes it possible for you to live like the locals, and perhaps make some life-long friends.

• Hospitality Club

In a slight twist on the home exchange idea, look into joining a hospitality club that will hook you up with people willing to host you on your next vacation. The largest hospitality club has more than 23,000 members in 148 countries.

Membership is usually free, although members are asked to provide hospitality to others (on a voluntary basis) in return sometime in the future. In addition to saving money, staying with others is a great way to meet locals who can give an insider’s perspective on your destination.

posted by Joyce on Apr 5

Booking hotel rooms is an important part of planning your vacation. And most of us will be in search of cheap hotels as lodging affects the total holiday budget in a great way.

Finding a cheap hotel is not difficult. You can find a lot of them online. It’s possible to get hotels anywhere in the world to suit your budget.

Priceline.com Hotels – save up to 50%

You don’t necessarily have to pay more for excellent service. Inexpensive hotels need not mean bad hotels. Some of the luxurious hotels offer off-season rates at a much lower price.

There are all kinds of questions to ask when looking for suitable lodging on your vacation.

• What type of hotel do you want to stay in?
• Does it have to have a pool?
• What about courtesy vans?
• Does it have to be a hotel?

There are many, many options out there to keep your vacation budget in line and still have a place to lay your head!

Overall Savings for Families

Most savvy budget travelers recommend a hotel that offers up a kitchen or kitchenette. This can save you a huge amount of money on meals.

Families should consider condominium-style accommodations as these are often comparable in price to a fine hotel (and even less than the cost of two rooms). This gives you the luxury of a spacious apartment with a full-kitchen and amenities like laundry machines – a nice feature when you have young children.

Consider booking a hotel outside the main part of town but still close to the sights you want to see. By staying away from the more popular hotels right in the middle of the action, you’ll have a better chance of not only saving money, but also getting accommodations at the time you want them.

Know what you are buying, though. Sometimes you can save money by spending a little more. For example, if lodging includes breakfast, has an indoor pool, or has a better location that will cut down on the time and expense of traveling to the attractions you’re interested in, the extra expense may be well worth it.

Be aware of amenities that may be extra cost hidden in the price of the room. I just recently stayed in a hotel that automatically charged a fee for the room safe. You could ask for the charge to be removed when you checked out, but you would be charged if you didn’t know they were doing it and didn’t ask for it to be removed.

Many people look for a place near the attractions they want to visit so that walking can be the mode of transportation. It can be nice not to be dependent on a vehicle to get you from place to place.

Get Your Discounts

Also, ask if there are any discounts available. Some hotels have children stay free policies or will offer 50 percent off a second room for children 17 and under. If you’re a member of an organization, like AAA, ask if they offer any discounts.

You might also want to find a hotel that offers a complimentary continental breakfast.

posted by Joyce on Apr 1

The family vacation has been portrayed in many ways.

From National Lampoon’s “Vacation” showing the trials and tribulations of the Griswold family trying to get to “Wally World” to “The Great Outdoors” with John Candy and his family renting out a cabin in the woods only to encounter a meddling bear. Family vacations in the media seem to be one thing going wrong after another.

But in real life, the family vacation is a time to bond together as a family and enjoy times of closeness while exploring new adventures. The memories you can make on these vacations will stay with you for years and give your children special moments they’ll treasure forever.

You can choose to drive cross country and see the quirky roadside attractions such as the largest ball of yarn or the corn museum. Some don’t look at this as a true vacation. After all, being stuck in a car for the majority of the trip can breed some real family strife!

You could also book a family cruise or fly to Mexico to spend time at a resort, but this can get pricey, and with all the activities they have for children, some parents fear the bonding they were looking forward to won’t happen.

There are many, many ways you can have a terrific family vacation while on a budget. There are all kinds of vacations that can be had within almost every budget.

The best way to keep the costs down is to plan ahead and make informed decisions.

But how do you start? You start with family input, a survey of your resources, and a well-thought out plan.

Always dreamed of going to Disney World? You can! Take this offer, for example: Family Vacation Deal: Free Dining at Disney World

Think the Caribbean is out of reach? It’s not!

• Plan Early

The first thing you must do is plan early. Spontaneity works well for day trips, but is not as effective for longer jaunts. By planning early, you will find cheaper fares and more available accommodations.

You can also have the opportunity to save any additional funds you might need, perhaps include extended invitations to other family members, and get together all the paperwork you might need if traveling abroad.

• Be Flexible

While planning, it’s a good idea to stay flexible in your desires. Flexibility equals maximum pleasure for everyone. This is especially true if you have special needs due to a disability or are taking along teens and children who will want to do different things.

Get your children involved too. This will not only make them much more enthusiastic about the trip, but they can provide their input into what types of activities they want to do and what types of activities they’d like to do as a family.

You probably already have some kind of idea as to what you’ll be able to afford when taking a vacation. If you do have a specific number in mind, this makes it much easier to pick out a destination. You can research what’s available in your price range and choose the trip that will best fit your family.

If you don’t have a specific number in mind, make a list of your dream vacations. Include those places you’ve always wanted to go as well as places you think would fit the personalities of your family. See what these types of vacations will cost, and then pick the one you think you can save for or afford to take right away.

The Internet is an indispensable tool to do this. You can get some fantastic family vacation ideas here.

Many travel websites offer vacation packages for specific destinations. Here are some highly suggested by the experts:

www.expedia.com
www.orbitz.com
www.cheaptickets.com
www.travelocity.com

When you use these sites, they can give you best prices for various destinations, but they can also provide valuable suggestions for where you can go as well as activities that are available and ratings from other travelers who have taken the same vacations.

You can also use:

Price line often allows you to name a price you’re willing to pay for flights, hotels, etc., but you have to take what they offer you if they accept your price. For example, you may be willing to pay $100 for a $200 airline flight, but they may accept your price only if you’re willing to take the redeye in the middle of the night. If this is something you can live with, by all means, book it! Just be flexible.

Do you detect a theme here in the planning phase? Flexibility is the key!