Affordable Vacation Ideas for Large Families

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There’s a reason most parents are so good at finding bargains; it’s because kids are expensive! And every
addition to the family demands that the breadwinners and bill-payers reexamine the budget and find
ways to cut back in order for a family to live within its means. In many cases, this could mean cutting out
unnecessary expenditures, and vacations are often the first thing to go. But a little R&R is definitely a
must for anyone who works hard, especially when you’ve virtually got two full-time jobs going on. Plus,
you want the kids to see new places and get comfortable with travel. However, in order to bring the whole
brood along you may have to cut some corners when it comes to planning your trip. So here are just a few
vacation ideas that are eminently affordable for the family on a budget.

1. Camping. You will shell out some cash initially for this type of trip, what with all the gear you’ll
need to outfit a large family (tents, sleeping bags, clothing, etc.). The good news is that you can
use your equipment over and over again so that the upfront costs become negligible over time.
Plus, you can go just about anywhere and avoid the cost of a hotel, which is a major savings for a
large family.

2. Day trips. Don’t have the money for a multi-day vacay? Don’t fret. Take a moment to consider all
of the many amazing trips that are within close range of your home. You could plan for several
weekends away each year instead of one major vacation, including days at the beach, hot springs,
nearby national parks, monuments, landmarks, and even roadside attractions. If you’ve run out of
fun ideas in your own hometown, just pop over to the next dot on the map and see what they have
to offer. Then be home in time to sleep in your own bed.

3. Visiting family. If you want to get way out of town you can easily dispel costs by visiting family
members that can put you up for a few nights. With a large family this can be difficult, but if you
don’t mind bunking on a couch or even sharing floor space with inflatable mattresses you can
definitely get away for a few days and spare yourself the cost of hotels.

4. Foreign countries. Saving on international travel is all in the planning. You have to seek plane
tickets early so that you have time to account for price fluctuations and seasonal deals. And
you’ll want to choose a country that is not only keen on hosting foreigners, but also offers a good
exchange rate and has plenty of places to stay on the cheap. If you want to go south, for example,
skip expensive options like Brazil and Argentina and go closer to the equator. Belize, Nicaragua,
and other Latin American countries want to encourage tourism and they’ve made major efforts to
provide a safe environment and all the amenities globe-trotting travelers expect (for less).

5. A cruise. Okay, this doesn’t sound cheap, and it’s not. But here’s the thing; it could be a lot less
than other vacations, especially if you live near a coast. Many cruise ships come with family-
friendly adjoining cabins so that you can prop the door open and have plenty of beds for you and
the kids. You will pay per person, but you almost never have to pay full price for the kids. The
reason is that the rates for additional passengers in a room (after the first two) tend to be far less.
In addition, cruises are all-inclusive, so the cost of admittance covers food, lodgings, and some
on-board entertainment (just be aware of hidden fees ahead of time so you can avoid them). This
option may seem a bit pricy, but when you consider the savings over Hawaiian resorts or San Diego vacation rentals, you’ll see it’s a great way to vacay with a large family.