It may seem like spring has just begun, but summer is fast approaching. If you want to save money on your families summer vacation this year, you'll need to start planning now.

Things to consider:

Where to go:
Where you decide to go really depends on your finances, the time of year, and whom you are traveling with. Here is what one of our readers had to say

“Choose a family friendly spot for your vacation. No, your two year old will not appreciate a day at the Smithsonian!  Choosing an adequate vacationing spot is essential to your success.  Choose a place that offers something for everyone in your group. Timing is crucial.  Disneyland is indeed a wonderland for children, but if you go in August chances are the heat will beat the magic.  Places that attract big crowds are usually cheaper during the off seasons and also a great deal more child friendly.  Little ones don't usually enjoy extreme temperatures or long lines. Once you've decided on a place to go consider what would constitute the best time to go there."

­Mari Tenny, Topeka Kansas Stake

 

Most public libraries have Travel Videos for rent/check out.  This gives you an opportunity to rent videos for a lot of different locations, to see what options you have, which can help in the decision making process.

Your financial situation and your interests should dictate where you go; going into debt for a vacation is not a wise way to manage your money.  Taking site-oriented vacations can be a lot of fun too.  I just returned from Rome and I chose Rome not because it was far away or foreign, but because there were sites that I wanted to see there (The Sistine Chapel).

Suppose you do want to go foreign, the cheapest time to go to Europe is early spring (Feb-May).  It would probably be cheaper in winter, but who wants to freeze on a vacation!  Be sure that when you do travel to Europe that you avoid the month of August.  August is when most Europeans go on holiday, which means a lot of shops and sights are closed. 

How much is it going to cost:
Cost really depends on where you go, and whether you fly or drive.  What I want to focus on is how much  it is going to cost once you get there, hotels and rental cars.

Rental Cars, check with your Visa Company before you rent.  Most Visa Cards carry rental car coverage (Your own car insurance policy might also…Check It!).  If you already have rental coverage you will save about $10.00 a day by not purchasing the rental coverage through the lender. 

Some Visa Cards also have “alliances” with rental car agencies.  My Visa Card gets me discounts if I rent from Alamo and I charge my rental to that particular Credit Card.  If you are an “AAA” member you can also be eligible for rental discounts.  If you are involved with a frequent flyer program you might also be able to get points for using certain companies.  I am a SWA Rapid Rewards member and if I rent a car at Budget I get an extra point (and with SWA you only need 16 point to fly free).

It is going to be cheaper to rent from a company that is off-site from the airport than to rent from a rental company that has an office at the airport.  Rest assured the off-site companies are usually only 3-4 miles from the airport and they always have a shuttle to pick you up, and take you back to the airport.

Hotel Rooms, can really cost a lot.  I have found that for travel out side of the US guidebooks are your best bet to cheap hotels.  I found my B&B in Rome through Rick Steve’s Guide To Rome book.  Most guidebooks will recommend reliable and safe hotel options for a variety of budgets.   Most public libraries carry guidebooks, so head to your library to research before you make any decisions. 

If you are going to visit somewhere in the USA, my favorite place to find cheap hotels is priceline.com.  I get to type in where I want my hotel and how much I am willing to pay.  I am happy to say that I got a room at an Airport Marriott for $50.00!  The only thing about priceline.com is you really have to be ready to buy; you will tell them how much you are willing to pay-give them your credit card number and then if they find what you requested they automatically charge your card.  If priceline.com cannot find your room for the price you specified they will email you and offer suggestions or ask you what you want to do.

My father in-law gets free nights at the Fairfield through his Visa Card.  He earns points as he spends and his points are redeemable at the Fairfield.  Some major hotels will give you a discount if you are a state or corporate employee; I am not sure why this is, but it’s true. The hotel doesn’t even have to be in the state that you are employed by.

Another viable option is a Hostel, they are no longer for youth and you can take your whole family.  Check out this Hostel site to find out what hostels are available with which amenities.  When my husband was younger, hostels were where his father always took the kids to stay; the price was right and they were convenient.

Traveling with kids:
This can be a real nightmare or a wonderful family vacation; the key is planning.  Here are tips from two of our readers:

“I have traveled both long distances and short distances with my children (ages 5 mos, 2 yrs, 3 yrs).  I think the key to a pleasant trip is preparation.  For long trips (3 or more hours) I usually bring a bag full of toys & books that they haven’t seen in a while, some snacks & treats & water, a portable potty J, some music cassettes, and some extra clothes.  I’ve also borrowed toys from friends for the duration of the trip for “new” toys.  So long as they have things to entertain them the trip usually goes fine.  For spills its handy to have some paper towels on hand or baby wipes.  Also, if your child can fall asleep in the car plan the trips around nap times.  I usually feed my infant right before we leave so that he can sleep during the ride.  When I’ve traveled by train or plane it has been very useful to me to have my youngest in a backpack.  Then one child is “taken care of” leaving my hands free for bags or my other children.  A word to the wise…try not to travel when your kids are sick…everyone ends up miserable!!!! (I say this from experience!)"

-Maria Castaneda Klamath Falls, OR Stake

“It's here!  It's finally here!  After six months of planning it is time to get in your car and embrace that well deserved and long awaited vacation!  Visions of your angelic children somberly sleeping through the long car ride and later running through poppy fields that resemble those by Claude Monet's are beckoning your name.  As they run they are holding each other's hands, of course, and laughing carelessly, breathing nothing but pure joy while you and your spouse hang from those coconut palm trees that are gracious enough to hold the hammock in which you two lay.  Suddenly a blood-curdling scream brings you back to reality.  You know, the scream from that kid that you'd rather was somebody else's when you realize you forgot her favorite blanket--without which she cannot sleep!  Truth is ladies we'd love to blame our little ones when things don't go the way we'd like on our vacations, but whether we like it or not it is often our fault we encounter bumpy roads in our travels.  Nobody knows our children as well as we do!  With a little planning, and a few pointers your next photo album may be able to display a truly picture perfect vacation.  Plan the actual trip.  Whether you are flying or driving to your destination plan on ways to make the trip fun.  Take crayons and coloring books, word games, and songs.  Make sure you have those things your children cannot do without like those special blankets or storybooks.  Schedule some down time.  If you haven't planned it, taking time out of your vacation just go back to the hotel and relax can be very frustrating, almost as frustrating as having to deal with a tired cranky child.  Remember, being on vacation does not mean your child does not need her usual rest!  Family vacations are a very special part of family life.  Wonderful memories can be created, magical places can be discovered and unbreakable ties are formed.  With a little foresight the field of poppies and gracious palm trees may just be reachable."

- Mari Tenny, Topeka Kansas Stake, USA

You might also head to your local book stores travel section; there are MANY books devoted to "(enter city name) with kids," you might also find these books at your local library.  For more tips of traveling with kids, read one of our past Mommy Chic articles.

Flying or Driving:
Once again where you are going will play a key role in this decision.  

Driving, if your destination is less than 12 hours away then driving just might be your best option.  There are added costs to driving that can throw your budget off if you are not prepared.  Food, gas and lodging can quickly add up if you have a long drive.  After two gas stops and one hotel room you have almost bought a plane ticket!  So be sure to weigh out the costs before you decide to drive.

If you do decide to drive and want to cut costs: take the most direct route to your location.  There are a lot of Internet mapping sites that will give you “fastest directions.”  The more direct your trip the less you spend in gas.  Instead of stopping at fast food joints stop at local grocery stores for meals.  It is not hard to whip up some good sandwiches in the car and you can buy drinks and chips or cookies that will last your family the whole day for less than you would spend at fast food locations.

Flying. I do not enjoy flying at all, but it is usually the best means to an end for vacationing.  I think there are two key ingredients in getting good deals on your airline tickets;

1 - A good dependable travel agent
2 - The Internet

A good travel agent knows which airlines are offering specials and which ones are more affordable; you cannot beat a good travel agent.  Not sure how to find one?-ask around, what travel agent does your company use?

The Internet can be overwhelming when searching for airline tickets, but here are the secrets that I use: Travelocity, Lowestfare, Priceline, or a specific airline's homepage.

The first thing I do is research ticket prices on the first three sites, then I go to the specific airlines homepage that I know has a HUB in the city I am flying in to, there prices tend to be a bit cheaper.  For instance, if you were flying into Phoenix, AZ, Southwest Airlines and American West both have a HUB at PHX (the airport).  Which means that Southwest and America West might have better prices flying into Phoenix then other airlines. 

I am also partial to Southwest I almost always fly them.  They have the best Rapid Rewards program, in my opinion; eight round trip tickets in one year and you fly free!!  Signing up for a Frequent Flyer program can really help you to save money in the long run, it might take a while with some, but eventually you get a free ticket.  Don’t forget to check the travel section of your local Sunday newspaper for great travel deals, if you keep your eyes and ears open you can sometimes find great deals.  I once found a roundtrip ticket from Kansas City to San Francisco for $115.00!

The best way to make the most of your Family Vacation is to plan ahead.  The little details are what really make the difference, so don't forget the details and don't forget to pray and you'll have a blast!

Visit one of the many National Parks in the United States. A National Park Pass is only $50. and will allow you unlimited access to any National Park for one year.

How about a Church themed vacation. Visit some of the Historical LDS sites in Utah, S. California, and Missouri.

Visit some of the United States most beautiful coastlines in California, Washington, Oregon, East Coast, Florida, Deep South.

General Travel Tips:
My grandmother who has been all over the world at least twice, had these sage tips for travel:

• After you've packed your suit case, take out half the clothes and put in twice as much money. You know the value of traveling light.  Plan your wardrobe so it coordinates, is washable, wrinkle proof, and can be dressed down or up. 
  
• Keep your money, traveler's checks, passport with you at all times hidden on your person. [Editors Note: I swear by money belts, they can be purchased at your local Target for under ten dollars]  Have a small amount of local currency readily available for purchases so you don't reveal in public (l) your hiding place for your money, or (2) the amount of money you may be carrying.  Never leave anything of value in your hotel room.  If you don't want to carry it with you, put it in the hotel safe. 
  
• Learn how to pack your suitcase... there's all kinds of articles written with great advice such as rolling up skirts, pants, and blouses instead of packing them flat, stuffing your shoes with socks, plan outfits that are interchangeable, etc. 
  
• Plan carefully your need for travel guidebooks, cell phones, maps, currency exchange rates, etc. Depending on how you travel, make reservations for your hotel, train, plane, and excursion trips well ahead of time so you aren't stranded.  If you are more casual and not sure about your time schedule, be sure you have information on local accommodations available, travel schedules, etc. 
  
• Learn something about local customs in the countries you plan to visit... for example, how they tip, to whom you can speak, any taboos in social behavior, things to avoid, etc. 
  
• Travel with a sufficient supply of any prescriptions you take regularly to last your whole trip. Do not count on your prescriptions being refillable anywhere outside the U.S. 
  
• Be prepared for rain, extreme cold, extreme heat. 
  
• Be friendly, ask for advice as you travel, but also be very wary. Don't trust a stranger with your money or your suitcase. Stay out of suspicious places where you don't feel comfortable. Know ahead of time where your American Embassies are located. 
  
• Shop around for your travel and hotel reservations. Ask people who have traveled in the countries you want to visit. I strongly recommend going through a reliable travel agency for some of your foreign reservations.  
  
• Relax, enjoy, take your time to see everything your schedule will allow. Meet people on the economy. Get to know the natives of any country. Leave your "American expectations" at home so you can enjoy the way other people live. 
  
• Be very careful about the water and food wherever you go without being the 'obnoxious ugly American.'

- Alice Clark, Lake Oswego, OR Stake

Cost Effective Long Term Stays

One of the largest costs of a vacation can be housing, if you're staying somewhere for a significant length of time.

When our family goes anywhere for more than a few days we always look into renting a house or condo. Renting - on or off season - can be much cheaper than hotels when traveling with a large family, extended family or a group of friends. Plus you have all the wonderful amenities of home (laundry and kitchen) which help cut down on other costs.

To find out if your next vacation destination has rental accommodations to an internet search for "vacation rentals in [location]" or call the local chamber of commerce or a real estate office in the area.

A few additional tips...

Plan Ahead! The earlier to you look into rentals in the area the more likely you'll be to find the prefect place for your group to stay at a price that's equally as good.

Do Your Homework. Make sure the rental company or agent you are working with has a good reputation. Check references and look around to make sure others who have used the company/agent were satisfied with the accommodations and the companies handling of their vacation.

Timing is Everything. Look into booking your vacation the weeks just before or after peak season. Usually the weather is just as nice and you can stay for a fraction of the price.

Good Eats. We've found eating breakfast and dinner at home and lunch out is perfect for our family with young children. We're usually out and about visiting sites during the lunch hour, making eating out more convenient. The lunch crowd is usually lighter and the menu less expensive. And by dinner time, kids are tired and staying home for a simple dinner is easier on everyone.

Ask your travel agent for directions to the local grocery store. Usually the store the locals go to isn't the one the tourist go to and there can be a big price difference.