In these uncertain economic times, being savvy about how you spend your vacation dollars is more important than ever. Jody Rao of Plainview, NY admits she's been opting for areas closer to home than in previous years, and always picks a place with a kitchen. "That way we save a lot of money on meals." Recent summer trips include Montauk and Cape Cod.
"Having a kitchen can be invaluable when you're traveling with kids," agrees Pauline Frommer, a travel expert and former editor at Arthur Frommer's budget Website. "And often the cost, on a per person basis, will be much less. It's also less likely that the kids and the adults will have to share a room."
Karen Rubin, the Great Neck, NY-based Publisher of Family Travel Letter on www.familytravelnetwork.com, says families should also consider condominium-style accommodations as these are often comparable in price to a fine hotel (and even less than the cost of two rooms), and give you the luxury of a spacious apartment with a full-kitchen and amenities like laundry machines • a nice feature when you have young children. Other "non-traditional" lodgings include furnished apartments, house swaps or renting a villa.
"Know what you are buying, though," warns Rubin. "Sometimes you can save money by spending a little more. For example, if lodging includes breakfast or 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." Rao admits they always look for a place near town so they can bike or walk. They also like to give their 11-year-old daughter some freedom and flexibility to do things on her own. And, being close to the beach is a big plus. "We don't want to have to be dependent on our car."
Do Your Homework
By doing your research in advance, you'll most likely be able to snag a deal. "Booking ahead often gets you the best rate," explains Brenda Haack with Burr Travel Bureau in Northport, NY. Family travel is centered around school holidays, making space at a premium. The farther out you book, the better your chances that you will get what you want.
Another way to save: by booking a hotel outside the main part of town (but still within easy access to the sights you want to see). Rubin cites Newport, RI as an example of a destination where you find affordable lodging outside of the downtown area, yet still enjoy the town's flavor and comforts.
What also helps: being flexible with your departure and arrival dates. "Sometimes, modifying your departure by a matter of days can result in significant savings," adds Haack. "If you can leave on a day other than the busiest travel days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), you tend to save significantly."
Above all, don't be afraid to ask what discounts are available up front, stresses Rubin. You may be surprised, but membership in AAA can get you discounts at a tremendous number of attractions. Check ages that qualify for children's — sometimes ages up to 17 count; on Amtrak, kids up to 15 travel at half-price. Most hotels/resorts have children stay free or offer 50 percent off the cost of a second room (for kids 17 and under). Even cruise lines offer deals, especially if you're a repeat guest. Rubin recently got a discount on Carnival because her brother was a repeat guest, and she was traveling on a multi-generational trip with him. "The fact of the matter is, rates are usually negotiable, no matter what," she says. "At the very least, you can negotiate for an upgrade at no extra charge."
Shop Around
Ann Pieramici of Santa Barbara, CA says she and her husband constantly check the Web for deals before booking their trips. They recently returned from Disney World with their young daughters and said the research they did online, as well as the books they bought beforehand, helped them get the most bang for their buck. "Disney can be a complete disaster if you're not well informed," she says. Because their girls are young (5 and 3), they weren't concerned about them missing school, and were able to go off-season, shaving about $200 off their hotel bill and hundreds off their airfare.
Indeed, traveling off-season is one of the best ways to save money, but not always easy to do for families with school-age children. Rates off season are generally 30 to 50 percent less than during well-traveled times. If your kids can't miss school (or you don't feel comfortable pulling them out for three or four days), there are always packages and discounts to look into. Very often, convention and visitor bureaus and resorts have packages that include admissions to popular attractions, such as Plymouth, MA; Mystic, CT; Williamsburg, VA; and Salem, MA. But read the small print: These deals are only good if the admissions are to places you actually want to visit. Some destinations, like in Salem, have tickets valid at many different attractions. Others often let you choose from a menu of options or offer discount coupon books (like in Orlando). When you book, ask the hotel or tourist bureau what packages they offer — family, golf/tennis/etc. These bundled in features generally provide significant savings over activities you would have purchased separately.
More Ways to Save
If you're planning to visit one of the more popular locales, such as Las Vegas, Orlando, London, or Paris (high volume family destinations), you'll often do better booking an air/hotel package than booking on your own, advises Frommer. This is because these cites have huge numbers of hotel rooms and packagers buy rooms and airfares in bulk to achieve savings that the individual traveler might not be able to match. For Las Vegas, she recommends looking at Worry Free Vacations, Southwest Airlines Vacations, and America West Vacations. For Orlando, look at Southwest Airlines Vacations, E Leisure Link and Worry Free Vacations. For London, check out Virgin Atlantic Vacations, Go-Today.com, and Offpeaktraveler.com. For Paris, she suggests New Frontiers, Go-Today.com, The French Experience, or Offpeaktraveler.com.
Brenda Haack says all-inclusives are another way to save. "That way you know up front what you're paying for and there are no surprises," she says. "When you go someplace else, everything adds up." She says Club Med vacations are popular among her clients, as are all-inclusive resorts in Cancun, Mexico, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
National parks are another terrific resource for families looking for a budget vacation, says Frommer. Look into the Junior Rangers programs (great for kids). If you're traveling with Grandma, have her get a "Golden Age" passport as that will get everyone in the car into the park for free. The same holds true if someone in your family is legally disabled.
The Web is full of information, as the Buckshaws found, and often leads you to the best deals, even if that means looking at what's available, then calling a travel agent or booking with the airline directly. There are plenty of Websites that cater specifically to family travel and offer advice, tips, and articles on destinations. (See below for a sampling.) Many include chats and comments from travelers, many whom are looking for the same things you are and can offer valuable recommendations
Then there are the auction sites, some of which you may or may not like, depending on your time frame and flexibility. Frommer says families can get a good deal from Priceline. "I've used it myself and gotten airfares and hotel rooms for much less than everyone else around me was paying." She says using "big names," such as Priceline, Expedia, Orbitz or Cheaptickets is totally safe and legitimate, though she does advise — and Haack concurs — that you should buy travel insurance "just to be safe." Before you buy, make sure the policy covers insolvency.
Airfare-Only Options
If you're looking just for airfares, Frommer suggests one of the "bot" search engines such as www.quixo.com or www.sidestep.com (the latter has to be downloaded). These sites will search all of the other travel sites for your itinerary (Expedia, US Airways, Northwest, and so on) and then return a list of your options from cheapest to most expensive. These engines do not work for Southwest Airlines, so if you're flying a route Southwest flies, make sure to check that site as well, as Southwest often scoops the competition. Rubin also suggests checking out JetBlue, as you can save $5 each way by booking online. She admits she likes using Cheaptickets, Orbitz and lowestfare.com to find out what the prices are, but often ends up calling the airline directly in the end, as the online sites often have "horrible routings and departure times."
Cruising for a Good Deal
As for cruises, Frommer says to "never, ever" go the cruise lines or "general" travel agencies. "You want to book with a cruise expert, one that specializes in discounting cruises, such as Cruises Only, Cruise Value Center, and Cruise Direct, as these companies get special discounts and upgrades for selling such a large volume of cruises that other sources simply don't get." But even then she warns to shop around before you book, as prices will vary from agency to agency.
Though price is certainly important in planning your family trip, don't forget the most important factor: fun. You want to go somewhere that everyone will delight in, says Frommer. And if you're dealing with young children, you need to be sure there's enough "downtime" as well. Because, in the end, all the money in the world can't make your kids happy. And if they aren't enjoying themselves, you won't either.
Before You Go: Research Online
Many of these Websites offer helpful articles, tips, and advice from both experts and fellow parents, along with chats and comments from moms like you.
- familytravelnetwork.com
- familytravelforum.com
- familytraveltimes.com
- family.com
- budgettravelonline.com
Copyright 2006 Jeanne Muchnick. Jeanne admits her family's vacations are sweeter when they know they're getting a deal. Her money-saving strategy: buy staples such as film, batteries, sunscreen, mosquito spray, and so on before your trip, as they tend to be more expensive at a resort destination.
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