Really frugal ways to save money on a family trip?

[Anonymous]

We're flying to another state, then renting a car for a road trip.

I'm looking for some tips to save money. For instance, I heard that you can bring a packet of oatmeal on a flight and ask for hot water and a coffee cup to make it. You can go to grocery stores and make sandwiches for lunch instead of eating out.

So stuff like that - super cheap - anything to do with flights, being on the road, staying in cheap places, etc. We're already way over budget just on the flights

[Anonymous]

Eat 2 meals a day instead of 3. I usually skip lunch on trips. I'll have a bigger breakfast and then have a cereal bar halfway between breakfast and dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're flying to another state, then renting a car for a road trip.

I'm looking for some tips to save money. For instance, I heard that you can bring a packet of oatmeal on a flight and ask for hot water and a coffee cup to make it. You can go to grocery stores and make sandwiches for lunch instead of eating out.

So stuff like that - super cheap - anything to do with flights, being on the road, staying in cheap places, etc. We're already way over budget just on the flights

Don't do hot water on planes-- not sanitary. There was just an article I was reading about flight attendants never drinking coffee or tea as it's not bottled and comes from the airplane tap...

As for frugal tips, how do you save money at home? I often will stay at a residence in which is slightly bigger for my family but offers food/breakfast and a kitchen to cook.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why anyone would take a trip that they are so stretched to take that they are literally looking to skip meals on the trip! Dang.

I guess you could sleep in your car or pitch a tent rather than staying in a hotel room. Are you staying with friends overnight? The only thing left to reduce is the cost of food.... so I guess you will be eating granola bars and brown bag lunches a lot -- which is fine -- but really, what is left to cut?

I don't understand why anyone would do this.... do you think it's really a vacation when your whole family is pinching pennies and eating PBJ everyday? (FWIW, I actually like PBJ and eat it for lunch regularly... but my family wouldn't want to be stuck eating PBJ for a whole vacation!)

[Anonymous]

Stay home instead of doing this!!
It's pathetic. What kind of a trip is that?

[Anonymous]

We only go on vacations every three years. When we do it, I don't want to worry about prices or pinching pennies. I want to treat myself (and everyone who's coming). I'd rather go less frequently than sleep 13 to a motel room and make oatmeal from a water fountain and crap like that.

[Anonymous]

We pack our meals on road trips all the time, more for health and convenience than money. You'll have to pick up a disposable cooler (or pack one flat in your luggage).

Renting a car and lodging will be big expenses. Any place you can save on those will make a big difference. Unless you're flying Southwest, don't check luggage or only check one bag. Travel carry on only to save money.

Look for city passes or other ways to see the sites but get reduced admission. If you are a vet, have AAA, Costco, always ask if there is a discount.

Take your own water bottles and fill up before you leave the hotel/house in the AM. Bottled water adds up fast.

If theh are old enoigh, Give the kids souvenir cash up front and they decide how to spend it. Once it's gone, it's gone. No deciding on the fly to indulge their souvenir requests.

Stay in hotels that serve breakfast, if you have a choice. Grab a piece of fruit to take for a snack later. Suite style hotels are also good with fridges, dishes, etc.

Check your points accounts and see if there is anything you can put towards lodging or gift cards, etc.

[Anonymous]

Start the road trip where you live and avoid the flights entirely.

[Anonymous]

Stop at the rest stops and welcome centers and pick up those books full of coupons for hotels.

[Anonymous]

Call your car insurance company and find out if they cover rentals. Car rentals can be dirt cheap, until you add the insurance they want to sell you. Don't get it if you don't need it.

Fast food can be cheap. A cooler and some groceries is probably cheaper.

Where are you going?

[Anonymous]

There is no shame in saving money, OP. This is how you get the most out of your life.

1. We brought our own food for the first leg of one trip and replenished in supermarkets to assemble our own sandwiches. For our road trip, we packed a cooler which lasted more than 24 hours. My husband placed the remaining food and ice packs in the hotel fridge at night.

2. We stayed in cheap motels or B&Bs, kids in the same room, sharing a bed.

3. No buying anything we can't absolutely live without.

[Anonymous]

Look up the cheapest gas stations to fill up along the way on gasbuddy.com.

Do frugal things before and after your trip to save money, too. Bring your own lunches, cook cheaper meals at home, only buy groceries that are on sale, clip coupons, no buying any extras, until the bill is paid. See if you can earn some extra money either ahead of time or afterwards with a side gig.

[Anonymous]

If you have time to kill, and want to buy souvenir t-shirts, shop at the local thrift shops there.

[Anonymous]

If you need a cart in the airport, give yourself about 5-10 minutes extra. Have one person wait with the luggage while the other goes down to departures. Look out on the sidewalk outside the baggage claim where the shuttles typically pick folks up for parking lots or hotel transport. People cart their luggage out to the shuttle stop, then load their luggage on the shuttle and leave them there for the porters to return. You can often find one there and save $5.

Bring an empty soda bottle or reuseable water bottle to the airport in your carryon. After you pass through security, instead of buying water or a drink, take the bottle to the water fountain and reload. Bring a wide necked bottle like most of the iced tea or powerade bottles. After beverage service has gone around, when the airline attendant makes a second pass, ask for a can of soda and a cup of ice. Pour the ice and soda into your wide-necked bottle and put it back into your carry on. Now you have a drink for the car after you get the rental.

For the road trip part, look to see if you can find a membership club somewhere on your route after leaving the airport. I have a Sam's club membership. You can find a Sam's club and get a case of water for the road and some bulk snacks like Clif Bars or Breakfast bars, a bag of apples, or even a box of candy for a lot less than stopping at convenience stores. The price per unit at membership clubs is almost half what the price per unit at convenience stores is (where most people get their snacks). Also, note that so when you return the car, stop at the membership club if they have gas and refuel the car there. Sam's clubs are usually the cheapest gas around. We don't do the road trip part, but we travel regularly to another city (my spouse has a specialist doctor that we have to see several times a year) and we usually stop at the Sam's Club when we get to town to save a lot on what we'll need while there.

Do a little research of your route. Look for buffets and restaurants that advertise days that kids eat free. For instance we know that on our route to this other city that some restaurants always have kids eat free and others that only do it on certain days. We plan travel and stops around the places where we can eat as a family cheaper with kids' discounts.

Second the gas buddy app. Get it and figure out where the gas is cheapest along your route. Always stop and top off at the cheaper stations.

Check to see if the state you are visiting has entertainment coupon books on-line. Years ago, when we went to Hawaii for our honeymoon, I found an Entertainment book on e-bay for about $25. We used several of the coupons in the book over two weeks and saved about $200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're flying to another state, then renting a car for a road trip.

I'm looking for some tips to save money. For instance, I heard that you can bring a packet of oatmeal on a flight and ask for hot water and a coffee cup to make it. You can go to grocery stores and make sandwiches for lunch instead of eating out.

So stuff like that - super cheap - anything to do with flights, being on the road, staying in cheap places, etc. We're already way over budget just on the flights

Don't do hot water on planes-- not sanitary. There was just an article I was reading about flight attendants never drinking coffee or tea as it's not bottled and comes from the airplane tap...

As for frugal tips, how do you save money at home? I often will stay at a residence in which is slightly bigger for my family but offers food/breakfast and a kitchen to cook.

Former FA and no, no, no, we NEVER drink the water! So gross.