Use credit card points for rental car
Stay in a cabin in a campground that has cookware and bedding then cook all of your meals instead of eating out. The cost is usually cheaper than a hotel and you can save money by not eating out. Also kids have a lot to do after you finish your sightseeing at the end of the day.
If you eat out, share food and look for restaurant coupons
Check Groupon for local deals
If you do the campground thing, check for memberships. You have to pay, it typically I find that the discounts are so good that it makes joining worthwhile. I tend to use KOA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But, um, it's boiled for coffee and tea! So...

It's "heated" not "boiled". Two completely different things in this context.

-np

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

Just don't buy this crap. Saved you money right there.

We also are often on a tight budget while traveling. I would much rather be frugal and see fun places than just stay home.
Here are our money saving tips-

-camp at a state or national park
-if in a hotel- always utilize the free breakfast
-do the free activities- hiking, fishing,beach (we usually have one or two splurge activities like white water rafting, theater , etc. )
-use McDonalds dollar menu or Subway sub of the day- great savings
-everyone brings a refillable water bottle from home and pack snacks bought at Sam's or buy at locally grocery store-no convenience stores/gas station purchases
- when driving we often eat meals like bagels/cream cheese, pbj and pringles, ritz, cheese and summer sausage, oatmeal packs- nothing wrong with this- it saves time and money
- check your local groupon site for discounts on activities and restaurants

****most important - do not present the trip to your kids like- poor us, we are so broke we can only afford this but not that

Have a mindset that you are going to explore a new destination and how fortunate you are to be able to do it. Depending on the age of the kids, you don't even need to bring up money or how it factors into how you are eating/ experiences. I mean instead of saying " no soda or juice when eating out because we can't afford it" say " we are going to be eating out a lot and water at meals rather than sofa is so much healthier "

Do not dwell on money issues- kids will pick up on this mindset and immediately feel cheated when hiking, free destinations are otherwise fun for them if they aren't presented as - this is all that we can afford to do...

That being said- we usually try and do one splurge meal per trip- east coast- let's go to a lobster place, southern location- one good BBQ meal

Don't let money worries ruin your trip... keep things light. You are building memories and bonding as a family... it is really not about indulging every whim.

Safe travels!

Check Groupon & Living Social for activity deals. Learn to use Priceline or Hotwire to book hotels - it takes some research but is well worth the effort. I always pack PB&J on planes but for breakfast you could also bring bagels or muffins or something else. I wouldn't fuss with oatmeal personally. We always bring empty water bottles to fill up. Drinks are expensive. We also pack a lot of snacks from home for the plane and then make a Walmart or grocery store run when we arrive to replenish.

You could look for kids eat free nights or food deals at your destination or also look for Groupons etc

Check different pickup sites for the rental car. Last time we went to Seattle it was half the price to get the rental car from a site near our hotel instead of at the airport. Paying for one cab ride saved us hundreds of dollars.

Sign up for Groupon and put in the zip code for your destination. Then look on Groupon for deals on entertainment, meals, etc.

Stop and buy lots of snacks and things for picnic breakfasts/lunches. Squeeze into a hotel room, look for places that include free breakfast.

Anonymous wrote: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.

We do this just because restaurant portions tend to be big.

If you want breakfast on the plane, bring PB&J -- don't fuss with oatmeal and hot water.

What airline are you flying, and what's the luggage allowance? You may save more traveling light and using carry-on luggage only, rather than paying a checked bag fee. If you do have to pay for checked bags, you'll pay a per-piece fee, so consolidate into one larger rather than multiple smaller bags.

If you don't check luggage, find a supermarket close to your destination airport, and stock up what you'll need. If your hotel serves breakfast, you are set, and you can grab sandwich supplies for lunches, fruit, snacks, etc.

We have 4 kids and when they were younger we had a very small travel budget. We still took them some GREAT places and made fabulous memories.

--Drive instead of fly and rent a car.
--camp instead of staying in a hotel
--buy rolls and deli meat, fruit, chips, etc. and eat picnic lunches instead of restaurants. It's cheaper and generally healthier.

National Parks are incredible vacation destinations for families on a limited budget. $80 will buy your family an annual pass that will get you into all the national parks (sometimes there are other fees, like the museum at Gettysburg, that are not covered by the pass.)

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But, um, it's boiled for coffee and tea! So...

Not just for saving money, but we pack lots of food for snacks and light breakfasts (if hotel doesn't have free breakfast). Yes, part of vacation is splurging on nice stuff like meals, but eating out gets tiresome and it's not good for you.

Another big savings, if you're flying domestically, is flying Southwest. Free checked bags are a pretty good deal these days. It took me a while to warm up to Southwest, but I'm a big fan of them now. I don't know if they've necessarily gotten better or if United's jut that bad?

Do your car rental through Costco.

Part of the fun of the trip is not having to worry about money and waste time making your own stuff, but for each their own.