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How to Save on Travel

25 Tips to Cut your Family Travel Costs in Two

Wondering how to save on travel? Planning ahead and doing a lot of research is the best advice you could take when going on a trip with the family, but here are 25 top tips for lowering the cost of your family get-away.

1. Look for hotels offering “kids stay free in parents room.”

2. Look for hotels advertising “Kids eat for free.”

3. Explore alternative options to the more expensive hotels. Try staying in a self-catering apartment, B&B, guesthouse or inn which is often cheaper than a hotel.

4. Bring your own snacks!

5. If you haven’t brought your own snacks then stock up at a local supermarket where it is much cheaper than kiosks, cafes or hotel mini-bars.

More Tips on How to Save on Travel

6. Some airlines offer discount tickets for various ages, for example kids 2-11 pay 75% of a regular fare on New Zealand Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United (on international flights), Virgin Atlantic (on international flights) and Cathay Pacific. On Emirates kids 2-11 pay 50% of adult fares and on most airlines under 2s fly for free when sitting on your lap.

7. Take your kids out of school and travel in the “off-season”. You’ll find hotels, attractions and flights can be cheaper. Remember this is the off-season of your destination not your home country.

8. All-inclusive hotels will save you money if you are a large family or a family that loves to eat a lot!

9. Package deals which include transport from the airport, hotels and flights can save you money especially because of the cost of getting from the airport to the hotel with a family larger than a regular taxi will carry.

10. Family-friendly hotels will help you save on little extras that are provided like bottle-warmers, high chairs, strollers on loan etc.

11. Ask your hotel about the price for accommodation without breakfast, this can be a lot cheaper and you can take cornflakes, loaf of bread, peanut butter and muffins!

12. Do your research before you go and note museum “free days”. Most museums are free at least once or twice a month.

13. Ask for the kids menu in restaurants or have little ones share large portioned dishes.

14. Some credit card companies offer free admission to attractions and museums.

15. Take advantage of public transportation discounts for kids or buy a “10 ride ticket” and use it for the whole family.

16. If your hotel has a pool or kid’s attractions spend a day “at home” at the hotel.

17. Choose your travel destinations according to the level of family-friendliness.

18. Make more of your vacation about relaxing and enjoying the surroundings rather than running from attraction to attraction where you’ll spend money. Of course you have to do some sightseeing but combine it with days on the beach, hiking or at the hotel.

19. Find out what parks are at your travel destination. Stopping in a park will give kids a chance to let off steam, let you picnic instead of spending in a restaurant and save money of going to yet another attraction. If you are looking at how to save on travel -finding free attractions like this is a good one!

20. Booking attractions and activities online almost always saves money.

21. When choosing a hotel inquire about having a refrigerator in the room so you can stock up on food and drinks from the supermarket and even prepare sandwiches for a snack-on-the-go.

22. Check out what local kids do. If local kids have a regular hang-out, park, attraction or museum that they visit then chances are it is not expensive.

23. Before you go plan how many times a day you will be eating out and limit yourself accordingly. Plan breakfast made in your hotel room, picnic with food from the supermarket for lunch and enjoy a restaurant meal in the evening.

24. If your family is big enough you might be able to pay group prices at attractions. Or join up with another family waiting in line and enter together as a group to get the group discount.

25. Check out the local library where there could be story time, free kids films, a playroom or puppet shows all for free.

How to Save on Travel and More!