Before having a kid, we squeezed in as many trips as we possible could and LOVED it. Once you start traveling, there is a serious travel bug that bites you and you just can’t stop. We wanted to get in as many trips as we could before we were tied down with a family… but after our girly arrived the travel bug never left. And thanks to HomeAway (our sponsor) we’ve been able to make travel still happen!
After my daughter arrived, my husband and I looked at each and other and realized why does our adventure have to stop? Instead it’s only just begun…
“Adventure is out there… don’t pass it up.”
Sure, we’ve had to be more creative, including being a little more budget savvy, but it’s been 100% worth it.
WAYS TO SAVE MONEY WHEN TRAVELING WITH KIDS
1. We’ve done several “mini vacations” close to home, these are both budget friendly and low stress! They ended up being perfect since I wasn’t quite ready to take our little peanut abroad, just yet.
2. On our last trip, we rented a home instead of a hotel, twice the space for half the price! This ended up not only saving us money but I also fell in love with having a home away from home, a kitchen to cook scramble eggs in, a washer and a dryer, and a peace in the middle of a storm. Since we were there for a family wedding, it was nice to have an occasional break from the hubbub so my daughter could get some much needed down time.
When I first stopped by HomeAway’s site I was shocked by all the options, and not just options, nice homey homes! You can even share the home with any family members that are headed on the trip with you, we did this with the grandparents to split the cost down ever more.
A real kitchen to cook meals in!
3. Have a kid under 2? Did you know they can fly free on your lap? {And to avoid stress when flying with a little one, check out: 8 tips to stay sane when flying with baby.}
4. Use an ice chest to your advantage. Rather than eating 3 meals out each day, make breakfast at you rented home and then pack sandwiches in the ice chest and have a picnic lunch out-and-about.
In the end, regardless of what your trip looks like, traveling is some of the best money you can ever spend, because it creates memories that are literally priceless! And to save those memories, have the kids work on a Vacation Smash Book during your travels to journal your trip into a forever keepsake.
Enjoy your trip and remember: adventure is out there, you just have to take advantage of it! Leave a comment if you have a budget-friendly travel tip to add and be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and subscribe to our free email newsletter!
We’d also love to know, what role do your kids played when it comes to vacation planning?
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of HomeAway.
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Money Sparkle says
Nice post. I am sharing on my blog’s twitter – moneysparkle.com
Alida says
Thanks!