Treat Your Family to a Vacation Without Breaking the Bank

Vacation trips can be helpful in taking family members away from their usual routines. Parents can take a break from work responsibilities and household chores while the children can pause and forget about school and homework for a while. Aside from serving as a great bonding experience, these getaways can give families a chance to experience new things and see new places.

But treating the entire family to a trip can be expensive, especially when you factor in the airfare, accommodations, and meal expenses. You might even need to hire someone to look after your house or your pets while you’re away, which will probably make the activity even more expensive.

Luckily, going on a vacation doesn’t always have to be a luxury. With a little planning and extensive research, coupled with great organization skills, you can treat your entire family to a memorable vacation without having to spend a lot of money.

Take advantage of these tips when you want to embark on an unforgettable and fun family trip despite having a tight budget.

Do your research to find the best deals

Pinoys go gaga over their airline seat sales, but this is not the only place to look for the best deals when it comes to budget air travel. Consider Google Flights and other flight comparison services to get periodical alerts on the cheapest airfares for the dates you specify.

Also look for deals on social media, on newsletters, and mobile apps by your favorite hotel or tour provider. These often come on a weekly basis or as exclusive deals to followers or subscribers.

Use government-imposed discounts

Don’t forget that grandpa and grandma are entitled to a 20% discount on practically anything. Also, your kids can also get good prices if student discounts are applicable to a product or service related to a travel expense. There are also seasonal discounts from time to time, like graduation packages, that you can easily avail of. Some restaurants, attractions, and hotels offer deals for families with kids, so do take advantage of thos

Using your car can be economical

Airfares can take a huge chunk off of your travel budget, so why not consider going to your dream vacation spot using your car? Think Ilocos Norte on a long weekend. Despite being on the road for 12 hours, it is arguably cheaper than paying for six family members when you can do the same on an SUV and only pay 1/6 of the total price for gas. All you have to do is to take turns with an alternate driver and prepare your butts for the long trip ahead.

If you’re someone who believes in the saying, “The journey, not the arrival, matters,” then you’d definitely have the time of your life. Going on a long drive with your entire family might be a fun endeavor for you.

Save up on food

There are several ways on how you can save up on your food or meal expenses when you’re on vacation with your family. For one, you could choose an accommodation that offers free breakfast. If you stay for 3 days and 2 nights, not having to spend three breakfast meals for the number of people in your group can do a lot for your budgeting.

Another suggestion would be to stay at a hotel or rental with a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. You’d be spending way less than what you’d normally pay at a local restaurant if you cook some if not most of your meals there. Breakfast could mean picking up a couple of cereal boxes, milk, and 3-in-1 coffee to perk you up from an entire day of touring or beach bumming.

Avoid the high season

To avoid overspending, it’s best to visit the more expensive destinations when it’s off-season. Boracay in October can be as beautiful as the Boracay in Labor Day; just plan accordingly and make sure there’s no storm coming.

Keep in mind that people flock to the beaches and mountainous areas in the summer, and that you’d be competing head-to-head with Westerners for that secluded spot when it’s cold where they live.

Make business travel family travel

Does hitting two birds with the same stone sound good to you when it comes to travel? If your answer is yes, then follow this practical tip. If you are assigned somewhere far, get your family to join you if you can. Add a few more days to your week-long conference to relax, explore, and share the destination with your spouse and kids. Just make sure that you don’t confuse your official expenses with theirs, and you’ll be good to go!

Avoid the touristy stuff

Don’t be afraid to choose places and experiences off the beaten track. It’s a great way to save money and at the same time discover amazing things for yourself and the entire family. Get away from the touristy places and experiences if your fambam is up for it.

You need to understand that tourist attractions will often overcharge people because it’s easy and everyone’s doing it. Put your family in the shoes of locals for a more authentic experience.

Going on a family vacation can be challenging, especially when your budget is tight. Good thing there are a lot of practical tips you can follow to stretch your travel expenses while still getting to enjoy quality time with the family.

Family trips are always rewarding, so don’t ever skip it! Such activities will help you form a deeper bond and help you build memorable experiences that you can all cherish for a long period of time.

If you’re worried about having insufficient funds to treat your family to a worthwhile vacation trip, then you need to worry no more. Blend PH can help you fund your dream family vacation through multi-purpose loan options designed for every Pinoy with unique needs and wants.

Get in touch with us today to see how we can help. Happy trip!