Summer break is important. It gives the kids a chance to break from school and homework, and parents can reset from jobs and housework (by taking advantage of vacation days of course). It is not hard to find good deals on trips during summer break, but it may take some due diligence to find the deals.
Discounts
Military, educators, law enforcement, and first responders can often get a discount by mentioning their job field. The discount can range from restaurant bills to hotel stays, and it depends on the area. It never hurts to ask if there is a discount for your occupation, just be prepared to show your ID or some form of proof. If there is a discount, you just saved money that could be spent on local attractions you hadn’t planned, souvenirs, or just extra cushion in your checking account.
Discounts can come in other forms. Groupon is an excellent way to find discounts on activities, hotels, car rentals, and even vacation packages. It never hurts to call the company and find out exactly what the Groupon covers and if there are any extra fees or hidden stipulations. There are gems on Groupon and some activity prices are significantly reduced, especially if purchasing multiple tickets.
Traveling
The “staycation” is becoming more and more popular as people realize all the things available to them within driving distance. Check out the national park website and find if there are national parks near you. These areas are not expensive (check out if you can get in free) and have a lot to see and do for families. They even offer a junior ranger program where children can swear-in as junior rangers.
Do a Google search for family activities near your area. Sometimes a simple weekend at the waterpark can be the perfect family vacation. There may be an attraction you didn’t know was there, or an experience you’ve always wanted to try. Driving a shorter distance can save a large family a significant amount of money. This ‘extra’ money can be used to have an experience or multiple experiences with your children. Children like to do things. Though many adults picture a vacation as relaxing with a book and a drink, children want to experience the world. They want to learn things, touch things, run around, and laugh. The experience makes the vacation.
If you live in Florida or California, there are tons of beach options and theme park options both near and far. You could easily rent a hotel and make it a weekend getaway. Here are some options for “staycations” relative to a few other major cities:
- Atlanta – Great Wolf Lodge- LaGrange
- Charleston, SC – Splash Island Waterpark
- DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia – Volcano Island Waterpark
- Philly – Hershey World
- Chicago – Great Wolf – Illinois
- Houston – Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston
- New Orleans – Waterville USA
- Seattle – Tukwila Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle’s Restaurant
Another fun part of road trips is that the drive itself can be part of the experience.
Purchase journals for the kids so they can draw what they see or make lists of wildlife in the area. Play games like road trip bingo where kids mark things off as they are spotted until someone gets a bingo and wins a prize. Activities like these keep the kids involved in the trip so they are active in the moment. Of course, you can always play the classic car games: the alphabet game, silly songs, or ‘I spy.’ Car games add to the family time and make the drive part of the vacation doable.
Planning Ahead
Booking a trip well in advance can save hundreds of dollars. 
You can save money on flights and hotels by booking ahead of time. Even a trip to Disneyworld, when planned far enough in advance, can cost much less than those who plan last minute. It is worth it to begin planning for next year’s summer vacation as early as possible. Do your research on restaurants in the area or meal plans. Research airlines for the best price. Discover the local attractions and which ones are worth your while. All these things save your family money and big vacations can happen on a budget if planned correctly.
These trips are also best planned to the day. Keeping a schedule helps prevent splurges or impulsive decisions that may break the budget. These schedules do not have to be planned out to the minute, but having a structure helps take advantage of the trip. Not only are trips with multiple activities more memorable but knowing what is planned is more cost effective.
This is precious time spent with your children with no distractions…memorable vacations can be taken without breaking the bank.
Working parents know that vacation time is very important. This is precious time spent with your children with no distractions. There are moments where you can really soak in who your child is. There is nothing like watching your child learn something new, see something new, or just have the freedom to enjoy being a child. These are the moments that they will remember, too. Budgets are not our enemies, they are our friends. Memorable vacations can be taken without breaking the bank. It is worth the extra time and research to plan the vacation that fits your family well. After all, summer break only comes once a year.
