Family Adventure Vacation Resources
Though traveling last minute and camping aren't always feasible with the family in tow, there's a world wide web of ways to save money on your next family adventure vacation. Exploring our web resources will help you to find the best family vacation deals…
Vital Pointers
Start smart and travel off-season. For example, destinations in the Caribbean offer great deals in the summer months, and ski resorts tend to offer great deals in the spring.
Also, though the value of the dollar is declining, you can still take advantage of favorable exchange rates and inexpensive international adventure travel in Canada, Mexico and Central America.
Lastly, decide if you have time to plan the trip yourself or if you'd prefer to save a lot of headaches, use an outfitter or purchase a vacation package. Outfitters typically charge more (between 30-40% of their gross trip price), for planning your itinerary, but you'll save a lot of time and energy.
Airfare
Airfair will be one of your major expenditures and one of the least flexible. Gauge the cost of your plane tickets by visiting all of the major travel search engines—www.orbitz.com, www.travelocity.com and www.expedia.com, then compare the pricing with the airlines offering the best fares on these sites. You may also want to look into www.sidestep.com, a travel search engine that compares airfare, hotel and car rental pricing across multiple sites. It requires you to download a program, but it's definitely a timesaver.
In addition, consider joining www.bestfares.com. It costs $59.90 per year, but the average member savings is cited to be $127 per airline ticket. Lastly, keep in mind that kids ages two through 12 are eligible to save up to 40% off of international airfare.
Hotels
Buying a package that includes airfare and hotel will often save you a couple hundred dollars. If you prefer to book them separately, consider staying in a chain hotel that allows kids 12 and under to stay for free. Examples include www.mariott.com and www.hyatt.com. Once you've gauged the pricing, compare them on www.hotels.com where you may derive extra savings or even a free night's stay!
Also remember that it never hurts to ask for a discount, especially when you're traveling with your family. You can always request a corporate discount, and you can expect to take advantage of weekday discounts, especially if an accommodation is under booked.
Vacation Packages
Pre-packaged tours and all-inclusive vacations that include everything from meals and lodging to transportation and activities often provide some of the best travel bargains. Just keep in mind that you don't always have to take part in every aspect of an all-inclusive tour. Getting a great deal on lodging and meals may afford you with an opportunity to skip some of the pre-packaged activities and plan outings that are of greater interest to you and your family.
A word of caution before booking any package—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The prices you're quoted can vary a great deal depending on your city of departure, and packages may require a minimum number of travelers. Make sure you have a clear understanding of all of the booking conditions before submitting payment.
Then review the following website when you’re ready to begin researching your family adventure vacation options: www.away.com, www.gorp.com, www.responsibletravel.com, www.funjet.com and www.untours.com.
Outfitted Trips
With routes designed for kids and longer options for you and your spouse, outfitted family adventure vacations typically offer exciting options suitable for a range of ages and fitness levels. As a parent, you'll appreciate the finer family-friendly details, from courteous guides and carefully crafted itineraries to comfortable accommodations and delicious meals for the most discerning palates. Structuring programs in this way allows outfitters to please both the kids and the parents on the same trip—the perfect balance.
The following companies are known for high quality family adventure vacations: www.adventurecenter.com, www.austinlehman.com, www.backroads.com, www.thompsonfamilyadventures.com.
Camping Alternatives
Pitching a tent may be the most inexpensive route you can take, but there are alternatives. Many state and national parks rent cabins, yurts and cottages. They're not necessarily the lap of luxury, but if the weather turns, you'll appreciate having a solid roof over your head. Best of all, you'll be able to take advantage of your surroundings by staying near trailheads and other activities saving you time in the car. The National Reservation Center (www.reserveusa.com) and ReserveUSA (www.reserveusa.com) list some of your options.
VolunTours
Consider taking a volunteer vacation and see how you and your family can help make the world a better place. Volunteer vacations or voluntours as they're better known are oftentimes much less expensive than a pre-packaged tour, and they usually include transportation, meals and basic lodging. The best part is that you can engage in activities that would otherwise be inaccessible, like helping scientists dig for fossils and artifacts or helping families build their new home. Most good programs offer a combination of time for tourist activities and time for volunteering. For more information on your options, visit www.voluntours.com.
Other Resources…
Family Travel Forum www.familytravelforum.com
Family Travel Guides www.familytravelguides.com
Family Travel Times www.familytraveltimes.com
Family Adventure Magazine www.familyadventuremagazine.com
VacationKids www.vacationkids.com