Summer is a time for barbeques, road trips and long-awaited travel vacations. But in these hard times, it can be hard to justify a family vacation. Remember that summer fun is never out of style and that a year full of activity and work always justifies a summer vacation. That doesn’t mean you have to go into debt just to enjoy a good summer vacation. Here are some tips for getting your good dose of summer fun without going into long-term debt.
Vacation in your state
Going on vacation isn’t a contest to see how far from home you can get this summer. Why not choose to vacation in your state or region? Staying within the boundaries of your own state can save you money on transportation and you can probably see many things and visit destinations you have never visited. State parks are usually much less expensive than national parks, and they are just as fun. So pack up the car and head out to explore your own backyard.
Get a national parks pass to save money
If you and your family are set on visiting one of the country’s premiere national park destinations, go ahead and invest in a national parks pass. Most of the famous national parks will cost you a good $20-25 a pop. If you plan on visiting often or would like to see more than one park, you would probably be better off in investing a national park pass, which gains you admittance to several national parks for one flat fee.
Travel by train whenever possible
If your destination allows, choose to travel by train. The savings in gas will be significant, and you will have more time to enjoy the view. Of course, if you are planning a long trip or traveling with little ones, you will probably want to avoid extensive train travel. Use the train for short trips where you can get away with walking, bus and cabs, or break up a longer voyage into shorter legs so that the little ones don’t get restless and so you can get to see more destinations.
Buy a package vacation to save money
There are many great package vacations out there that allow you to save money on air, hotel and attractions. Make sure to do the math before you sign up for a package vacation to make sure you are getting a good deal. Also, you should read all the fine print. Many low-priced package vacations have strict travel restrictions. If you can make it work, you will likely save hundreds of dollars on package vacations.
Visit family instead of theme parks
If you and the family are excited about taking a road trip and aren’t too picky about the destination (after all, the journey is the destination, right?), why not pay a visit to loved relatives that you don’t get to see too often. Instead of driving across two states to go to an overpriced and crowded theme park, take the kids to visit grandma. In the long run, they are likely to have just as much fun without the high costs of theme parks or other tourist attractions.
Pack a cooler and make your lunch on the road
Beside gas and hotels, eating is probably your highest cost while on a family road trip vacation. You can save hundreds of dollars by preparing ahead of time and preparing your own picnic lunches. Treat yourself to one restaurant meal per day if you like, but be prepared to visit grocery stores in order to make your own fresh and much less expensive lunches.
