Being a mom who works in the trip industry I’m often getting questions from other parents about how they can plan a getaway with the kids that won’t rest the bank. These questions range from “Where should I go to get the best value?” to “How can we save cash on vacantion travel?” to “What is a great family-friendly destination?”… just to name a few. And while the state of the economy has many families feeling stretched there is a silver lining when it comes to travel. The travel deals out there are better than I’ve seen in years making this drop a great time to receive a family vacation.
I am seeing two interesting trends in the industry these days. First people are booking their vacations closer to the actual travel dates like they want to have the best picture possible of their life before they make the decision to book their travel arrangements. Second I see the “power of the purse” in action with more women making the majority of travel decisions and taking responsibility for booking family getaways. I call it the “anti-Clark Griswald effect.”
So how do you get the most for your money when booking travel for your family? Here are five ideas to make family travel affordable this fall:
Picking the right destination: Deals are abundant except especially at family destinations this year so now you just need to determine where to go. Occupancy levels at popular family resorts were already low and with families back to academy the hotels have even more empty rooms. If you can steal a break with the kids this Fall San Diego Orlando Hawaii and Los Angeles all offer amazing value this season and plenty of entertainment for your family.Finding flights: Prices are great right now as airlines are trying to fill seats with earlier and more aggressive fares than normal fall sales. Airline prices change constantly so seem for these low fares now and when you see a great fare book it immediately. A handful of airlines serene offer child discounts but as a general rule you will find a better deal if you look out for the lowest fares you can find online and special sales. These are inevitably lower than the full-priced child fares. You can sign up for sale and fare alerts with your favorite airlines and travel sites.Consider All-inclusive resorts: All-inclusive resort vacations are a family’s best friend and are offering some of the best discounts I’ve seen in years. Perfect for a cross-generational family coast vacation – everyone can eat stay and play at an all-inclusive with one set price. Plus most resorts offer a “kids camp” so that the parents can enjoy some downtime with a fruity drink and a book by the pool-a rarity on most vacations.Timing is everything: If you want to save even more money and score some incredible deals on flights or beach vacations try between now and December 19th when the inquire and prices are low. The next few months before the holidays are a great time to visit Florida Mexico and the Caribbean for some of the lowest rates of the year. Vacation packagers will often offer rates at 4-star All-inclusive resorts that include airfare for round $100 per day during these low-season times. Often children under 12 are capable to stay and eat for free at these resorts so check around for the best pricing.Booking holiday travel: If you haven’t booked your holiday travel yet I would suggest doing that now. October is a very good time to book travel since you will still see some good options on pricing and routes. I have a couple of recommendations to keep both your costs and emphasis in check. If possible try to fly non
| Hotel S.M.A.R.T. Alliance laun ... |
| Five Ways to Make Family Trave ... |
| flyglobespan’s winter sun sa ... |
| 7 Ways to Get the Best Fall an ... |