By Terry Hudson
Consider this: Any vacation with a family of 4 is going to cost $1000, or more. In fact, recent studies estimate that a family of four should budget at least $244 per day for meals, lodging and automobile travel costs. And, that figure doesn't include the staple of family vacations- entertainment or, the $500-$600 bucks you'll put in your wallet just before leaving.
If you find planning & budgeting for a family vacation a difficult thing to do, I have a sensible plan that will allow you to travel wisely and cheaply. And the best thing about it is when you return home, you won't feel like you've just burned a huge hole in your family finances.
It's a huge stress relief to know that you and your family have just had an enjoyable dream vacation and, without any credit card debt. Does this sound impossible?? Well, it's not... especially when you take the time to smartly plan and budget for next family trip.
Saving for a vacation can be a lot of fun actually, especially when you involve all family members. Even the youngest family member can learn important budgeting lessons. But how do you start? Here are 5 sensible tips to get you started on a credit card free family vacation.
1- Open up a separate savings account specifically meant for your vacation money. If your employer offers direct deposit, you can usually specify a certain amount of money be put into this account.
2- The first thing you must do is plan early. Spontaneity works well for day trips, but is not as effective for longer jaunts. By planning early, you will find cheaper fares and more available accommodations.
3- Use the Internet to find the deals. Try to travel on days other than Friday, Saturday or Sunday which are the busiest travel days of the week. You can firm up plans later if needed.
4- Consider a vacation rental. This year, vacation rentals are more popular than ever. Plan your vacation with other family members and share the cost of a vacation rental. A 4 or 5 bedroom vacation rental will sleep 10-14 people and cut lodging costs by 50% or more. Here's a great vacation rental example.
5- How to eat well on a travel budget- In addition to the vacation rental example above where you can prepare most meals at a fraction of the cost of eating out, consider looking for lodging with free meals. If you want to splurge for a great family meal, find the best lunch values for the more famous and expensive restaurants in America.
I know I've just barely begin to touch on the best ways to budget for a family vacation, but I have more. I know dozens of ways about how your family can take some pretty darn nice vacations and I want to share them with you. Travel across North America is fun and educational and it doesn't have to break the bank. Make it your goal to travel cheaply and wisely and do it without any credit card debt.
Terry Hudson is a freelance travel writer and webmaster. His popular http://www.vacationbudgeting.com family site will show you exactly how to take a great family vacation and return without any credit card debt.
Go to http://www.VacationBudgeting.com for your free vacation planning worksheet.
Please take a look at Travel across America as well.
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