Timing is everything when you’re looking to save money on family vacations. One of the best ways to preserve your bottom line is to travel during the off-season. For example, instead of jetting off to Hawaii during the busy summer months, consider waiting until the kids head back to school. Airfare to the “Aloha State” is typically reduced by 40 percent during September and October. Likewise, if you’ve been dreaming of sailing away on a cruise, now is the time to reel in super savings. For instance, small-ship line Compagnie du Ponant is offering $500 per person discounts on winter … Continue reading →

Can you afford to get in one more family trip during the upcoming Labor Day weekend? According to AAA, 33 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home during the holiday weekend, despite the fact gas prices are hovering near the $4 mark. Clearly, budgeting for gas is a huge factor for families looking to hit the road on a final summer fling, but it isn’t the only financial element to consider. Crunching numbers can provide a major reality check when it comes to vacation planning. However, by doing the math before you leave home, you can … Continue reading →

Do you feel like you’ve just won the lottery after scoring a super deal on a flight, hotel room or rental car? Sadly, these days, it seems like you need lady luck or divine intervention to snag a decent deal when traveling. With sky-high gas prices and astronomical airfares, you’re not crazy to think that the deck is stacked against you when it comes to finding deeply discounted rates. Fortunately, there are ways you can stretch your travel dollar without ending up with a pulled muscle, including: Bundling: These package deals combine flight, hotel and rental car fees, so you … Continue reading →

Bundling is not only beneficial for your household budget. Package deals are also the way to go if you are looking for an affordable vacation option. Travel deals, which combine accommodations, meals and transportation for a single price, can help you stretch your dollar while on a family getaway. What’s more, during the fall, many properties offer affordable travel packages. Some fabulous fall deals you might consider taking advantage of include: California: San Diego Restaurant Week and the San Diego Film Festival are huge events that take place during the month of September. Fortunately, a surplus of late-summer deals allows … Continue reading →

Take a tour of various travel websites and you’ll see that hotel rooms are far from cheap these days. Add to the cost of accommodations, sky-high gas prices, airfare, and tips, and you’re lucky if you have enough money leftover to eat during your holiday. Fortunately, there are places you can rest comfortably while on a much-needed getaway that won’t break the bank. Some of the most popular include: Hostels: Granted, many of these cheap properties are designed for young, solo travelers; however, there are an increasing number of hostels welcoming budget travelers of all ages. The most affordable option … Continue reading →

Who says you have to be a millionaire to travel to London during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games? While American gymnast Gabby Douglas’s individual all-around gold and Michael Phelps’s history-making performance in the pool have been priceless moments during the London Games, word has it that frugalistas can score huge travel deals to the host city before the Olympics end. Delta Vacations just announced a major summer sale on London vacation packages. One features a flight from New York to London plus hotel accommodations for just $2,200 per couple. The catch: The deal is only good for travel from August … Continue reading →

Summer is primetime for family vacations. Kids are out of school and travel deals abound. Of course, in today’s financially strapped society, some of these “deals” are not all they’re cracked up to be. If you are looking for simpler ways to cut down on travel expenses, then consider the following ideas: Togethering: This not-so new concept has been thrown around quite a bit since the economy has languished in the dumpster. “Togethering” is basically a new word for family reunion. However, instead of the entire clan hanging out at grandma’s house for a weekend, you select the family members … Continue reading →