Family Travel on a Budget
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| Traveling is expensive enough for a single person or couple. But
traveling as a family, with a few children in tow? That can be a luxury
that is downright out of reach. Many parents recognize the great benefits
of traveling together. It’s a time to unwind and reconnect as a family,
and a great learning experience for everyone. But the costs can be
intimidating. If you aren’t sure you can afford to travel as a family,
consider thinking outside of your comfort zone. We have compiled a few
ideas to start you thinking about creative ways to travel on a budget. |
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| Do you want to visit an exotic location without paying a cent for
accommodation? House swapping might be right for you. Or perhaps you can
recoup hotel lodging costs by renting out your own home while you go away.
If you have family friends or relatives who share your dream of staying in
a Tuscan villa, sharing a vacation rental with another family is a great
way to save. Alternative lodgings such as hostels are inexpensive options
that can help make your dream trip a reality! Lastly, think about a
camping vacation for your next getaway, and you have opened the door to
some fantastic destinations that you can’t experience any other way. |
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House Swap
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| A house swap can be convenient, economical, and interesting. Staying
in a family home will afford you more space to spread out than a hotel. If
you have a large family or older children, separate bedrooms can be a
challenge. Staying in a house gives everyone space. Access to a full
kitchen, and sometimes a car, can really add value. But perhaps most
important is the cultural experience that living in someone’s home can
provide. Living with locals will afford you a look at the region’s
everyday life. Getting an intimate peak at how different people live can
be the best way to experience a different culture. A house swap allows you
true cultural immersion. |
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| There are three main ways to house swap. The first is the traditional
swap, where you and the family you are swapping with exchange primary
residences, each staying in the other’s home at the same time. A second
type of swap is a ‘hospitality exchange’, where your exchange partner and
their family come and stay as guests in your home while you and your
family are there. Hosting your exchange partners (and having them then
host you) works well if you already know each other, have a common
interest or shared common ground, or have gotten to know each other fairly
well in preparation of the swap. Lastly, if you have a cottage or other
vacation property yourself, you could exchange with another family who
also has a secondary property. This way, the exchange doesn’t have to be
simultaneous, but it is reciprocal: two weeks at your ski chalet in return
for two weeks at your exchange partner’s beach house, for example. |
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| While house swapping has experiential and financial perks, there can
be drawbacks. Depending on where you live, it might be difficult to
arrange. If your home is in a very rural or suburban location it might be
difficult to swap for a Parisian apartment or California beach house
(difficult, but not impossible)! Coordinating vacation schedules with your
swap partners may create logistic challenges. Lastly, you will trust
someone you have never met to take care of your home. This can be
uncomfortable, so make your best effort to check references and keep open
communication with your swap partners. |
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Share your vacation with another family
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| Renting a vacation home and sharing the costs with another family can
be a great way to save. A Tuscan villa or farm houses in Provence are more
affordable if you split the cost with another family. Sharing lodging can
have other advantages; families can take turns cooking, or babysitting. If
you are sharing a vacation rental, make sure both parties discuss
expectations. Will you do activities and see the sights together or will
each family do their own thing? Are you planning to cook meals at home or
eat out? Iron out all the details to ensure a great vacation for both
families. |
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| http://vrbo.com |
| http://holidayhomes.ca |
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Renting your house while away
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| If house swapping doesn’t interest you, but saving money does,
consider renting your home while you are away. You stay where you choose
to, while still covering some of your lodging costs. |
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| The internet has made it easy to connect for short term rentals.
Depending on your location, you could post on Vacation Rental by Owner (if
you live in a location desirable to tourists). Otherwise, Craigslist and
local online classifieds are helpful. If you live near a university or
college, advertise there. Visiting scholars and professors often need
furnished, short-term accommodation. |
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| http://craigslist.ca |
| http://vrbo.com |
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Alternative Lodging
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| If the word ‘hostel’ conjures up images rickety bunk bed rows and an
ancient washroom shared between 30 people, think again. Today’s traveler’s
hostels can be modern, clean, and spacious for a fraction of the cost of a
hotel. Some hostel rooms are spartan, without hotel amenities, but many
offer unique, even luxurious accommodation. With the recent explosion in
budget travel, hostels have been popping up everywhere; you should have no
shortage of choices. |
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| Hostels have a long tradition in Europe – there, as in Canada and the
United States, you will have a great selection in most locations. Look for
hostels with family rooms – a private room that sleeps at least four, with
a double bed for mom and dad in combination with single beds (sometimes
bunks) for the kids. Many family rooms have private en-suite washrooms. As
usual, the internet will be a great tool in research, letting you know
which hostels have family rooms. Reserve in advance if you can – family
rooms are often the first to be booked. |
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| Another economical benefit of hostels is the shared kitchen, available
to all guests. If you are traveling by car you can easily transport some
simple meal staples with you. If you aren’t driving, you can still take
advantage of the kitchen – front desk staff should be able to direct you
to the closest supermarket. Making even a simple meal once a day – soup,
spaghetti, sandwiches – can considerably cut your costs. |
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| Another benefit to staying in a hostel is the contact with other
travelers. You can make as much or as little contact as you like, but
those that do decide to reach often report that the friendships they made
were the most memorable part of their family’s trip. |
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| http://hostelworld.com |
| http://hihostels.com |
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Camping Vacations
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| First, if you are considering camping on your next family trip merely
out of economic necessity, you might want to change your outlook. |
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| You’re familiar already with the trip to the Provincial Park where you
set up a tent, have a few campfires, and do some canoeing. Mosquitoes are
often involved. This sort of camping is a nice, inexpensive way to get
away from it all for a weekend and enjoy nature. But what if you think of
camping as the best way to intimately experience exotic destinations? Get
off the beaten track. National parks and unspoiled landscapes are full of
potential for an amazing vacation. These are the places you want to think
about when planning your camping vacation. |
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| Many amazing locales can only be experienced by camping. The deserted
tropical beaches in Ang Thong Marine Park in Thailand (the beautiful
real-life setting of the movie The Beach) are only available to overnight
visitors who camp (or who have their own private yacht, but that’s a
different article). Camping among fragrant rosemary plants in the hills of
France, with a priceless view of the Monte Carlo harbour, is an experience
that rivals the most luxurious of French hotels. The secluded hike-in
campsites at Point Reyes National Park, (30 miles outside San Francisco)
are nestled in remote valleys or perched on the side of Mt. Wittenberg.
These back country sites provide unparalleled access to the park, and many
are only few minutes hike from bluff backed beaches and tide pools.
Combining pocketbook friendly camping with your dream natural getaway is
sure to result in an experience your family won’t soon forget. |
