Is family travel only for the wealthy? While not everyone can afford to travel, far more families can manage it than they realise. One of the biggest roadblocks for families is how to afford travelling.
Time and time again, I hear, how can I afford the cost of travelling as a family? With the cost of living at an all-time high, many families simply say, we can’t afford to travel.
We are not going to sit here and lie to you and say yes, everyone can afford to travel because that is simply not true. It isn’t easy to save, and some people have a lifelong struggle with this.
The pain points when it comes to travel with family
There are some factors, too, that need to be broken down. What does travel mean to you? Where do you want to go and for how long?
Other factors you need to consider when considering being able to afford to travel are pressures at home, such as wages, mortgages, home upkeep and more.
Typically, when you travel with your family, there are four major expenses that you need to tackle: flights, accommodation, meals and activities. We typically try to get the best value options for flights, accommodation, and meals so we can spend the most on activities while on vacation.
How can I afford airfares for my family?
There are a number of ways you can plan to afford airfares for your family. One of the ways we do it is to plan as far out as possible where you want to go. Then give yourself the option of having some different dates you can travel on. Once you have this sorted, go to a website like Skyscanner.
Skyscanner lets you set up flight alerts so you can monitor when the cost of a flight price increases and decreases for the destination you are planning to travel to. Most importantly, set yourself a figure you are happy with and buy the flights when it hits that figure. Do not wait around, as prices are just as likely to increase as decrease.
Consider travelling in the off-season or at least the shoulder season. Airfares will be more affordable at these times.
Accommodation – how to afford to go travelling as a family
Similarly to planning airfare, accommodation should be booked as far out as possible on sites like Airbnb, Booking.com or Expedia.
This allows you to secure an option that you find acceptable for your family’s vacation. You will find most places on these types of sites will have free cancellation.
What I do then is every week after I have booked, I continue to look at options to see if a better, cheaper option becomes available. If I see a better, more affordable option, I will cancel the first booking and book the one I just found.
You can do this multiple times, just make sure you have the free cancellation option.
Another option is to look into house-swapping websites and house-sitting options in your destination of choice. Both these have pluses and negatives. First up, a stranger needs to stay in your house if you are house-swapping.
Join our adventures on YouTube!
This means you will need to store all your valuables someplace safe. House sitting will require you generally to have to look after the owners’ pets, which will involve feeding and possibly walking the animals daily. The plus side is these options allow you to stay for free.
Food costs so much when travelling as a family
Food is the bane of my existence when travelling. I hate spending a fortune on food, but we all have to eat. One of the ways of cutting down this cost is to book an apartment, a hostel or one of the new breed of hotels like Meininger in Europe.
These types of options include a communal kitchen that you can use to prepare meals where you are staying, which will save you a fortune on food costs, especially when you have a family to feed.
If you want to eat out, be on the lookout for special boards that can provide great value. Some places may have deals where if you eat before 6 pm, it’s cheaper, and you can look on sites like Groupon for meal deals.
Always check the prices of hotels that include free breakfast. This can save a lot of money, and you can grab some fruit from breakfast for snacks during the day.
How can families afford activities?
This is a tricky one as generally, there is not a lot of wiggle room here on costs. Attraction entries and day tours are fairly set on price. The best way is to monitor sites like Viator or Get Your Guide for price fluctuations.
You could join a cashback website, in Australia we are members of Cashrewards which sometimes has up to 20% cashback which is great but you do not get the money back till after you have done the activity.
If you see vendors on the street selling tours, you may be able to negotiate a better price. It is always worth asking if there is any discount for a family or cash.
Other options that can help you afford the cost of travelling as a family
You can plan ahead and get a credit card that accumulates points for any money spent on the card, which can then be converted into free flights or accommodation. This is a successful travel hack that many people employ these days.
It will take a concentrated effort that will require you to spend as much money as possible on your credit card. Don’t get caught in the trap of spending more money on your credit card than you can’t afford to pay back.
My final thoughts
With the proper planning and preparation, you can find value in family holidays. In most cases, if you have a small budget, you must play the long game and spend time planning and saving. Our first family trip to Europe from Australia as a family took me 3 years of saving $100 a week. This first trip was the inspiration behind starting Wyld Family Travel.
You may also like to read:
- 10 best city breaks for families in the USA
- Rome with teenagers – our top tips and activities from our vacation
- The Good, the bad and the ugly – A guide to Australian cities with teens