5 Tips for Vacationing with a Large Family

July 15, 2019

With summer in full swing, it’s time to pack those bags and head out of town.



Vacationing with a large family requires going on a tight budget. You don’t have to go on lavish vacations to have a good time.







There are plenty of ways to go on a fun family vacation without blowing your budget.

Are you stumped on what to do and where to go without producing a lame and boring trip? Don’t worry, I’ve got some tips and tricks to share with you that are kid approved.



First, let’s talk about the budget.
Pick a budget that works best for your family and stick with it. The best thing to do is pre-order any tickets before you even leave the house. This way you are only bringing the money you need for meals and the occasional extra treat...that’s within the budget.





1. Go local. Internet search local festivals, museums, state parks, and historical landmarks in your area.

This will save you gas, plane tickets, and even hotel fees if you choose to drive back home.



My kids personally love to visit the local festivals and see the amazing historical sites that are usually in the same vicinity. This summer we drove only one hour away and took in some sight seeing. This saved us hundreds of dollars since we didn't have to rent a vehicle, the extra gas, extra hotel stays, plus the attractions.



2. Pack lunches. Before we even leave the house, we determine how long we are going to be away. We grab our cooler and pack it full of drinks and snacks.



At most festivals or theme parks you are going to pay upwards of $6 for a hotdog.

Packing pre-made sandwiches, chips, and soda can save a large family around $50-$100 in eating out EACH meal! This also saves the hassle of trying to choose a place to eat that will make everyone happy. Just eat before you leave the hotel or pull into a park with playground equipment and eat there!



3. Get a hotel with a pool! This is a must if you have kids. My kids would rather stay at the hotel and swim than go walk around for hours. This is entertainment for hours!



Our kids love to splish and splash in the evening after long hours of walking and sight seeing. We also let them swim before leaving if we have a few hours to kill before the next event starts.



We never under any circumstances stay in a hotel that doesn’t have a pool unless we are just stopping for a quick wink before moving on early in the morning.



 4. Book hotel directly by calling. With most hotels offering discounts online this might seem like a silly idea. But once you book online you cannot change your reservation! You’re stuck unless you want to be charged extra fees.



Last year the festival that we planned to attend got rained out, so we had to leave early. Had we booked the hotel online we would have been locked into paying that extra night stay even though we weren’t going to be staying there. Because I called the hotel directly and reserved with the attendant behind the counter, I was easily able to call and cancel the last day without any additional fees or hassle.









5.  Road trip. While in the area don’t be afraid to explore! We actually stumbled across this cool light house that had the most amazing view because we just got in the van and drove around.



This kept the kids entertained while waiting for the attraction we pre-purchased to start. We also found a local state park we didn't know about that had an excellent playground the kids enjoyed!







Most important tip of all- have fun and enjoy the journey. If you are being grumpy, that attitude will carry over to everyone else on the trip. Smile often and think of all the memories that you are creating!!



I'm sorry I don't have any tips to getting everyone to look and smile at the camera at the same time...that's just a magical moment that few momma's can actually capture!

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