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Introduction
01. Saving
02. Vacation Plan
03. Getting There
04. Are We There Yet?
05. Lodging
06. All Inclusives
07. Transportation
08. Eating Well
09. General Info
10. Disney World
11. Cruising
12. Las Vegas
13. History Tour
14. South Dakota
15. Dude Ranches
16. Camping
17. Three Secrets
18. Mexican Beaches
19. Rocky Mountains
20. Europe
21. Vacation Tips
22. The Internet
Resources
All Inclusive Vacations Sitemap |
Introduction - The family vacation has been portrayed in many ways. From National Lampoon’s “Vacation” showing the trials and tribulations of the Griswold family trying to get to “Wally World” to “The Great Outdoors” with John Candy and his family renting out a cabin in the woods only to encounter a meddling bear. Family vacations in the media seem to be one thing going wrong after another.
01. Saving - There are many effective ways to save for your family vacation. When you spend 40 hours a week slaving at your job, you deserve to have some time to get away from the rat race, relax, and enjoy your family.
Unless you’re independently wealthy, you’ll need a plan for saving up the money you need. While this may seem like a simple proposition, some people find it difficult to lay aside some money each pay period. The key here is discipline.
02. Vacation Plan - 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.
You can also have the opportunity to save any additional funds you might need, perhaps include extended invitations to other family members, and get together all the paperwork you might need if traveling abroad.
03. Getting There - There are many ways to arrive at your vacation destination. Once upon a time, the only way a family could afford a vacation was to load up the car and head out on the road. How many of you remember these long trips? I certainly do! But you don’t necessarily have to drive to vacation anymore! There are all kinds of options today that are affordable and much more enjoyable!
04. Are We There Yet? - When vacation season approaches, many families plan to take to the road in order to escape the stress of the daily grind. A poorly planned family road-trip can be a greater source of frustration than many families realize.
Unfortunately, these families tend to encounter this frustration halfway into the vacation, at a time when little can be done to remedy it. The level of stress during the trip is in direct proportion to the quality of planning done before pulling out of the driveway.
05. Lodging - There are all kinds of questions to ask when looking for suitable lodging on your vacation. What type of hotel do you want to stay in? Does it have to have a pool? What about courtesy vans? Does it have to be a hotel? There are many, many options out there to keep your vacation budget in line and still have a place to lay your head!
06. All Inclusives - We’ve addressed each of the most important aspects so far in your family vacation plan, but we need to address a HUGE money saver to you now – especially if you’re taking along children. Almost all resorts will offer you an all-inclusive package which can mean big bucks in the saving department!
These packages may just be while you’re at their hotel, or they could include airfare and transfers as well. You’ll have to do your research and find out what is best for you.
07. Transportation - If your plan is to go beyond your place of lodging – which it probably will be – you’ll need to consider outside transportation. These are a matter of taste and what is most important to you in the area of convenience and price. You may like having your own car to be able to go where you please when you please, but that can be expensive. There are other options.
08. Eating Well - When you're traveling it can be difficult to find good food at reasonable prices especially if you happen to be staying in a big city that has an established food and restaurant culture. When you're faced with a budget, you want to try and maximize your enjoyment per buck. If you want to eat well and sample the local cuisine for a budget price, you'll need to do a little research to find that perfect restaurant that offers a balance between quality and price.
09. General Info - We can’t possibly tell you everything you need to know about taking a family vacation on a budget. After all, this is only a 60 page book! Granted, it’s a 60 page book packed with all sorts of valuable information, but even if we give you every single money-saving tip we can find, there are still some aspects of the family vacation that should be addressed so that everyone is having fun!
10. Disney World - Disney World is unarguably the largest family vacation destination in the United States. Super Bowl winners want to go there, kids want to go there, adults want to go there – heck, MY GRANDMA wants to go there! Can the everyday family afford to go to Disney World on a limited budget? YOU BET!
There are many options for you to consider on a Disney vacation. We’ll present as many of them to you as possible.
11. Cruising - Cruise ships are a family vacation planner’s best friends. Picture a floating, mega-resort with tons to do for everyone in a confined space where you know your kids are supervised and safe.
Many cruise lines offer voyages designed specifically for families, with expanded activity programs and shore excursions for all age groups and waterslides, ice rinks and climbing walls that keep kids and parents happy for days.
12. Las Vegas - Las Vegas isn’t just for grown-ups anymore! The city is becoming increasingly family friendly and you can take advantage of the typically low-priced rates for a great family Vegas vacation.
It’s no longer considered “Sin City” when you see the various kid-friendly attractions like the roller coaster atop New York, New York, or the theme park inside Circus Circus. There are arcades just about everywhere and special shows geared toward the family audience.
13. History Tour - While your kids might roll their eyes at the suggestion of a family trip based on history, they might be surprised once you get there. They’re probably thinking they’ll be tested at the end of the vacation, but we’re betting that what they learn will stay with them for a very long time!
Most of the initial settlements for our country are on the East Coast. Head east and learn more about America than you ever knew you could!
14. South Dakota - This amazing state has so much to offer in the way of family vacations. On a visit to the Badlands of South Dakota, the kids can count all of the different license plates in the parking lot of Mount Rushmore, which just celebrated its 60th anniversary.
You can explore caves, pick up rocks blasted from the mountain where the colossal statue of Chief Crazy Horse is a work in progress, join a "dig" at the Mammoth Site where more than 50 giant mammoths were trapped more than 26,000 years ago, and take a Jeep tour through a buffalo herd.
15. Dude Ranches - This type of family vacation is perfect for city dwellers to get out and experience real country life. Fully operational dude ranches are everywhere throughout the United States and can offer up a very memorable family vacation.
Imagine yourself taking the best vacation of your life at a dude ranch.
16. Camping - Thousands of people know and embrace the amazing relaxation and fun you can have on a camping vacation. This is probably the most affordable type of family vacation – especially if you take advantage of the country’s various state parks and campgrounds.
17. Three Secrets - Many of the award winning family resorts are beyond the means of those on a budget, but Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania offers the amenities of a luxury resort for under $350 per night.
Located on a private lake in the Northern Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, this family owned resort was voted Favorite Family Vacation Spot by the readers of Better Homes and Gardens. Open year-round, the resort offers an amazing feast of activities from waterskiing, sail boating, and bumper boats in summer to snow tubing, ice skating and snowmobiling in the winter.
18. Mexican Beaches - All-inclusive resorts abound in Mexico and if your family is looking for a beautiful setting to experience a new culture, Mexico could be for you!
All-inclusive resorts are always a hit because everyone can do what they want, when they want, and there are plenty of organized activities for the kids as well as other children for yours to pal around with.
19. Rocky Mountains - Many parents are familiar with the family-oriented mission of the YMCA programs. Located in urban areas internationally, this kid friendly organization offers many educational, sports, and social opportunities. The YMCA of the Rockies, Colorado also operates two budget vacation resorts that help families get out and enjoy the legendary beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
20. Europe - In Europe, London is a top pick for affordable vacation destinations, for these exact reasons. Not only do you have more flights to choose from, they are cheaper than if you flew to a more remote location.
On average, staying in London may be a bit more expensive than other European destinations, but the seemingly endless choices in hotels, restaurants, transportation, tours, and other travel essentials gives travelers opportunities to mold their vacation to fit their budgets.
21. Vacation Tips - No matter where you go on your vacation, there are tons of other money saving tips that you must know. And we’re here to tell you about them!
First, go to www.entertainment.com and buy The Entertainment Book. They are discounted at this website only. This valuable book can offer you significant savings on hotels, meals, admission to attractions, and travel.
22. The Internet - In this electronic age, the worldwide web is an invaluable tool for you to use in saving money over all types of arenas. When planning your vacation, it can be your best friend!
You can do much more than just book an airline flight or find a cheap hotel. You can check into sights to see at your destination, find alternative vacation spots, and garner the experiences of people who’ve been there and done that when it comes to traveling.
Conclusion - Taking a family vacation on a budget isn’t out of reach for the savvy person who wants to do their research and find the best deals out there.
At the heart of every good vacation is knowing that you're getting what you've paid for. Somehow sipping a piña colada on a lounge chair while your kids frolic in the pool feels that much more relaxing--and sweeter--knowing you've gotten a deal.
THE END
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