We began traveling with our young family a decade ago. When we started out, we were COMPLETELY BROKE!
We didn’t have any idea how to start vacationing. We didn’t know where to start honestly. Again, as children, we didn’t travel much at all. Therefore, as adults, we just “winged it.” We used to search on popular travel websites like Expedia and Travelocity, like most of you still. We used to select hotels that had semi-good reviews. The ones with the best reviews were out of the budget completely, let’s be honest.
We then started to bundle our vacation packages because we learned that if you book both a flight and hotel accommodations then you were able to get a discount from the agencies. This was a no brainer for us. We typically always bundled through the travel websites. We did everything through them. We booked flights, hotels, cruises, and car rentals. We were also booking our attractions through the websites until we realized that if you go direct from the resort it would be a lot cheaper (no affiliate connections).
We felt that we were getting ahead. We began traveling with our children and taking them to various places. The first place that we went to was local. We literally went and had a staycation in our town, just on the other side. This was a great way for us to unwind and enjoy our family time together for the weekend, without having to travel too far. This was great because we then started to build a relationship with the hotel management team over time.
We began staying at one of the Hilton chain hotels, The Homewood Suites. After a couple of stays, we then signed up for their “free” membership rewards system. This system allowed us to earn Hilton points every time that we stayed with them. We admired this particular brand because it accommodated families of our size.
This is an all-suite hotel with 1 to 2 bedrooms suites. Each suite comes with a full kitchen, full-size refrigerator, a microwave, stovetop, cooking utensils (pots and pans) and dishware (plates and glasses). So yes, it really felt like a home away from home. We would go for long weekends when our children had 3-4-day weekends. All we had to do was pack our suitcase with a couple of pairs of clothing, swimwear, and once we checked in, we would go grocery shopping.
We realized relatively quick that going on vacation was not the hardest part. It was actually trying to save up for the cost of the daily meals for our entire family.
Like seriously! One time we put together a budget and we calculated the meals for 4 nights while we were on vacation. To our surprise, we found out that the average cost for meals alone on vacation estimated at about $250 per day for a family of 5. So, if you calculate the basic math of $250 x 4(nights) = $1000. This was and still is absolutely insane! So alone for a family of 5, it will cost the family close to a $1000, just on food alone for the duration of their vacation. Now, keep in mind that this does not include the actual cost for the accommodations, the transportation round trip or the cost for excursions/activities.
Therefore, now you can see why we go grocery shopping once we check-in. We typically spend anywhere between $200-$250 on groceries for 4 nights. Things we shop for are simple breakfast items. For example, a box of instant Quaker oatmeal, cereal, milk, eggs, bagels, bread for morning toast, etc. This is basically what we buy for breakfast. For lunch, we typically buy items such as boxes of Kraft mac-cheese, a bag of Tyson wings, a couple of cans of soup, hot dogs, ground turkey for burgers or pasta dishes.
Dinner is also similar. We buy items such as fresh salmon, tilapia, chicken breast, and that’s really it for the meats. Then, I typically grab a load of sides and a couple of bags of frozen vegetables. We also get some ice cream and desserts (ie: cookies, and chips) for our children. This helps so that they don’t ask us to buy them outside foods when they see other children eating sweet treats.
I know you’re probably thinking, “who goes on vacation and cooks?” Right?
Well, the truth of the matter is that I truly enjoy cooking for my family. I enjoy knowing what is in the foods that I prepare for them. However, honestly, I get it, parents do get tired of cooking 24/7. Oftentimes, mothers just need a break from cooking altogether and look for a vacation as that freedom from having to cook. In this case, this may not be a great suggestion for you.
However, after I compare my tiredness to the alternative of buying outside food every day for a total of $1000, I immediately don’t feel tired anymore.
Ha! You’re probably laughing; however, I am totally serious. Don’t forget that you still need to add the cost of transportation and activities for your family. That honestly then could be another $600. So, I hope that you’ll reconsider the amount of money that you’re saving by cooking on vacation.
When we travel, we also learned a few savvy ways to collaborate with the hotel.
We also asked if they suggested any particular activity and they would typically offer their suggestions. Many times, the marketing manager, would hand us discounted coupons as a result of asking and building a rapport. I am learning the art of asking to collaborate. It’s difficult if you aren’t the type that can spark up a conversation easily however, you have to get unstuck. Yes, I have learned that you must be willing to fail your way to success. Unfortunately, many people simply are not willing to put themselves out there in this respect. However, I strongly encourage you that it’s worth asking!
If you’re on the fence and really want to jump-start your way to traveling more for less.
I want to encourage you that it’s possible to travel.
- Remember the key is to budget and look for hotel accommodations that offer suites.
- Remember the greatest expense is going to be the food for accommodations for your entire family.
- Groupon is an excellent choice that is budget-friendly as well.
If you enjoyed this, you’ll enjoy reading our other posts on budget travel tips listed below!
Please let me know what you think of this post!
I really enjoy reading the comments from my readers. Until next time, know you are purposed for the life that you’re living!
