Family vacations can be difficult to come by, especially when you don’t have a trip planner to help you organize some of the best family vacation ideas that are available around the world.
From choosing a destination for your vacation, all the way to picking a resort, everything has to be family friendly and under a budget too.
If you are planning a family vacation in the USA, take a look at this article for some practical money-saving advice to help you get there. As it turns out, it can actually be a difficult process when you’re buying multiple plane tickets, staying in hotels, dining out and shelling out cash left & right for rounds of mini-golf, and kids’ souvenirs.
But with the many places to travel to in and around the USA, ranging from the Black Hills National Forest of Mount Rushmore, to the crisp waters of Naples, Marcos Islands, and the Everglades, enjoy the best of your time with the family with these ideas for planning a family vacation and executing the perfect family getaway!
Ideas for Planning the Best Family Vacation
1.) Research Vacation Ideas on the Internet
No doubt, the internet plays a major role in planning a trip for your family holiday. From doing research on a specific destination, to travel information, and planning a budget – everything can now be planned online.
If you can invest the proper amount of time into researching great deals and available family vacation packages, loads of money (and energy) can be saved way before your trip ever begins.
2.) Visit Off-the-beaten-path Destinations
Rather than visiting regular vacation destinations, why not try visiting off-the-beaten-path locations? You can save up to 70% off of what your normal vacation would cost, you can avoid the crowds, and get a real authentic experience that your family will remember for the rest of your lives.
Need some vacation ideas? Try taking a look at my list of budget-friendly things to do in New York, New York, my family friendly excursion at the puzzle room of Puzzah! in Denver, as well as my ultimate Colorado backcountry road trip just outside of Aspen.
3.) Visit a Theme Park
If your family members consist of children, then visiting a theme park like Disney or Epcot should be on your bucket list. If you do the proper research, you can find plenty of budget-friendly resorts within a reasonable distance of wherever you decide to go.
But if you really want to go all in, maybe even consider taking a cruise onboard one of the many all-inclusive, family-friendly cruise lines. For some good references of these options, take a look at my top 3 favorite theme and amusement parks in Florida, as well as my experience working onboard a cruise ship surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.
4.) Travel During Off-Season
Taking a family vacation during the peak season can put quite the dent in your wallet. However, if you choose to travel during the off-season, you can receive quite the discount for accommodation, activities, food, souvenirs, and many other things.
These aren’t the only perks either. Although you may have to check the young ones out of school early, the hassle could be well worth the effort as you will be rewarded with more authentic one-on-one experiences with, in many cases, the ability to explore a new destination with very little disturbances from other travelers.
5.) Prepare an Itinerary
Before any vacation, preparing a proper itinerary is very important especially when you’re traveling with children. However, as an experienced adventure travel blogger, I do realize the need for spontaneity every once in a while.
Try to plan an adventure and luxury itinerary that keeps your family entertained, but also allows for flexibility.
I personally always try to arrange at least 25% to 30% of my time to be free to explore a destination I’m visiting, and maybe the rest of that time I’ll have an actual excursion planned. Naturally, this is going to vary greatly depending on your needs but I find that this simple formula works well for me.
6.) Take a Getaway at a Local Attraction
Driving can save you both time and money; so why not plan a family vacation that is close to your home?
What you choose for your family to do can vary greatly depending on where you’re located, but some things that can be found near virtually any major city are helicopter adventures, backcountry road trips, and (if you’re inclined to take the foodie adventure) fantastic restaurants to wine and dine.
7.) Consider Camping in the Great Outdoors
Another great idea for the family, especially in this day and age, is to simply disconnect from the hustle-and-bustle of daily life by taking an outdoor adventure.
Camping is a family past time that I am extremely fond of. It’s generally always budget friendly, and with so many state and national parks across the United States, your options are literally limitless as to where you can choose to pick your next family vacation.
What ideas do you have to create a wonderful family vacation?
