With stubborn inflation continuing to drive up the cost of living, families are being forced to make some tough choices when it comes to the way they spend their hard-earned dollars. Many, for instance, are choosing to forego their annual family vacation to help trim the budgetary fat.
This is regrettable because vacations are among the few opportunities for families to spend quality time together without the constant distractions of work, school, and other commitments. Besides, with a little planning, a family vacation doesn’t have to be a budget-busting affair.
Here are some cost-cutting measures that just might revive your dreams of a summertime getaway:
Plan your expenses
Vacations, especially those in popular tourist destinations, have a way of parting travelers from their money at every turn. There are just so many activities and attractions to spend it on! Before you know it, you’ve burned through all your available cash and the only option left is running up more high-interest debt on your credit cards, which you’ll be paying on for the foreseeable future. This common pitfall is easily avoided by creating (and sticking to) an itemized budget for all of your vacation expenses—transportation, lodging, food, entertainment, etc.—just as you would at home.
Vacation close to home
Vacationing closer to home—or actually vacationing at home and planning different day trips to take advantage of all the wonderful attractions our area has to offer—is a great way to trim travel expenses.
Our region presents a surprising diversity of recreational options when you give it a little thought. Of course, there are the major must-see Toledo attractions, including the worldclass Toledo Zoo, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Mud Hens baseball, and Imagination Station. But that’s just scratching the surface.
If your vacation won’t be complete without sun and surf, there are several state parks with beautiful beaches that might just fit the bill, such as Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, East Harbor State Park in Marblehead, and Sterling State Park in Monroe. Several great water parks are located within close driving distance, as well. Of course, Put-in-Bay is just a short ferry ride away for the feel of Key West much closer to home.
Families with an educational bent will want to incorporate visits to nearby historical attractions such as Sauder Village in Archbold, Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Or how about spending a summer morning delving into the much more distant past at the Fossil Park in Sylvania?
For a more calming, contemplative experience, visit Toledo Botanical Garden, immerse yourself in nature at one of our local Metroparks, or go cycling on our many area bike paths. On the other hand, if you prefer to take a walk—or, more accurately, a drive—on the wild side, you’ll want to add to your itinerary a visit to the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton. For thrill-seeking families, a day at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky is a must.
Consider camping
Though it’s not for everyone, tent camping offers very affordable access to many spectacular destinations across the country, costing just a fraction of what you can expect to pay for conventional lodging. Even if you have to buy some of the necessary equipment, you can still come out ahead versus staying in hotels. If tent camping isn’t your style, consider splitting the cost of a cabin with a larger group of people.
Pack carefully
Remember, any necessities that you forget to pack before you leave will have to be purchased at your destination. Even items that are relatively inexpensive at home—toiletries, over-the-counter medications, sunscreen, bottled water, etc.—can set you back a pretty penny in a tourist destination. Make a list of all necessary items, and check it twice!
Choose an efficiency
Sure, it’s nice to budget for a few good restaurant meals on vacation, but eating out three meals a day can get prohibitively costly. If you’re able to arrange to stay in an efficiency or small apartment at your destination, you’ll have the option of stocking the fridge and pantry with groceries and preparing your own meals on the stove. Plan it right, and you really shouldn’t have to spend much more for meals on vacation than you would at home. After all, your family has to eat either way, right? Even staying in a hotel with a small refrigerator and microwave can save you money because you’ll have the ability to convert last night’s leftovers into today’s lunch. At the very least, try to choose accommodations that include a free breakfast with the price of your stay.
Skip the souvenir shops
Browsing through every souvenir or gift shop you come across in your travels is a sure way for kids (and many adults) to develop a bad case of the “gotta-have-its,” which, in turn, will leave you much lighter in the wallet. Limit your souvenir shopping to one day near the end of your trip, or, better yet, avoid it altogether. If you’re concerned that your kids will miss out on this fun family tradition, just ask yourself how much they still care about last summer’s souvenirs.
Relax—it’s free!
Not every vacation activity or attraction comes with an admission price. Schedule more time relaxing on the beach, cooling off in the pool, or simply reading a good book on your balcony rather than running from one costly tourist attraction to the next. You’ll be amazed by how much money you save. ✲
