Top Tips For Finding The Best Holiday Getaways for Your Family

From coast to coast, almost 100 million Americans are planning an exciting vacation this year according to a recent AAA Travel survey. However, gearing up for a family adventure often means being restricted by school breaks, which can make finding a deal and juggling a budget difficult. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to save money on your travels and keep costs manageable if you just put a little extra effort into your research. Whether you’re after low-cost summer activities for the kids or preparing for a family road trip, you don’t need to despair - here are some valuable hacks to help you along the way.

Research, research, research!

Making vacation plans on a budget means researching all angles, from budgeting for transport to finding accommodation before you leave. Spend some time sitting down with your family to decide exactly where you want to go and what activities are on offer for you, so everyone feels involved. Once you’ve selected a destination, start reading other blogs and travel websites so you are armed with first-class travel information from families who have already experienced a similar trip. It’s also beneficial to search for local tourists sites and businesses where you may find deals on attractions in the area, along with food and accommodation discounts that you can take advantage of to make the most of your trip away.

Sign up, join and follow

What better way to find out the quickest and easiest way about deals than to sign up or follow online so you’re one of the first to receive notifications? Subscribe for promotional emails from destinations, airlines and hotels to get deals for the best affordable family vacations. Similarly, follow your favorite sites on social media and you could strike lucky with their latest promotions. If you see a field for a promo code but don’t have one, search online and quite often the chances are you’ll be able to track down a code to use when you make a payment. Once you're all set up and subscribed, the legwork will have been done and you won't have to lift a finger to watch those deals roll in.

Use travel loyalty rewards

Although this requires some pre-planning in terms of a specific destination, there are numerous credit cards that offer loyalty rewards, which can give you extra discounts on anything from shopping to airlines or other travel experiences. Determine which cards suits your travel needs the best so that once you begin using the card, you will receive the most perks in return! Don’t forget to take advantage of comparison sites to help you narrow down your options. With travel reward perks, you may be able to fund a significant expense of your vacation without paying any extra money, like covering the costs of your family's flights or saving on a hotel.

Wherever you choose for your family vacation, always check off-season destinations during the school holidays first, as you could potentially snag an even better bargain. With these hacks in mind, you can secure the best deal on a family getaway trip of a lifetime.