Travelling with Kids Made Easy: Family travel does not have to break the finances. Enjoy yourself on a budget by searching out free food and events and by choosing vacation rentals over hotels.
Family vacations necessitate more planning, and those plans are often more expensive. While travelling with children may differ from travelling alone or as a couple, it doesn’t have to break the bank.
Travelling as a family can be a financially manageable and enjoyable experience with the proper planning.
Travelling with Kids Made Easy
1. Choose vacation properties
The cost of a hotel room can quickly add up, particularly if you need to book multiple rooms to accommodate your family. Consider vacation rentals or apartment accommodations, which can be more affordable and offer more space.
When travelling with children, short-term house or flat rentals frequently include amenities that can help you save money, such as:
A fully-equipped kitchen so that guests can purchase supplies and enjoy more affordable meals together.
A washer and dryer so that you can avoid expensive laundry services and carry a bit lighter, thereby potentially reducing checked baggage fees.
A backyard, pool, or hot spring where children can play at no additional cost.
2. Prepare your own food and bring refreshments: Travelling with Kids Made Easy
Food is one of the most costly aspects of travelling with a family, and we all know that children enjoy snacking. Instead of rushing to a restaurant each time someone is famished, visit the local supermarkets and stock up on granola bars, nuts, and fruit. Keeping a few essentials in your bag or vehicle will allow you to be prepared for hunger pangs during a hectic travel day.
Another strategy is to commit to consuming your own breakfast through foraging. This could involve keeping convenient breakfast foods on hand, purchasing groceries so you can prepare breakfast, or taking advantage of your hotel’s complimentary continental breakfast. Even eliminating one restaurant meal per day can result in significant savings.
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3. Search for unique events
Many Canadian museums offer complimentary admission on certain days. For instance, in Ottawa, permanent exhibitions at the Canadian Museum of Nature are free every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. It is also free for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis visitors at all times.
Local festivals and fairs are frequently free to attend and can provide hours of entertainment. The Inglewood Night Market in Calgary, for instance, is free and occurs once a month during the summer. The Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival takes place in August just north of Vancouver and features a parade and competitions in logging-related activities such as axe throwing and chainsaw carving; many of the events are free to observe.
Some restaurants in Canada provide free meals for children when their parents request a meal. Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., for instance, up to two children dine free with the purchase of an adult entrée at Denny’s. These deals differ by location, and some are only available on specific days of the week, but it’s worthwhile to research restaurants near your destination to see if you can incorporate any free meals into your travel itinerary.
4. Utilise loyalty programmes and points: Travelling with Kids Made Easy
If you accumulate credit card points or rewards, you may consider using them primarily for hotels and flights. You can undoubtedly use your points to pay for travel expenses, but you can also use certain rewards programmes to save money on entertainment during your trip.
Scene+ points, for instance, can help you incorporate an affordable family movie night into your travel itinerary. Points can be redeemed for discounted movie tickets and concessions. A movie could be a great way to enjoy air conditioning on a hot summer afternoon or to remain dry if a storm prevents you from going outside.
5. Delight in the surroundings
Walks through the forest, hikes along local trails, and shore days are all excellent activities to include in your travel itinerary, and they are frequently free (though parking may cost money). As you plan your excursion, research kid-friendly outdoor activities available near your destination.
If you have the space and are going on a road vacation, consider bringing your bikes so you can ride the trails in your area — exercise and free transportation!
