Summer is almost here, and this is the time most families go on their planned family vacations. Are you going to be traveling during the hot summer months to a fun location–maybe to the beach or to a theme park? Maybe you are going to be traveling across the country to visit a family member or a friend. No matter where you are going, you’ll want to make sure you can save as much money as you can when you travel. Here are a few ways that you can save money when you travel.
Skip the hotel, if possible. If you are traveling a long distance, be sure to call up an old friend or family member that may live around the area where you will be traveling. They may have a room available for you to get a good nights rest. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind having you stay over for one night. If you must get a hotel room, be sure to plan ahead and find the best deals online before you stop.
Plan ahead and pack plenty of food, drinks, and snacks. If you know that you are going to be traveling for a while, plan for the family to eat in the car or stop for a picnic and eat the food you packed. The last trip we went on, I had a large lapboard that we brought with us. I packed bread, peanut butter & jelly, turkey & cheese, chips, drinks, plastic ware, and paper plates with plenty of snacks. When it was time to eat, instead of stopping and while my husband was driving, I made everyone lunch and dinner on the lapboard. It worked out great and we didn’t have to stop and pay for overpriced food!
Make sure your car is serviced before you travel. You don’t want to find yourself buying replacement car parts or having to search for a mechanic during your trip. Get an oil change, check the air in your tires, and check the air filter. You may even want to get an inspection on your vehicle. We traveled to Asheville, North Carolina one year and we ended up shelling out a lot of money for a problem that could have been prevented if we would have had our car serviced before we left.
Bring plenty of entertainment for the kids. Create a bag of activities for the kids so that they will be entertained during the trip. It’s a great idea to bring the DVD player with movies to keep them entertained for a longer period of time. We usually take small books and toys along with crayons and coloring pads to keep our children entertained.
Pack an emergency kit. Bring a first aid kit, flashlight, and a cell phone plus a charger in case you break down. You may want to have a road assistance number saved onto your phone in case you need assistance during your trip. You will also want to make sure you have plenty of water available for all of the passengers in the car, along with items like diapers and medicine, too. Don’t forget the jumper cables!
These are just a few ways to save money when you travel by car this summer! Please leave a comment if you have more ways to save!