Traveling doesn’t have to involve expensive flights and hotels. There are lots of ways to experience a vacation with your family that are unique, fun and incredibly affordable. For your next adventure try one of our fun Creative Vacation Ideas.
[Post Updated 3/30/19] – After a full 8 days of illnesses at our house, we are finally starting to feel healthy and are so ready for a new adventure! So we are looking at these creative vacation ideas and seeing if we can plan an outing for our little family!
With demanding jobs, bills, kids and all of the daily stresses of life, it is often difficult to carve out the time and money for travel. But I truly believe that shouldn’t stop you. There are many different ways to experience the world around you that are attainable and affordable.
So far in our Budget Travel series, we’ve talked about How to Save Money for Travel and How to Travel Smarter. However today in Part III, I want to step away from the normal idea of what a vacation should look like and explore other more creative affordable options.
Here are some of our favorite Creative Vacation Ideas:
1. Visit Family or Friends
A vacation or trip does not always have to involve exploring a new place alone. Whether you are single, in a couple or have a family, visiting close friends or relatives is one of the easiest ways to take a budget trip.
Think of friends or family that live in other cities, states or even countries. Connect with them. Share your interest in seeing them and discovering their hometown! Most people are more than happy to host you for a day or a few, or simply to show you around. And if they can’t they will let you know. It’s always best to ask.
If you do end up visiting others, be a great house guest. This means clean after yourself/kids, help with food making and be courteous. Share your plans and invite your guests to come along, if they decline, explore on your own. It’s always good to be inclusive but also give people space.
Another nice gesture is to offer gas money if they are driving you, help to purchase groceries, take them out to dinner, or simply leave them a nice parting gift. This could be monetary, a gift-card, or simply a nice thank you gift.
I have had amazing experiences in my single years, as a couple and now as a family visiting friends, family and even friends of friends. Sharing time with people and exploring their hometown alongside them is truly a unique and memorable experience. Plus it helps that it’s a much more affordable way to travel too!
2. Host Friends or Family
Although you might not be traveling, hosting others can be an absolutely rewarding experience. Not only do you get to reconnect with others, but you get to enjoy rediscovering your city with them. Doing things you would not normally do.
By showing them a good time, I promise your own city will feel new and different. Again, try to share costs when possible but overall try to enjoy a few days that are different from the norm. This will make it feel like a vacation.
3. Travel with Others
This can be a great way to share a fabulous trip experience with similar minded people. The important thing here is that you both have the same travel and budget goals in mind. Meaning if your family is traveling with a family, and you are planning a budget trip with little eating out but your friends want to splurge and eat out all the time, you may want to discuss this or reconsider.
Everyone has different goals when it comes to vacations, so discuss them upfront. It is much better to be open beforehand than to have a potentially awkward not fun experience.
And let me be the first to say, that just because you have amazing close friends, doesn’t mean they will be good travel buddies. So choose wisely.
If you do find some compatible travel buddies, plan ways to cut costs. Sharing a rental car, renting 1 house or apartment, cook together, or sharing the cost of a private tour. For parents, travel with other parents, either with or without your kiddos. It’s fun to let the kids play together or to live up the precious moments of a kid-free trip!
4. Plan a Staycation
Rediscover your city! This is a surprisingly fun vacation idea that most people miss. Visit local historical sites, museums, state parks, landmarks, or plan a day of visiting different local neighborhoods. Book fun and unique lodging close to home, either through rental sites like Airbnb or find a great hotel with a pool or in a walkable neighborhood.
Exploring your own city and staying away from home for a night or 2 with the kids will feel like a vacation. And since you are staying local, don’t forget to check discounts, festivals, events and group deal websites such as LivingSocial, Travelzoo, and Groupon!
The hubs and I have taken several staycations in our own city and always have a blast re-discovering our city and staying in a hotel with a sweet pool of course 🏊
5. Go Camping
When the weather get nice again, get outside! Going camping or car-camping is a fabulous way to get away, do something exciting with your family, and keep costs low.
Find a campground that is not terribly far away and bring all your camping gear, s’more ingredients, and fun activities like cards, games, books, bathing suits or anything else your family is into.
Make it a fun but comfortable experience if you are not a super outdoorsy family. Find a place with access to bathrooms and don’t stay for too many nights.
Explore, see wildlife, take photos, build fires, and teach your kids how to pee in the woods 😆
6. Plan a Weekend Filled with Activities
If traveling far away or staying elsewhere overnight is not the best option for you, plan a weekend filled with fun activities that you haven’t done before. Try new restaurants, have a picnic, go antiquing, sneak in a movie, visit a local water park, hike a local park, rent snow shoeing, skiing equipment or a kayak.
Watch a show or visit several breweries. Whatever you do, spend a weekend that is completely different from the norm, without errands, checking your work computer or cleaning your house. Take an actual vacation from your daily life.
7. Last Minute Resorts
This is obviously going to cost you more than camping, but it is actually a really good way to find discounted vacation packages. Check travel websites for last-minute deals either domestically or to beach resort. These trips are great for families or couples because they are all-inclusive most of the time and are very stress-free once you get there.
So even if you are a month or 2 away from when you would like to go somewhere, keep an eye out for last-minute trips and you will likely find a great discounted rate.
8. Explore a Local City
You don’t need to go too far to experience something new. Identify a local city in your own state that you would like to explore and take a road trip! Keep costs low by renting an apartment and eating in for a few meals, drive if it’s more affordable, and go during low season.
Enjoy exploring a nearby city that is different and new yet close to home. And since you are not far away from home, don’t forget to check for discounts, festivals, events and group deal websites such as LivingSocial, Travelzoo, and Groupon!
For us in Minnesota, some of our favorite local cities include, Duluth and Chicago!
Now that you are armed with countless Budget Travel tips on How to Save Money for Travel, How to Travel Smarter and Creative Vacation Ideas, I urge you to seize the day!
Life is short and there is no time like the present to plan an adventure for you and your family. Bon Voyage👋
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Originally posted 2019-03-30 13:52:00.
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