Our Travel Our Way

Let’s be honest: family travel can be expensive. Flights for four, hotels that accommodate everyone, activities that keep kids engaged — it all adds up fast. But here’s the thing: we’ve been doing amazing family travel on a budget for years, and we’re going to share exactly how we do it.

✈️ Flight Hacks for Families

Flights are usually the biggest expense, so this is where we focus most of our savings effort.

• Book early AND check last-minute: The sweet spot is usually 6–8 weeks before departure for domestic, 3–6 months for international
• Use flight alert apps: We use Google Flights and Skyscanner with price alerts set for our preferred routes
• Be flexible with dates: Flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday can save hundreds compared to weekends
• Consider nearby airports: Sometimes driving an extra hour to a different airport saves a fortune
• Accumulate points: We put everything on our travel credit card and use points for flights — we’ve got multiple free flights this way

🏨 Accommodation Strategies

Hotel rooms for four are genuinely expensive. Here’s how we get around that:

• Vacation rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo): We almost exclusively use these now. One apartment with a kitchen and laundry is often cheaper than TWO hotel rooms, plus we save on eating out every meal
• Look for apartments with kitchen facilities: Even if we eat out most of the time, having a kitchen means cheaper breakfasts and the ability to make kids’ snacks
• Stay slightly outside city centers: A 10-minute metro ride from the center can cut accommodation costs by 40%
• Travel in shoulder season: The same apartment in Portugal costs half as much in May vs August

🍽️ Food & Dining on a Budget

• Eat where locals eat: The restaurant with the laminated menu and photos is a tourist trap. The one full of locals at lunchtime is a treasure
• Lunch is the main meal: Many restaurants offer set lunch menus (known as “menu del dia” in Spain, “prix fixe” in France) that are significantly cheaper than dinner
• Visit local markets: Fresh food, local specialties, amazing atmosphere, and very affordable
• Pack snacks: We always travel with a bag of snacks. Airport and tourist area snack prices are outrageous

🎡 Activities Without Breaking the Bank

• Free museums and attractions: Many world-class museums are free — research before you go
• City tourism cards: If you’re planning lots of attractions, city tourist cards usually work out cheaper than paying individually
• Nature is free: Hikes, beaches, parks, and public spaces cost nothing and are often the most memorable experiences
• Kids discounts: Always ask — children often get in free or at significant discounts

💰 Our Monthly Travel Budget (Real Numbers)

We set aside a dedicated travel fund each month. By cutting unnecessary expenses at home — subscriptions we don’t use, expensive takeaways, impulse purchases — we found we could save $500–$800 per month just for travel. That’s $6,000–$9,600 a year, which funds multiple international trips for the family.

It’s not about having a big salary. It’s about making travel a priority and being creative about how you get there.

What are your best budget travel tips? Share them with our community in the comments!