Lately I was looking in my options to take some time off from my hectic life and surprisingly I found a lot.

We all are probably aware by now that we are in a period where cash is a going to be a little bit tighter for all of us. With record high oil prices, we are paying more and more for the petrol we need in our cars. With inflation on the rise, we spend more for the day to day necessities of life.


Often, the annual holiday/vacation is the first thing we let go of when our financial situation gets tougher. A holiday is often one big expense. Skipping it can make the rest of the year a little bit easier to bare. WRONG. Skipping your annual holiday will make the rest of your year much harder to bare. You are not here on this earth to survive, you are here to live. You need something to look forward to, to enjoy, to reward yourself with for a year of hard work.

That being said, you do not need to spend a million bucks to have a relaxing, invigorating holiday but at the same time An affordable family vacation requires planning and preparation. If you start to research pricing ahead of time, you stand a better chance of finding a great deal .
So here is somehelpful tips
1.Use the Web to find the best bargains in air travel and the cheapest rates for car rentals, hotel rooms and vacation packages, Travel With Kids lists promotions each month, as well as deals at major resorts, and has loads of vacation ideas and tips. Family Travel Network also is a good place to find a big list of bargains.


You can easily save 20-30% booking your hotel online. Try websites like Hotwire.com, Expedia.com, or even Priceline.com. If you're willing to be flexible, you can save a great deal of money. Bids of less than $100 a night on luxury digs are often successful. Two catches: Priceline doesn't disclose the name of the hotel you're booking until you buy, and it doesn't refund your money if you cancel.
Use a flights comparison service.For example, Airfarewatchdog.com lets you see the best airfares departing from your city,
use Really Long Link to find great offers

Bids of less than $100 a night on luxury digs are often successful. Two catches: Priceline doesn't disclose the name of the hotel you're booking until you buy, and it doesn't refund your money if you cancel.
2.Reward Programs - If you are not a member of flight reward programs, you should be. Make sure you are a member of frequent flyer reward programs and credit card reward programs. Now is the time to transfer your credit card points to your frequent flyer program, cash them in and get your free flight. This alone will save you hundreds of dollars, just when you need it

3.picking a vacation spot that isn't a tourist mecca. You can save up to 70% -- and avoid the crowds
4.Consider other alternatives. You do not have to stay in a hotel. Backpacker hostels are an option always worth considering, especially if you like a "community" experience. If you like more privacy though, think about caravan parks, holiday apartments or B&Bs. These often provide cheaper alternatives.
5.Travel after peak season. This might not be an option if you have school-age children. But families with infants and toddlers can take advantage of discounted rates .
7. Pick spots within driving distance.

Driving is a good way to save money. But it can be as expensive as flying if you drive a gas-guzzling vehicle and have to pay for a hotel room on the way to your destination. So the key is to pick a destination that's just a few hours' drive away. In addition to saving money, you'll minimize the times you'll hear that inevitable question coming from the back seat: "Are we there yet?"
8. Consider camping. If you're really pinching pennies –
You may even want to send the whole family to summer camp, which can be a great value vacation. See the American Camp Association's directory to find a camp that's right for your family.