Family vactions and travel on a budget?

Your tips are very good. I’m sure it can help to reduce travel cost. I also have one to share.
If your travel time is flexible, so you can avoid travel peak period, but you still can have same quality of travelling. For example in the UK august is traditional travel season, at the time all tourist sites are full. If you can manage your travel in the begging of September, you can get better price, better service and better travel experience, also you can avoid tourist group and children.

I went to South Africa earlier this year. I went when flight prices were reasonable. I booked our train tickets to the airport in advance to get the best fares. We got a travel guide book and stayed in cheap guest houses. Hotels can be pricey so I suggest staying in guest houses, family rooms in youth hostels or camping in a tent.

My family like to travel too and we really need to budget carefully or we won't have enough money. There's 8 of us and none want to be left behind. As I am the one that keep our family fund, I will be the organizer and plan almost everything.

Your tips are pretty good. For online tickets, I usually book months earlier. You'll get the best deal and sometimes at a promo price. If possible to drive, we'll just drive instead of using public transportation or flight. It's easier to control the kids. We also check whether the room is inclusive to breakfast or not. If not and there's no choice, we will buy some food to be keep within the hotel room. A kettle is a must. We need to make coffee and tea during the morning. Coupons are scarce in my country as not much company offer them so we have to settle whatever we can find.

We get away at least one week a year. There are numerous ways to travel and save money if you take the time to search out the bargains. We have been cruising the Caribbean for the last 11 years. I have discovered many web site that have all kind of cruise deals. You can take 3, 7 10, 12 etc day cruises. Remember on a cruise all meals, entertainment, and a ton of activies are included. I sign up with the web sites, and receive there daily emails. They NEVER call you unless you want them to. There is even an auction site similar to ebay that we have used. With that site we were the best bid, and cruised from Baltimore to the Caribbean for 8 days for about$700, not counting the wine expense:-) The service is terifice, and they never have their hand out for tips.