The official first day of summer will be here soon, and if you are planning a vacation, you probably have finalized your plans and are eagerly counting down the days. Upon arrival at your destination, vacation mode can kick in quickly. You start spending money on things you don't normally do, like eating out more frequently and paying high prices for expensive attractions. From food to fun, here are 15 money-saving tips & discount ideas to help you save on your next vacation.
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Do you always stay in a hotel when you take a vacation? Certainly the ease of booking, liberal cancellation policies, full amenities, and on-site dining are all great reasons to go this route. Over the years traveling as a family, we’ve had wonderful experiences in hotels of all shapes and sizes, including the Grand Beach Hotel Surfside in Florida with its rooftop pool, the spacious suites at the Magic Castle Hotel in Los Angeles (who can forget all the free snacks and drinks!), and the quaint Motel Del Rogue perched on a river in Oregon. But with a family of five, as the kids got older we quickly outgrew most hotel suites. That’s when we began searching for vacation home rentals and condominiums, through sites like VRBO and Airbnb. I remember nervously booking a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee, worried that I was sending money to a random stranger and there would be no recourse. Fast forward to 2022, and we now have quite a few vacation rental experiences under our belt. So whether it’s a long weekend or long vacation, here’s a few reasons to consider a vacation home rental, plus some things to know before you book.
Spring is officially here, and this year more than ever most of us are ready to jump in the car for a short road trip or weekend adventure a few hours from home. Those of us with four-legged family members have another question to consider—should I take my dog on a road trip? While photos of smiling dogs in a car might be popular on Instagram, the reality can be quite different. So whether you are traveling cross country with a dog, or taking a pet-friendly day trip, here are some things we learned about how to road trip with dogs. Most importantly, preparation ahead of time is essential to make things less stressful when traveling with a dog. Plus we share some useful items that we have found helpful while traveling by car with our 70-pound rescue dog over the years. Since this post was originally published, our sweet dog Hallie (pictured throughout this blog and who always had an adventurous spirit) has crossed the rainbow bridge. But stay tuned as we start traveling more with our newest 55 pound rescue dog, also shown here, who isn't quite as comfortable in the car. It's going to be an adventure!
*This post was updated January, 2024. 
If the first thought that comes to mind when road trip planning is where to begin, then you are not alone. Over the years, we have taken several longer family road trips, along with many shorter ones, and initially the planning was overwhelming. With so many cool places to visit in the USA, it’s hard to even know where to begin. Now with many miles under our belts, I can say that we definitely learned a few tricks along the way. Here’s 5 tips to use for planning your next family road trip.
*This post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2024 
Are you ready to plan a road trip but don’t know where to begin? Taking a road trip vacation is something that most people will do at least once in their lifetime, but in today’s world, seems a bit more complicated. It wasn’t that long ago that you could just pile the kids into a car, pack some food, grab a few maps and go. While we all have visions of well-behaved kids singing family friendly songs in the back of the car while Mom & Dad cheerfully drive for hours, there are always the moments when you take the wrong turn, get stuck in a storm, or just want to jump out of the car for 5 minutes of alone time! A few years have passed since I first wrote 5 Tips for Planning Your Next Road Trip Adventure, and technology has certainly impacted the way we travel. So here’s 7 more tips that I hope you find helpful for your next road trip.
*This post was updated January, 2024  As 2016 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on familyTravelsUSA and how it has impacted my travel experiences. My initial purpose was to simply share a few family road trips but I can look back now and see that it has been a great personal motivator for me to seek out and share new adventures in the United States. Along the way, I hope that I have provided inspiration for readers to explore new places both across the country and in their own backyard. My kids may not remember every detail of every single place we have visited, but I’m happy knowing that I have exposed them to the great outdoors, iconic national parks, new foods, big cities small towns, and tons of fun adventures from coast to coast. So as you plan your next vacation, consider these 7 reasons to explore the USA in 2017 and beyond, no passport required!
*This post was updated December, 2020  By Guest Author Erin Gifford
Are you looking for new ways to save money on your next family vacation? Whether you’re traveling to Walt Disney World or the beach, there are many things you can do to maximize your savings. Here are four smart ways to save on your next family vacation.  *This post was updated April, 2023
Visiting the Nation’s Capital is a wonderful opportunity to see history come to life, spend time in amazing free museums, and enjoy the view of the monuments that make the city so special. There is so much to see and do, but Washington, DC can often be overwhelming for the first time visitor. This post focuses on tips and tricks to help make the most of a visit to DC. You can read my Guide to Visiting Washington DC page for overall recommendations and information on favorite museums, walking tours, food, and other must-see attractions . And be sure to let me know if you have any other helpful tips to add to the list. |
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