Call it an "almost-recession", a down-turn, whatever floats your boat. We all know that gas prices are rising and people are cutting back on expenses but what impact will that have on your family vacation? Chances are, not much. According to everything that I've read online and seen in the news, people are changing the way that they travel - not canceling their trips.
So, here I am, ready to help. I've racked the brains of our travel experts here at Wyndham to figure out the best way to save on traveling and to really stretch my dollars when planning my next trip.
Here's what I've found:
- Get a place with a kitchen to save on food costs
- Take the time to find good deals and packages
- Check out all-inclusive resorts
- Investigate timeshare
- Save on entertainment once you're there
And then there are the basics - stick closer to home (drive, don't fly - and if you do fly, put those earned miles to use); share a vacation with family or friends, thereby splitting the cost; and whatever you do, don't pay full price if you don't have to. Get creative and get your kids involved. Remember, you take vacations to relax and reconnect; make your kids a part of the planning and start creating your vacation memories long before you leave town.
Get a place with a kitchen:
Rent a home. Own the memories. Renting a place is not only a great way to share your vacation, but to save on meals. A family of four (at $25/person for 3 meals a day on a week-long vacation) can easily spend over $2,000 on meals alone. Cut down on costs by cooking and eating some of your meals at your 'home away from home' for the week. Even if you still have dinner out every night, you will still save around $500. Sure, you have to buy groceries, but shop smart and you may be able to save as much as $1,250. Check out the selected quick and easy vacation recipes from Martha Stewart on www.WomenOnTheirWay.com for some sure-fire family favorites.
EVRentals.com is a vacation rental resource that offers over 70,000 properties, many of which feature large living rooms, dining rooms, fully-equipped kitchens and laundry facilities (another saving tip - pack lighter and save on those airline fees for overweight luggage). Packages start at $379 for the week. Use promo code Family10 when booking and you will save another 10%. I know; you're welcome.
Family tip - have your kids help you when planning your menu (and grocery list) before you leave for your vacation. Add a picnic to the list of things to do and bring your family's favorite park toys to create a special outing during your trip.
Stay Smarter! Save on accommodations:
Americans are traveling smarter as both temperatures and gas prices rise. Instead of paying full price for lodging, take the time to do your research and look for deals, packages and promotions to help make your dollars stretch a little further.
Mid-price and economy rooms are the way to go, with many offering free continental breakfast and Wi-Fi. Also a plus? Kids stay free at many of the Wyndham family of hotels, which include Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8 and Howard Johnson.
Family tip: Look for accommodations with an in-door or outdoor pool or a game room for the kids. Want to bring the WHOLE family? Many properties allow pets; so if you have a furry friend, bring them along for the family fun instead of parking them at the kennel and you can save even more.
The All-Inclusive Answer:
Okay, seriously, if I had any more vacation time to play with, I would SO check this out. Viva Vacation - Viva Wyndham! Relax in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic or Mexico and leave your wallet behind. Well, not really - but you can leave it in your room's wall-safe because once you check in, you won't need a dime. As you all know from previous columns, I never carry cash on my anyway, so this would be ideal for me!
Staying in an all-inclusive resort allows you to eat, drink and lounge without worrying about all of those little things that can very quickly add up to a hefty check-out bill. Case in point: Prior to meeting my sweetie, his whole family traveled to Bermuda (and did NOT stay at an all-inclusive. Big Mistake.) to celebrate my in-laws anniversary. From the family tales, my DH and his brother had quite a good time (read between the lines here - a whole lotta drinks, a whole lotta high quality food and my guess is that there were some golf rounds thrown on that bill as well) on the family tab, unbeknownst to my in-laws until check-out. Never a fun surprise.
The all-inclusive angle allows for older kids to have some independence and for you parents to really plan out a budget before going on vacation. This is truly a great way to live, even if it is for a few days.
Family tip: The Viva Wyndham resorts have great Kid's Clubs that offer sports, games, lessons (even intro scuba diving classes in the pool are free!) and activities. There are also fresh water swimming pools, kiddie pools and kid-friendly snack bars on-site. Yup, all included in the package price. Awesome deal!
Wanna make a commitment? I do.
So we all know that taking vacations does good things to your body, mind, soul and relationships. Why not make vacations a part of your commitment to a healthy lifestyle? If you take vacations every year, then investing in vacation ownership is something that may appeal to you, as it does for over four-million other households in the United States.
Wyndham Vacation Ownership has a portfolio of over 145 resorts located in popular vacation destinations like Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Vegas, Hawaii and other top leisure hot spots. The resorts are beautiful and the units all have full kitchens (again, there's that money saver!), dining rooms, living areas, nice big tubs and washer/dryers.
We stayed at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando with the little one back in January and had a blast. The property was amazing and the rooms were spacious and welcoming, giving us the room to put the baby to bed and enjoy a nice meal at the dining room table together. There were quite a few pools to choose from and the activities for the kids were really cute - ice cream socials, arts and crafts, games and activities.
If you plan on taking vacations every year, the value of owning your vacation makes a lot of sense. The nice thing is that, since Wyndham Vacation Ownership properties use a points system, you have the flexibility to go somewhere different every year, whenever you decide to take your trip. There is no set week or place that you have to stay.
Personally, I really want to check out the Wyndham Inn on Long Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island. My husband and I love it there (got engaged there, as I mentioned in another column) and really enjoy spending time on the water. The resort there has fun stuff like BBQs, a movie theater on-site, and an in-door pool - always great for those unwanted rainy days.
Vacation Ownership Resorts have one, two, three and four-bedroom options so traveling with friends and family are really easy to do with vacation ownership. I love this idea; it just makes sense for families that travel, especially larger families who often have to get more than one room for even the most basic of trips.
Family tip: If you do decide to travel with family and plan to share the responsibility and costs associated with meals and entertainment, be sure to have all details of that arrangement sorted out before you go. You don't want to have any misunderstandings (you mean that I was expected to bring, do, pay for that?!) ruining your trip - or your relationships!
What to do. How to save:
You may think that the planning is over once you have your super fabulous, reasonably-priced digs sorted out and booked, but my friend, you still have more saving to do!
Another way to save? Entertainment Books. Find coupons and saving on everything from hotel rooms (I found a room at the Days Inn in Orlando for $44!) and rentals cars to restaurants, places to play and things to see. I just got a book (on sale, mind you) for $9.99 on Puerto Rico for my trip there next month which help us to save on the car rental, select places to eat while we're there and get us deals on fun things to do with the little one. Can't beat it.
Still want more? Go USA Cards. Find them on locations all over the country, including Hawaii, New York, Orlando and Seattle. These cards offer discounts on attractions and tours and can be purchased in 1,2,3,5 or 7 day increments.
For those of you (Smarties!) who take my advice on getting a place with a kitchen - when you are planning on your menus for the week, clip your coupons just like you normally would so that you can make the most of your savings. Don't forget to check out the Martha recipes and have some fun with your menu!
I can still vividly remember being around 6 years old, eating a Trix + Cheerios cereal mix for breakfast on vacation down the shore. It was a special treat because Mom banned sugar cereals at home. It's the little things that make the memories for kids - step out of your routine and have fun on your vacation! Don't give up the time with your family because of gas prices and the economy. Your kids aren't going to remember that you stayed somewhere closer to home, or that you didn't go out to eat for every meal. They're going to remember the fun things that you do, the little things that make the regular seem exciting and adventurous. Shop smart, plan in advance and do what you can to save and then go have some fun with your family!
"Wyndham Worldwide is not affiliated with the manufacturers of any products mentioned in this column, does not endorse any of the products mentioned in this column, and is not responsible for their performance or suitability for any purpose."
