Proven Tips On How To Save For Your Family Vacation

My kids playing in the beach of Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud

We all love to travel don’t we? We love going to other places, travel to a new location or simply, we just want to break our everyday (sometimes boring) routine by spending our time in a fantasy island. Alright, not a fantasy island, but cool places we really love to go like beaches, resorts, disneyland and other destinations.

Did you know that the Philippines has 11 long weekends for 2010 (10 more to go)? It simply means, more time for vacation!!!

Last holiday vacation, we spent our time in Pagudpud. We had so much fun traveling  in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. We visited most of the major tourist destinations in that area such as the famous Vigan Heritage City, Bantayan Bell Tower, Baluarte, Fort Ilocandia, Malacanang of the North, Marcos Museum, Bangui Windmills, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Kabigan Falls, Patapat Viaduct, Agua Grande, Blue Lagoon and more!!!

Traveling is more than just visiting beautiful places. Traveling is an incredible family experience. It’s educational, memorable and also gives us (my husband and my 2 “kulet” kids) a lot of time for bonding.

Some of you may say “but traveling takes up a lot of our budget”. Well, maybe yes…but there are actually secrets on how to enjoy an unforgettable vacation with your family within the budget.

Proven Tips on How to Save for your Vacation

I used the word “proven” because this is what family has been doing for years already. I tell you  – it works!

1. Schedule your vacation on the right time. At the start of the year, my husband and I will look at the calendar and check the long weekends.  This is also the time we plan our vacation schedule. It’s actually one of the most important points specially for those who have working partners and/or kids who are still in school.

If you can put your vacation off until after peak season you’ll save a lot!

2. Start your vacation savings plan early. My husband and I usually funded  our twice a year family getaways from our monthly extras, bonuses and 13th month pays. We’re lucky in the Philippines because we have 13th month pay unlike in other countries.  Set aside from your monthly wages small amount specifically for you vacation savings.

If you can cut back on some non-essentials spending like going to expensive restaurants,  watching on a movie theaters wherein you can just rent a DVD  or lessening your trips to your favorite coffee shops – so much the better.

Sacrifice the little fun for the fun you’ll have during your vacation with your family.

3. Choose a place to travel that are within your budget. If Disneyland is a bit expensive for now, then settle for a disney-inspired theme park within your localities such as Enchanted Kingdom or Star City. Look for nearer tourist spots that you may not be aware of. If you are on a budget, this is your chance to visit them.

If you have car, driving can drastically cut your transportation costs.

4. Book Early and Find out the Best Time to Book Fares. Travel expenses can take up the largest chunk of your vacation budget but with the on-going war of different airlines, hotels and resorts; traveling today is within the reach for most people already.

Making each family vacation the best that it can be is well worth the effort.  I still have more tips to share but my son is already calling me to assist him in his assignment.

My family tried the jump shot when we visited the famous Bangui Windmills

By the way,this is not sponsored post. I just really want to share these tips while they are still fresh in my mind, and in case you are still looking for more, I’m recommending the 15 budget travel tips from “Budget Travel Guide”. It’s a free report with even more cheap travel tips.