10 tips for getting away with great family travel deals.

As we are starting to think about planning our next family vacation, I thought I would share with you my top 10 vacation money saving tips!

1. Going on a road trip? Pack the snacks and drinks!  Roadside stores and gas stations don’t offer the best snacks, either nutritionally or in terms of price. You can pack some of your favorite snacks before you go and save yourself time, trouble, and money.
2. Rent a house or a condo rather than stay at a hotel.   You have all the amenities of home and it can end up being way cheaper! 
3. Always pack extra sun-screen!  Seems like if you run out of sun screen or aloe, the all-inclusive resorts or beach areas jack up the price and you end up paying double! 
4. Don't eat out every day!  Duh!   But if you are going to eat out, collect those Sunnyside/vacation travel books.  They are full of great meal saving discounts and local attraction discounts.   I also redeemed some Tropicana Juicy Rewards for BOGO and $$$ off coupons to select Ocean City restaurants when we went there last summer!
5. Most hotels have fridges, buy small milk, yogurt, bread and lunch meat.  Then you can have a nice healthy breakfast and lunch!  
6. Bring along individual refillable water bottles.  No need to buy water bottles every day!  Bottles can be filled just about anywhere!  Fill one up half way and freeze the night before.  Then fill it with water the next day and your bottle will stay cold for hours.  You can also buy water bottle ice-cube trays. 
7. Ask for discounts a lot of facilities offer discounts for Auto Club members (AAA), AARP members, Military and other groups. It never hurts to ask and you may save yourself some money!
8. If you are headed to the beach, check the boardwalk schedule!  There are nights of free entertainment, firework shows and movies on the beach!
9. Are you a resort lover?  A ton of resorts offer  great amenities that are free with your all-inclusive stay!  Why spend the cost on an excursion when you have free snorkeling, movies on the beach, etc!  If you do plan on traveling off resort, plan your own excursion!  We always hire local taxi drivers to take us to the places we want to see at a fraction of the excursion costs!
10.  Lastly:  HAVE FUN and make memories!  If you do spend a little more than you were planning don't fret... you have memories that will last a life time and pictures too if you remember to pack your camera!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”