First off, are you prepared to be realistic and stick to a plan? The most important thing about budget vacations is setting a goal and coming home realising it was possible to travel and not put your family in an uncomfortable, financial situation.

Although it’s obvious that operating on a budget means making sacrifices, sometimes we just don’t really want to do that. What may not be obvious is that you should also beware of under-budgeting. Pinching too many pennies may turn your fun getaway into an exercise in micro-management.

Further, if you discover mid-trip that your budget is too skimpy, you may be tempted to toss it out the car window and break out the plastic! So how can you navigate all of this and have a relaxing time?

Budgeting

Speaking of plastic, budget vacation planning should only include what you can spend out of your own pocket.

By planning ahead of time you can set a goal to start saving. Break down the total amount and create weekly and monthly targets.

Keep track of the savings progress for your entire family to see. Put a chart on the refrigerator or in a shared journal.

This will not only teach your children how to responsibly meet financial goals but may also inspire them to find ways to help.

Paid or non paid vacation time

Don't forget to include any costs associated with not working. I’m a small business owner and if I’m not working I don’t get paid. So think about this if it is also true of your family.

If the week-long work absence is too costly, scale down your vacation plans. Or can you go away for a week but work remotely for a day or two. I always take my laptop and if I need to catch up on emails in the evening now and again so not to miss a project I do.

The other option is to consider long weekends. These can be ideal, especially if you have a destination within driving distance. However, if you need to fly, the typical Friday to Monday long weekend may steer you away from some decent deals.

Booking flights

Booking flights for unpopular travel days such as Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday can save you money. Sometimes if my husband is working in Milan for a week we all go there and some days he will work from home so he’s around us, and he will take some vacation days within that time. We also then save on his flight costs as this is paid by his company.

For your plane ride, feel free to check the prices on direct flights, but you always pay more for the convenience. You will see cheaper prices for flights with at least one stop. You will also see cheaper prices for flights at inconvenient hours. However, when traveling with a family it is hard to recommend a 4 a.m. departure since dealing with cranky, tired kids can quickly derail a vacation. Remember, we want to create a FUN budget vacation and not a painful family memory.

What you may find though is that there’s a cheaper flight at 6am and that staying in a budget hotel at the airport to get that early flight is still much cheaper than flying at peak times.

If you have plenty of time, consider skipping the plane ride altogether. You may find that if petrol prices are good, it’s cheaper to drive than fly with several family members. Now our children are older they all need full price adult seats which adds up!

Hiring a car

If you flew in, chances are you may feel that you need a rental car to get around. For a budget vacation do your best to avoid this. If you chose not to drive, renting a car is just compounding that already high transportation cost.

Try to pick a suitable hotel/ accommodation within walking distance of the major attractions. Most large metropolitan cities and major tourist areas offer public transportation to popular venues. Research what types of transportation are available before you leave for your trip and include this pricing in your budget.

Accommodation

Finally, getting a good deal on lodging might just be a phone call away. True budget vacationers will of course have considered combining the trip with a visit to friends or relatives for the ultimate lodging rates. However, if sleeping in the guest bedroom above your snoring Uncle just isn't your thing, you'll need to look for a good deal on a hotel.

Do your preliminary research online, but always follow up with a call to the front desk (not the national phone numbers) of your top picks. During tough financial times, hotels may be eager to convert any inquiry into a sale. You could end up with a better deal by simply asking for one.

Don't forget to look into travel packages as well. Hotels, resorts, and airlines will often offer an inclusive room and airfare deals. Be sure to check these after you've done some research on the individual room rates and airfare. Already knowing the average prices will let you know if you are truly receiving a great deal.

Lastly don’t overlook renting an apartment. We’ve found as a family of four it’s much cheaper to do this than book 2 hotel rooms each night. We can also then make use of the kitchen and have some meals at home to make the money go further.

We hope this has been a useful guide and means you get to travel far and wide! There is no great education than to travel and experience new places, food, cultures and language.