Nine Tips for Affordable Holiday Travel

So we all know that family vacations cost a packet. Travel over the holiday season is even more expensive with jacked up prices on transportation, accommodation and food. Here are our tips for saving a bit, without compromising the quality of your holiday:

1. Be the salmon: When everyone heads to warmer pastures, head towards places that are not as popular in the winter such as Europe. You can still have a great time in Paris or Rome when the temperatures are lower.

2. If you are flexible, try to book travel on holidays like Xmas day and January first to avail of cheaper fares. For the same reason, Saturdays are a good time to travel as well.

3. If you are trying to book accommodations, consider an apartment or home instead of a hotel. It’s often a more family-friendly and economical way to go. Plus you can save on meals by having your own kitchen and not having to pay room service prices.

4. Seek out bundles that combine air and hotels – they usually end up being cheaper than either one alone. Sites like Expedia and Travelocity offer such vacation packages.

5. This may seem counter-intuitive but if you have kids under two, now’s the time to check out an expensive destination on your list. Once they hit two years of age they no longer fly free.

6. Visit a relative or friend you have been meaning to see – at least you have a place to stay for free!

7. Consider enlisting the help of a service such as Cranky Concierge to find you the best fares at the best times and prices for your family.

8. Save on baggage fees by packing light and using services such as Hotel Babies and JetSetBabies (and avail of Momaboard discounts) to send your bulky baby supplies directly to your destination.

9. Beat the holiday rush and consider a staycation. If you do it right, you can get some quality time with the family as well as save a boatload of money!