Affordable Family Vacation Ideas: Low-Cost Vacations That Are Fun For All

By Mike Jerry

These days, finding affordable family vacation ideas can be challenging. Two questions must be answered when making these difficult decisions. First, you have to know that you will be able to pay for the trip. Second, you have to make sure that you choose a vacation location that the whole family will enjoy. Here are some travel tips on making your vacation perfect.

Choosing a Location
When choosing a location, you must decide, as previously stated, a place to go that your family will enjoy. An easy choice would be resorts or theme parks that have multiple activities going on at all times. The problem is that these places can be very costly. In addition to paying for the right to participate in their activities, you have to pay for hotels, food, beverages, transportation, and travel games (to keep the kids occupied).

The best tips I can offer in this category are that you choose a location that is both close to you and you can find a place to stay for free (such as a friend or relative's home). Doing so will make transportation and accommodations relatively inexpensive. Additionally, make sure you can find activities that everyone can enjoy in the place you visit, as not everyone enjoys shopping or fishing.

Timing is Everything
When choosing a time to travel, my suggestion is to avoid holidays. Most people choose to travel during a holiday season (especially Thanksgiving and Christmas), making traveling more expensive due to traffic. Additionally, if your vacations take place during the spring or fall, gas will be cheaper as you won't have to run the AC or the heater. Finally, it would be a good idea to do most of your driving during a weekend, as interstates are usually cluttered on the weekdays.

Affordable Family Vacation Ideas
My greatest suggestion for an inexpensive vacation is to go somewhere with plenty of outdoor activities. If you can find an area with a forest and a lake, that would be excellent, as it would offer hiking, swimming, fishing, and camping, usually for free or for a low-cost. Additionally, these locales are very peaceful and relaxing, as it will remove you from the hustle and bustle of city life.

For those who are not too fond of the great outdoors, I suggest visiting a big city where you have relatives or friends living. By staying with them, you'll eliminate many of your unnecessary costs, and big cities offer major amounts of activities, such as seeing professional sports, shopping, factory tours, parks, and many others.

No matter where you go, remember the key to a successful vacation is ensuring that everyone has a good time. Vacations are meant to be the fond memories that people hold onto, as they break up the monotony of everyday life. Just make sure you don't get in over your head and end up remembering the vacation for the debt it caused rather than the experience you had.

An affordable family vacation is more challenging now than ever to plan. For articles, tips and numerous resources for planning a family vacation that no one will forget and won't break the bank visit us: http://www.affordablefamilyvacationideas.com/
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Planning The Perfect Ski Vacation

By Michelle Bery

Each years tens of millions of people set off for fun on the slopes. The allure of racing down the slopes, or relaxing next to a fire in the lodge, has made the ski vacation an ever popular destination for winter getaways. A ski vacation can be both exhilarating and relaxing, and with proper planning a ski vacation can be a time you will never forget.

Before setting off on your ski vacation be sure to thoroughly inspect your equipment. Make sure your boots are snug and comfortable and your bindings are sound and functioning. Be sure to pack clothes that can be worn in layers that will keep you warm and dry. Nothing will ruin a ski vacation like malfunctioning equipment or improper clothing and outerwear.

Planning can also let you find a ski vacation that will fit both your schedule and your budget. Booking a ski vacation early can often give you the best discounts. Make sure to purchase your lift tickets early so you have more time to ski on your ski vacation, and be sure to purchase multiple day tickets in order to get the best discounts.

It is also important to remember that there is more to a great ski vacation than skiing alone. Many resorts have fabulous restaurants and other activities to enjoy when you aren’t on the slopes. Dining, ice skating, swimming, hiking, or simply relaxing in the hot tub; a great ski vacation is when you enjoy all the amenities that the resort has to offer. Take the time before your ski vacation to investigate all the available activities so you will be prepared to take advantage of all the fun to be had.

Once you arrive on your ski vacation it is time to put your plans into action. If you are renting skis or snowboards make sure to pick them up the night before you start skiing. The lines are much shorter in the evenings and having your equipment ready will let you be among the first to enjoy the fresh snow!

For easy to understand, in depth information about ski vacation visit our ezGuide 2 Ski Vacations.
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Kauai Vacation Rental Anini Beach And More

By May Stern

If you are looking for a versatile holiday experience then discover the main attractions of Kauai with the best Kauai rentals. Choose from various Kauai Vacation Rental Anini Beach housings for rent on the Island. Kauai is an incredible tourist destination where you can enjoy different activities on both land and sea. A distinguished beach called Anani Beach also resides in the Island. Search for places that are near exciting tourist attractions or tranquil coves.

Flora and Fauna
If you are planning on traveling to Kauai, then you are most probably interested the more adventurous side of the Island. The best thing about Kauai is that it is filled with natural flora and fauna, so those planning on hiking, rock climbing, snorkeling or diving can satisfy their adventurous desires in the Island.
If you'd like to walk through the lush flora in the Island, find a place to stay situated near gardens, parks, forests, jungles, rivers or mountains. Popular areas are the Allerton Garden, Limahuli Garden and Preserve, McBryde Garden, Moir Gardens, Na'Aina Kai Botanical Gardens, Fern Grotto, Na Pali Coast State Park, Koke'e State Park and Alakai Wilderness Area.
If you are more into the ocean you have plenty of options. Depending on your taste, there are beaches that are filled with the excitement of water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing, surfing and jet skiing. On the other hand, there are more private sanctuaries just around the corner for more peace and quiet. Consider these options when finding the best Kauai Vacation Rental Anini Beach and other beaches. Ask about coastal attractions like the spouting horn, Hanalei Bay, Ke'e Beach and the popular Anini Beach in the North Shore of the Island.

The Renowned Anini Beach
If you're like most, you might want to experience the sunrise in the quiet mornings and sunets in the romantic evenings in Anini Beach. Kauai's North Shore is the location of Anini Beach. The beach is a safe and protected area, which is dotted with breezy Kamani Trees and bursting with various ocean species. You also might want to know that the North Shore has the longest reef in Hawaii!

After relaxing in the quieter areas of the shore, you can also enjoy fun-filled activities like sailing and kayaking in the rivers near Anini Beach. The North Shore is also a popular surfing destination. Campsites, showers and restrooms are available in good Kauai Vacation Rental Anini Beach resorts.

Modern Life
If you're in Kauai for more specific reasons, you can take part in a variety of modern sports like golf, tennis and polo. If you're there to shop, there are several shopping centers just around the corner. For night crawlers there are countless restaurants, bars and cafes available for a nice meal or drink. If you'd like to taste different Kauai cuisines look for a Kauai Vacation Rental Anini Beach house near dining spots.

Take a last look at the marvelous Island with a twist. Try out boat and helicopter tours available. Your choices are endless when it comes to Kauai, so for the best places, call or visit the nearest Kauai Vacation Rental Anini Beach office.

Get the best Kauai Hanalei vacation rental sources and get ready to experience amazing traditional Hawaiian ceremonies with Your Kauai Vacation Rental website now!
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Booking Your Holiday Online

By Dylan Vincent

If you are thinking of taking a holiday, and are interested in finding a good price for your chosen destination and route, get good rates and specials from online travel agents. Online travel websites are becoming increasingly popular, allowing travelers to design their own holidays and save money. People are looking to the internet to benefit from cheaper airline and travel fares, also enjoying a good online experience and great customer care and fast response times.

Travelers are going straight to online travel agents and by-passing traditional shop-front travel agents to save time, money and experience the convenience of designing and booking their own holiday. To find a good online travel agent, the internet is the best source of information; there you can visit online travel agent websites, compare services and online quotes. Your chosen online agent should be able to allow you to choose your own routes and design a holiday to suit your tastes, needs and style, and assist in securing you the most affordable flights or passage to your chosen destination.

A good online travel agent will negotiate good travel rates with their professional travel knowledge and industry contacts. So, it is important for you to choose an online travel agent which can offer industry experience and pass on valuable knowledge, ensuring you get affordable travel arrangements without compromising quality.

Online booking services allow you to arrange your entire holiday or trip from the comfort of your own home or work place. Online travel agents eliminate the need to drive from travel agent shop to shop, or endless phone calls to receive and compare quotes for your desired route. So, now you can use the internet to arrange your next trip, saving you time, money and benefiting from speed and convenience.

Today the world of online travel agents has advanced and become quite competitive, leading to consumers enjoying comprehensive, expert services and affordable travel rates. Consumers can take extra time to peruse information about their chosen destination on these user-friendly websites and get ideas and advice on travel arrangements. Online travel agents offer all the services consumers will find at traditional shop-fronted travel agents, and more. So, why would you not choose to make your travel booking arrangements online, and receive comprehensive travel agent services and more? Get top travel services and experienced advice along with affordable rates from your chosen online travel agent.

Dylan wrote this article for the online marketers at Travel Your Way (Specials).
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Easy Tips On Finding Affordable Vacation Packages Online

By Ben Jordan

So, you think you'll never find an affordable vacation package this year. Not so. There are lots and lots of affordable ideas and vacation packages just waiting for you and your suitcase.

First off, you've got to plan ahead. Break it down, deciding what will be the most expensive part of the vacation. Then plan ways in which your family can be flexible and offset costs, maybe in other areas to get the vacation package they desire.

"To cut costs, you have to identify the most expensive items on your vacation agenda: airfare, restaurants, hotel accommodations," says Annette Winn, mother of two from Coronado, CA. "Once you have identified the most expensive items, you need to determine how your family can be flexible to offset those costs."

This may mean driving to your vacation destination, rather than flying, or renting a condominium rather than paying for a pricey hotel room. A condo gives you more space and options and can help reduce costs in other areas, such as meals. Many times you can find condo's included in affordable vacation packages, providing more space than a hotel room for families to spread out, especially if their vacation is a week or more.

Valerie Garcia, of Albuquerque, N.M. also looks for deals and researches affordable vacation packages, which allow her to take five trips a year, instead of the one cruise per year her sister takes. She's found Las Vegas vacation packages that include airfare and lodging that costs less than buying only the airfare. "I'm always checking specials," says Garcia. For Christmas last year she bought affordable vacation packages for her husband and sons, rather than presents.

Others affordable vacation options include camping trips. You can go at the spur of the moment, don't have to rent a car or get a hotel. In terms of cheap, it doesn't get any better than that. If you enjoy hiking, fishing, biking, and nature this is the perfect affordable getaway.

Another important aspect of vacation planning is to make sure everyone's interests are covered. Make sure there's something for everyone. The kids maybe get to go to Disneyland, dad gets a chance to golf, mom gets to shop, and everyone spends a day or two at the beach. Just do a little research on-line and you can find many affordable vacation packages that include something for everyone.

Sharing costs with other family members or friends can also make your vacation more affordable. Maybe close family friends, an aunt and uncle, or grandparents would enjoy accompanying you and split the costs of a vacation package. Not only will the kids enjoy having Grandma or Uncle Joe around to spend time with, it also makes a vacation affordable for everyone.

Carole Terwilliger Meyers, author of Miles of Smiles: 101 Great Car Games & Activities (Carousel Press, 1992) and other travel books, says sharing a vacation is a good way to cut costs, whether you share a condo or do a home exchange. A shared vacation is to "share expenses, work, babysitting and fun," she says.

So you don't have to break the bank to go on vacation. Just do a little planning and research and you, too, can have the affordable vacation package of your dreams.

Ben Jordan an Austin, TX based x-Fortune 500 business consultant, now a direct response marketer. His true love is helping business owners, not become a 90% statistic that will fail historically. To receive a FREE travel voucher for a 3day/2night hotel stay please visit today http://www.abccallcenter.com
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