Frugal Family Getaways
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Top budget travel tips
Apply for your travel credit card now! While many major airlines like Delta, United, and American offer rewards credit cards with free miles, my personal top pick is Capital One. With Capital One, you're not limited to a single airline. You can book flights with any airline and then easily get reimbursed. For instance, if AirEuropa offers the most affordable flight to Spain but lacks a rewards card, you can use your Capital One card to book with them and later redeem your saved-up miles for reimbursement. Moreover, Capital One allows you to reimburse various travel expenses such as hotels and rental cars. Having said that, I must also mention the Frontier Airlines credit card. While Frontier might not offer luxury travel, their mileage earning potential is exceptional. Upon approval for their credit card, you earn a whopping 60,000 free miles with any purchase. Most travel rewards cards typically require spending a minimum of $3000 in three months to earn free miles. With Frontier, you could simply buy a pack of gum with your card and presto, you've got 60,000 free miles! Additionally, Frontier offers attractive Caribbean destinations such as Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cancun.
Download the Hopper App now! I recently got round-trip flights from Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon for just $315 in the summer season, all thanks to Hopper. It's hands down my favorite travel app! Hopper utilizes a sophisticated algorithm to forecast when prices will drop, and once they do, you'll receive instant notifications. What's even better is the ability to freeze the price for up to a week if you're not quite ready to book. If the prices drop further while your rate is locked in, you'll pay the lower price. And if they happen to rise, you'll still only pay the price you initially froze. It's a win-win situation for savvy travelers!
Use Google Flights Explore. When I saw that flights to Italy from Florida were $1200 round trip, but only 1/4 that price to Portugal, I set my Hopper fare watcher to Portugal. Then I booked through a low cost carrier (Ryan Air) to get the rest of the way to Italy. Flights from Porto to Verona cost us $15 each.
Pack light! Many low-cost carriers like Frontier, Spirit, Ryanair, and EasyJet allow you to bring one personal item for free. If you can fit all your essentials into a personal item like a backpack, you could save up to $90 per person by avoiding checked luggage or additional carry-on fees.
Accommodations: Especially popular in Europe are luxury "camps." These are not your mother's camp site. No tents. For the price of a standard hotel room, you can rent out an entire cottage equipped with a kitchen, deck, grill, and more, plus enjoy access to all the theme park amenities. My top lodging recommendation is EuroCamp. Where I come from, $100 is the cost of a single theme park ticket. However, at EuroCamp, $100 covers the entire cottage rental AND includes theme park passes for everyone in your booking. To save even more, consider bringing your own towels and linens, or you can opt to rent them on-site for a fee.
*Update: Since writing this post, I've discovered even more budget-friendly camping options in Europe. Camping in Europe offers a unique experience, with accommodations that resemble homes rather than traditional tents, complete with bathrooms, showers, kitchens, and various amenities. Some of the options I've researched include EuroResorts, Happy Camp, and Vacansolieil, offering 5-7 night stays starting at just $200 per week! Again, these are not your typical tent sites—they're comfortable homes with resort amenities, such as pool, water park, theme parks, etc.
Transportation: One of my favorite ways to get around is with FlixBus. With my first FlixBus experience, I scored tickets from Lisbon to Porto, Portugal for $5 one way. I routinely find transcontinental fares in Europe for $20-$30. I was original a little concerned about how reliable or comfortable this mode of transportation would be, but I was greatly impressed! The seats were comfortable, the kids enjoyed the free wifi, and we have not had any issues as of yet with schedule delays.
Top tips for traveling with kids and teens
Traveling with kids can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some of my tips to help make the journey smoother:
Safety First: This category deserves more attention, so I promise to dedicate a few future blog posts on this subject, based on what our experiences. Most of our travel experiences have been incident-free. However, there were times when I was a little too trusting and we dodged a bullet. You don't want an otherwise good trip to be tainted by getting lost in the wrong part of town, getting robbed, or worse. Do your research on the area you are going. Find out what to be aware of and teach your kids what safety issues they should be aware of. Consider establishing a meeting place in case you get separated and make sure everyone has a way to communicate with each other in the event of getting separated. Long before the days of cell phones, I was traveling with my family as a teenager. Because of the massive amounts of people trying to get on the metro in Mexico City, I got pushed onto the subway train when no one else in my family did. I looked out the window as the train was pulling away, and my dad was holding up 5 fingers, and indicating to me to get off in 5 stops. I did. I waited at that destination, and watched each subway train for what felt like forever (probably an hour). I never did see my dad and the rest of the siblings get off two trains later, as the mass exodus of people getting off pushed them upstairs, where they waiting and looking for me. Only by a miracle did we find each other again. Nowadays, prevent situations such as these by installing apps on their phones, or enabling a similar tracking concept such as a tracking watch or airtag holder for shoe insoles.
Involve Them: Involve your kids in the travel planning process by letting them choose activities or destinations they're interested in. This can make them feel more excited and engaged in the trip. I have planned way too many trips based on what I wanted the kids to experience that it didn't occur to me that the kids wouldn't necessarily like it (who wouldn't like Italy?!). Just because they were finally old enough to appreciate Europe didn't mean they would actually appreciate Europe. Letting my kids have say in our next few trips made for a better experience for all.
Stay Flexible: Stay ready for unexpected changes or surprises, like when reality doesn't quite match what Google told you. For example, you might find that the train ticket you just purchased doesn't match the train you see on the platform (see my Italy post). Try to stay patient and adaptable if things don't go as planned. Remember that unforeseen circumstances like flight delays, weather changes, or last-minute itinerary adjustments can happen. Instead of getting frustrated, use these moments as opportunities to teach your kids resilience and problem-solving skills. Expect the unexpected. If possible, turn it into an adventure. If you're flexible enough, maybe there are alternate attractions and activities to consider.
Be Prepared for Emergencies: Carry important documents (or copies of important documents) like passports, identification, and emergency contact information. I also carry a photo of each of these important documents in my phone, and in a cloud. If you are like me and carry everything you'll need for your trip on your phone, consider what you will do if your phone goes missing. Have all your contacts and important information backed up. Consider travel insurance. I have never had to use it yet, but it has been a great peace of mind to know I am covered if something does go wrong on my trip.
Respect Local Laws and Customs: Familiarize yourselves with local laws, customs, and cultural norms to avoid unintentionally offending locals or getting into trouble (See my Morocco post).
Stay Positive: Keep a positive attitude and focus on making happy memories with your family. Traveling with kids may have its challenges, but it's also an opportunity for bonding and exploration.
Remember every child and teenager is different, so what works for one family may not work for another. Adapt these tips to suit your own family's needs and preferences, and I wish you an enjoyable journey!