How to Afford to Travel With Kids: 9 Simple Strategies That Work
How Can You Afford to Travel With Kids?
One of the questions I get asked most often is:
“How do you afford to travel so much with kids?”
Yep, I get it! Travel can feel expensive, especially when you’re paying for four people instead of one or two. I can’t even imagine how bigger families do it!
I do know we’re very fortunate and blessed to be able to visit so many places, but there isn’t one big secret behind it. There are things we do at home and things we do while travelling that help make family travel more affordable.
None of these things are huge on their own. But together, they add up over time.
If you’re dreaming about a big family vacation or even just a relaxing weekend getaway, here are the strategies that have helped our family travel more often and I hope they can help you too.
Travelling with kids doesn’t have to mean choosing between family vacations and your financial goals.
For our family, it’s never been about having an unlimited budget. It’s about making travel a priority, looking for ways to save money at home and while travelling, and being intentional about where we spend our money.
I think you’ll find that many of these strategies are simple to start today!
1. We Make Travel a Priority in Our Budget
Travel Starts Long Before We Leave Home
The biggest thing we do is make travel a priority.
There are a few reasons for this. First, we simply love travelling. Second, our family is split between Canada and Australia, so visiting family has always been important to us. Third, my husband Will is Australian, and he will say he will never get used to Canadian winters! We always try to get somewhere warm to break up the winter months.
Because travel is important to us, we’re intentional about how we spend money at home.
I do most of the grocery shopping, which is probably a good thing because Will gets excited by all the new things in grocery stores and tends to overspend a little.
One of my favourite money-saving tools is the Flipp app. It lets me see what’s on sale in my area and circle items I want to buy before I head to the store.
I shop at stores that price match so I’m not driving all over town chasing deals. I buy what’s on sale whenever possible.
Did you know you can even price match meat and chicken by the kilogram?
When I find a good deal, I divide it into portions and freeze it until I’m ready to cook with it.
Those small savings add up over time.
We Choose Experiences Over Things
We still buy birthday and Christmas presents because I love seeing the kids’ faces when they open them.
But on a regular weekend, we’re much more likely to spend money on experiences than things.
Last weekend we loaded our bikes into the car and explored a new trail. It didn’t cost us anything, but we spent the whole afternoon together outdoors.
Those are the kinds of memories that matter most to us.
2. We Take Advantage of Free Activities
Free Family Fun at Home Helps Stretch Our Budget
We do a lot of free activities at home, and the money we save often ends up in our travel fund.
Instead of going to the aquarium, we’ll head to the beach.
Instead of spending the day at a theme park, we might check out a free festival in a nearby town.
We are lucky to have so many conservation areas, hiking trails, beaches, waterfalls, and parks close to home.
There are so many opportunities for family adventures that don’t require spending a lot of money.
We Look for Free Things to Do While Travelling
We use the same mindset when we travel.
There are definitely attractions worth paying for, and we don’t skip things we really want to do.
But there are also lots of amazing experiences that are completely free.
When we visit a new city, we love exploring historic districts, scenic lookouts, beaches, hiking trails, and local parks.
One of my favourite examples is Washington, D.C. The Smithsonian museums in this city are completely free and they’re absolutely worth visiting.
Saving on Activities Means More Money for Future Trips
The more free activities we enjoy throughout the year, the more money stays available for future trips.
It’s a simple shift, but it really does make a difference.
3. We Watch Flight Deals (and Use Google Flights Smartly)
How We Use Google Flights to Save Money
Watching flight prices has become a bit of a hobby for me. And Google Flights is one of my favourite tools when planning travel.
You can enter your departure city and destination, then open the calendar view to compare prices across different dates.
It’s one of the easiest ways to see whether shifting your travel dates could save you money.
You can also track flights and monitor price changes over time.
The Google Flights Explore Tool Helps Us Decide Where to Go
The Explore tab on Google Flights is another feature we love.
If you’re flexible on where you want to go, enter your departure city and choose your travel dates.
You can even select the flexible date option and choose a month or season instead.
Google Flights will show a map with destinations around the world and the current flight prices.
That’s actually how we booked our most recent trip to Costa Rica.
We found flights for around $350 CAD per person, which was too good to pass up.
4. We Use Travel Rewards Points to Reduce Travel Costs
How Travel Points Have Helped Us
Travel rewards have helped us get free flights to Barcelona and Las Vegas.
In Canada, the travel rewards game isn’t quite as generous as it is in the United States, but there are still some great opportunities.
You Don’t Need to Be a Points Expert
I’m definitely not a travel rewards expert.
But if you’re just getting started, Aeroplan points are one of the easiest programs to learn.
Many credit cards through TD, CIBC, and American Express offer welcome bonuses that can give you a big boost of points right away.
Often, the sign-up bonus is where you’ll get the most value.
One strategy we use is that I apply for a card and then refer Will for the same card.
He earns the sign-up bonus, and I earn referral points as well.
If you want to learn more, I highly recommend following AdventuresWithPoints on Instagram.
Marina shares great advice and explains everything in a way that’s easy to understand.
5. We Keep Food Costs Low While Travelling
Why We Don’t Eat Every Meal at Restaurants
If our family of four ate every meal at restaurants while travelling, we’d probably only travel once a year.
Food costs add up quickly.
What a Typical Travel Food Day Looks Like
When we’re staying in a hotel, we always try to find one that includes free breakfast.
We’ll fill up before heading out for the day and sometimes even grab a muffin or banana for later.
If we’re staying in a vacation rental, we look for a fully equipped kitchen.
Breakfast is usually something simple like cereal, milk, and coffee.
It’s not glamorous, but it works.
The kids actually love it because we often let them choose cereals that I normally wouldn’t buy at home. Hello sugar!!
Lunch is usually something quick and inexpensive.
If we have a kitchen, we’ll make sandwiches. If not, we’ll stop at a local bakery.
Sometimes we even save leftovers from dinner and eat them for lunch the next day.
Local Grocery Stores Are Part of the Experience
One of my favourite things about visiting a new country is exploring the grocery store.
It’s a fun way to see local products and experience a little bit of everyday life.
6. We Compare Vacation Rentals and Hotels Every Time
Why We Like Vacation Rentals
A kitchen is one of the biggest benefits of staying in an Airbnb or VRBO.
Being able to make simple meals and store snacks can save a lot of money.
We also enjoy having more space.
The kids often get their own room, there may be a living room to relax in, and sometimes outdoor space as well.
One of our favourite rentals in Costa Rica even had a private pool on the balcony.
Why We Still Like Hotels
Hotels definitely have perks too.
Free breakfast, pools, workout rooms, and not having to clean anything are all nice bonuses.
The downside is that hotel rooms are often one room with everyone together.
For us, it usually comes down to price, location, and how long we’re staying.
7. We Travel During Off-Peak Seasons Whenever Possible
Why Timing Matters
March Break, summer holidays, and Christmas are some of the busiest travel periods of the year.
The airlines and hotels know this, and prices often reflect it.
Travelling in the spring or fall can make a big difference.
Even shifting your trip by a few days can sometimes save money.
School-Age Travel Gets Harder
This definitely becomes more challenging as kids get older.
Right now our kids are 9 and 11, and we’ve occasionally missed a bit of school for travel without any issues.
But we’re travelling with our niece this summer, and because she’s in high school, missing school isn’t really an option.
We also try to work around school holidays and professional development days whenever possible.
When we travelled to Australia a few years ago, we built March Break into the trip by leaving before the break started and returning afterward.
8. We Focus on Affordable Travel Destinations
Some Destinations Stretch Your Budget Further
Not every destination costs the same.
For example, travelling to South America or Central America is often much more affordable than travelling to Europe and so charming with the friendliest people.
It’s worth looking at both the cost of flights and the cost of being there.
Road Trips Can Be Great Value
Some of our favourite trips have been road trips.
Last year we spent a week exploring Quebec City and Montreal.
We got to experience somewhere new without paying for airline tickets.
9. We Mix Big Trips with Smaller Adventures
Not Every Trip Is an International Vacation
One thing we’ve learned is that every trip doesn’t need to be a big international vacation.
Day trips, weekend getaways, and local adventures all count.
Small Adventures Break Up Everyday Life
Discovering a new town, spending a day at a waterpark, or exploring somewhere you’ve never visited before can feel like a vacation.
Mixing smaller adventures with one or two larger trips each year makes it feel like you’re travelling more often.
Free Family Travel Budget Planner
If you’re trying to figure out how to afford travel with kids, the best place to start is knowing what you’re working toward.
Fill in the form below to download our free travel budget planner to help map out your next trip and set a savings goal.
Once you know how much you need, it’s much easier to create a plan to get there.
Download the Planner We Use to Track Travel Savings
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be Rich to Travel with Kids
Travel is a priority for our family.
We definitely don’t have an unlimited budget, and we certainly didn’t win the lottery.
But it’s something we love, and we’ve found ways to make it work.
The reality is that small choices add up over time.
Start with one small trip and go from there.
You might be surprised how quickly those family travel dreams become reality.
Check out 21 Must Have Travel Essentials for Kids Every Parent Needs
