It’s no secret that the economy has people tightening their belts and cutting out extra expenses. Many families are getting rid of luxuries like summer vacations in an effort to save money.
But after long months of school, homework, and extracurricular activities, a summer vacation can be a welcome (and much needed) respite from the day to day grind of real life. Family vacations are about seeing new things and enjoying time with the people you love. A rocky economy doesn’t make that quality time any less important.
With a little creative thinking and some small sacrifices, you may be able to save your summer vacation.
6 Summer Vacations You Can Afford

1. Visit Friends and Family
Do you have friends and family that live in another city or state? Now might be the perfect time for a reunion! Offer to pitch in for groceries in exchange for a guest bed or couch and you’ll likely find that your loved ones will gladly open their homes to you for your summer vacation. At the very least, they’ll probably say yes to be nice.
When asking to stay with friends or family for your vacation, assure them that you don’t expect them to take time off work or play tour guide for you. Rent a car if you’re flying to your destination and make it clear you don’t need a chauffeur. Don’t make yourself a nuisance, but do get the inside scoop on local tourist traps to avoid.
2. Take a Long Weekend
If your budget or work schedule won’t allow for a week long vacation, consider taking a long weekend instead. Of course we’d all prefer to be able to spend weeks globe trotting, but there’s no reason you can’t work within your own limitations.
There’s plenty of fun to be had from Friday afternoon to Sunday night. My family rarely gets to enjoy a week of vacation at a time, but we make up for it with a handful of weekend getaways spread out over June, July and August. Taking weekend vacations might also allow you to visit more than one place. If weekend getaways are good enough for girlfriends and romance, they’re good enough for your family!
3. Investigate Vacation Destinations Within Driving Distance
Often times I hear people lament the fact that they can’t afford to fly to a glamorous location across the country. But every state in the United States offers something for tourists. Take out your map and discover the hidden vacation destinations within driving distance that you’ve overlooked.
You can easily cover hundreds of miles in a few hours by car - much less expensive than air fare for an entire family. Many times you can also save money by visiting lesser known tourist attractions or taking advantage of a state resident discount.
4. Consider a House Swap

Do you live some place that other people might consider a vacation destination? Offer up your house to other budget conscious travelers in exchange for the right to stay in their house. In some cases, you’ll even be able to use the other family’s vehicle (if you’re willing to offer up yours), saving you the cost of a rental car.
HomeExchange.com is a web site that helps people interested in house swapping connect with each other. It’s only $99.95 for a year membership and that includes unlimited exchanges. Worried that your home isn’t exotic enough? Remember that one person’s “everyday home” is another person’s brand new place to see! Check out the Travel the Home Exchange Way blog for even more tips on house swapping.
Go Camping
Camping is an excellent low cost option for a family vacation. Most state parks have camping areas with reasonable rates and plenty of activities available for the family. You can swim, tube, hike, fish, or just hang out around a campfire. Our biggest expense when we camp is usually food - hot dogs and marshmallows as far as the eye can see!
Play Tourist At Home
Last summer, the travel buzzword of the season was “staycation”. Families took advantage of their paid time off and school breaks - and stayed at home. A staycation is still a viable option for a family vacation if you commit to doing more than catching up on your laundry. Make a concerted effort to live like you’re on vacation and play tourist in your own city.
If you’re stumped for ideas, head to a local hotel. You’ll find dozens of pamphlets for nearby attractions, some of which might offer discounts for locals and state residents.
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Bench Marks - Pokhara, Nepal