When considering where you want to stay, think about location, amenities and price. You want to stay somewhere convenient to the places that you want to visit. While on-site accommodations, such as within an amusement park or in the center of a city, may be the most convenient, they are also usually the priciest. Consider a location a few miles away or a vacation home rental that an be rented weekly rather than nightly. Unit amenities are very important when traveling on a budget, especially when traveling with your family. A full or partial kitchen, for instance, can save you a lot of money by allowing you to eat in for breakfast and either lunch or dinner, significantly reducing the amount of time and money spent eating out. When traveling with children, it can be especially helpful to have laundry facilities and a pool or playground on-site. Though no one really wants to do laundry while on vacation, having a washer and dryer close by will allow you to pack less for a longer period of time. A playground or pool can help keep your children active and amused for periods of time between tourist attractions.
How you get to your destination and how you get around while there is also an important monetary concern. Consider how far away you are traveling and how many people are going with you. Compare gas prices to airline and train tickets to see which option is the most economical for the amount of people traveling. At your destination, is there reliable public transportation or will you need to rent a car or take cabs? A travel destination with its own transportation system, such as Walt Disney World, which services not only the Disney property but also the surrounding vicinity for free, can be very helpful because it saves time and money. Public transportation such as buses or subway systems can also be helpful because they allow you to get around easily for a fraction of the cost of renting a car. Large cities usually have transit maps and schedules online so you can familiarize yourself with the public transportation system beforehand.
Admission costs for tourist attractions such as museums and theme parks add up quickly. Make sure that any ticket broker or tour service that you use is an authorized agent before purchasing any tickets or tours. Inquire about package deals in which you pay one reduced price for admission to several attractions. Also look for state parks or monuments in the area of your destination, as these places often are free or have lower admission prices than other tourist attractions. Also look for anything that may be happening in the area, such as local concerts or outdoor movie showings in a park. These events cost nothing; information about such events is generally located on your location's official tourism website or chamber of commerce website.
