*This is a collaborative post  

We’d all love to vacation in luxury, tropical five-star resorts, with no regard for how much it costs. But for most of us, that’s not really within budget. The cost of living is going up all over the world, as well as the cost of vacations, and many families are having to scale back their vacations or cancel them altogether.

A family vacation is a great way to get away from your everyday lives and spend time together making memories, so you should try to get away if you can.

Keep reading for some tips on vacation ideas and how to save money when planning yours.



Pick a destination that isn’t obvious

Popular tourist destinations often have price tags to match. They know that they are in high demand and set their rates accordingly, knowing that people will pay it. Instead, look for other places to visit that have the things that are interesting to you. For example, instead of heading off to California or Nevada, think about Arizona nestled in the middle. It has a range of amazing things to do for families of all ages. Check out this article on exciting things to do in Flagstaff, AZ to see if you can find the perfect vacation spot for you and your family.



Travel out of school time with young children

Holiday companies and attractions ramp up their prices during school vacations, knowing that the demand will be higher and that parents don’t have any other choice but to vacation at these times of the year. When you have very young children who aren’t in school yet, this is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of cheaper prices by traveling during the school year.



Don’t fly direct

Of course, a direct flight is the most convenient, but can also be more expensive. Look into flights with connecting flights that may be cheaper overall than a direct one.