It’s almost Spring Break time, and while it may be super exciting for the kids to think about, it may be causing you some added stress trying to plan a week of fun while balancing budget concerns. Mom knows best, so we’ve rounded up our top Spring Break savings tips just for you, mama!
PLAN A STAYCATION
Sometimes the best things in life are in your own backyard! Staycations are still a popular and very affordable option, especially for large families and tight budgets. Just pretend you’re a tourist in our own town! A couple years ago, we posted 14 Things to Do in Louisville for Spring Break. From nature parks to opening day of the Louisville Bats to daytrips around the Kentuckiana area – there’s fun for the whole family!
TAKE A ROAD LESS TRAVELED
When most people think of Spring Break planning, they tend to think of going somewhere there’s a beach. Instead of an ocean view, maybe visit the mountains or desert instead. Cancun, the Bahamas, the southeastern coast… they scream Spring Break. However, the high hotel and airline costs to get to those ultra-touristy destinations will have YOU screaming as well! If you go where others typically don’t, you can discover some hidden gems that offer a ton of fun for not a ton of money. With all those savings and being away from overwhelming crowds, you might also just relax a little more on the trip. 😉
PLAN A ROAD TRIP
We have a Road Trips section in our header menu here on the site, but we’ve teamed up with Sister Sites that are all within driving distance of Louisville to share their Visiting Moms guides: Cincinnati, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Knoxville, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; Detroit, Michigan; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
We have a couple other posts on our site from our Road Trips Series that aren’t part of our Sister Sites:
If you’re a season pass-holder at Dollywood, we highly recommend driving down to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and spending a few days there for Spring Break! Some of the team went down in March to see behind-the-scenes, and then my family and I went down for Christmas to use the last of our 2023 pass perks for the season. They never disappoint. Plus, there are a ton of other budget-friendly places to stay and things to do in that part of Tennessee.
Looking to take a road trip to the beach instead of paying a ton of money on flights for the whole family? We recommend booking a vacation rental with Newman-Dailey Properties and driving to Destin, Florida! In just under 9 1/2 hours, you can make the drive from Louisville to Destin. Note that there are tolls for this trip, but you’ll save so much money on gas and tolls compared to airline tickets for you/your partner/kids/etc. Also, it’s on the western side of Florida away from all major tourist destinations (win-win for moms that just want to relax on vacation!).
For a much less traditional option, try a Movie Theater Rental Road Trip where you find a theater you want to drive to and rent it out in advance. Several of the cinemas allow up to 20 or 30 people in the reservation. The kids can have the place all to themselves, and everyone can eat and enjoy a fun activity all at the same time.
PLAN AHEAD
You may have heard of those last-minute deals on hotels, flights, cruises, etc. but unless you’re completely flexible and are positive you’re not going to be paying more on other elements of your trip, this really isn’t realistic or ideal. Maybe when it’s just you and your partner when the kids are grown and gone, but it’s not usually best to do this with children. Planning ahead is always a great plan. Start booking everything as early as you can.
Airline flights are often cheaper if you book your itinerary during Fall and Winter. Hotels usually offer lower rates that earlier you book, and prices always go up close to and during peak travel timeframes like Spring Break and Summer vacation. If you can commit to your destination in advance, you can save quite a bit of money!
Whether you’re traveling by car, train, or plane, you can save a lot by planning ahead for meals and snacks. On those long road trips, make room in the car for a cooler and fill it with sandwiches and drinks, etc. and for a snack bag of all the non-perishables. When you make those potty breaks, you won’t have to worry about paying vending machine, convenience store, or fast food prices. If you’re staying in a rental home or hotel with a kitchen, find the nearest grocery store as soon as you arrive and have a shopping list prepared. Trust us, cooking and cleaning dishes when it’s not your own home – and saving cash – is so much more fun!
Set a daily and trip budget in advance. This will help you avoid impulse buys and really be purposeful in what souvenirs you take back home with you from your vacation. It’s also a sneaky way to get the kids learning about budgeting and the value of waiting for what they truly want.
BE A DEAL-HUNTER
Moms love a good deal! Are you thinking about a rental home or one of those movie theater road trips? Travel with a group! You can split the cost of expenses like where you’re staying, how you’re getting there, and what you’re eating. You could all pay for one vacation rental home instead of multiple hotel rooms.
Do you have a membership at Costco, AAA, or the like? They often offer discounts on travel. You can also check Groupon or similar sites for deals on activities and other things in your destination city. Check your credit cards for any travel rewards or cash back you have available, and use those towards your trip planning!
If you can be slightly flexible with your flight preferences, you can find deals by googling your flight departure and return dates and then checking to see if leaving and coming back on alternate days lowers your cost.
Find free things to do in your destination city! If you search “free things to do in xyz city”, Tripadvisor pops up a current list that you can check out. And if there’s a Mom Collective site in the city you’re visiting, search “parks” or “free” to see what they recommend locally as well.
