Kids. You love them. You’re happy you’ve had them, but no one can deny that they cost you. As much fun as you can have with them, how do you budget a road trip with your kids? You need to think of the cost of a motorhome hire, food, fun, and so much more.
So, to avoid losing your mind over the cost of traveling with kids in a motorhome hire, take some time to figure out how to spend less and still have a great time with your little ones. To help get you started, the following tips will give you ideas, so that you can save some money while doing as many fun things as possible:
- Buy kids’ snacks in bulk before setting out. Instead of depending on dropping by convenient stations to buy snacks every time that your kids get hungry, buy in bulk beforehand. This way, you can always have healthy snacks on hand and avoid overspending on snacks that can be more affordable if you buy more of them at once.
- Plan ahead where you will stop for gas. There are great apps for this. One of the biggest expenses when traveling in a motorhome is gas. While it will take time, if you download apps beforehand to find the more affordable gas stations, you can save plenty of money while traveling with your kids. The less you can spend on filling up your tank, the better.
- Make sure that you know where you’ll park your motorhome in every destination—beforehand. You want to make sure that you know where you’re going to stay with your kids. Leaving lodging until the last minute when traveling with kids is a big no. It usually means that you scramble for more expensive accommodation to avoid drama with your little ones. Plan ahead and book lodging in advance. It will save you money and a whole lot of drama.
- Bring plenty of entertainment for the road in the form of books, toys, and videos. Bored kids are going to ask for a lot. This can mean them asking for snacks they don’t actually want, toys they don’t actually need, and demands for activities they don’t even enjoy. Plan ahead by bringing things to keep them entertained as you travel, so that they know they already have what they need and you don’t have to spend more than your allocated budget.
- Plan activities ahead of time. You know your kids. You know what they enjoy doing and the things that they may be looking for on your trip. Make sure that you prepare in advance so that you can make sure that you book what they want to do, get good offers and deals that are often available for advance purchases, and avoid rushing last minute and spending a lot on fun things to do on your trip.
- Bring caffeine. You’re a parent. You know the drill. If you’re a coffee drinker, you know you can’t function without it at home, much less on a trip. Avoid overspending on expensive coffee shop coffees and bring along your own coffee maker and coffee—make it your favorite coffee, so you can treat yourself to a great cup of goodness every morning as you travel with your kids. If you have a favorite chai or mate that you like to drink in the morning, stock up on plenty to enjoy while traveling with your kids in your motorhome.
- Look up free events in the destinations that you’ll be visiting. Did you know that many cities have a lot of fun events that just happen to be free? Just because you don’t have to spend on it doesn’t mean that it won’t be one of the best things that your kids have ever done. Think about your childhood. You probably have a lot of good memories that have nothing to do with money spent and have everything with what you were doing. Take time to research these events beforehand to ensure that you get to enjoy them.
Traveling with kids does take some planning and it is considerably more costly than traveling alone. This does not mean it’s impossible to do it and not spend all your life savings. If you hope to take a road trip with your kids but don’t want to spend too much, consider these tips above to help you cut back on the costs.
From staying in a motorhome hire instead of staying in hotels to buying your food before your trip, there are many ways that you can spend little and enjoy more as you road trip with your children. It just takes a bit of extra planning beforehand, but in the end, you’ll save money and have a better-planned trip ahead of you. Happy traveling!
