Sometimes planning for a family vacation can give you a headache. With the increasing price of gas and airplane tickets; holidays have become less fun and more financially stressful. However, good times spent with your family don’t necessary need to break the bank. Using these useful tips on how to get more for your budget, you’ll learn that fun is everywhere and it’s often free. Here are a few ideas to help you find a cheap family vacation.

Seek vacation rentals. A vacation rental is more economical than paying per room, booking an extra room for a family member can double your expenses. In contrast, vacation rentals are cheaper and come with many other advantages, such as a living room and a kitchen.

Eat in. If you want a cheap family vacation, eating in is a great idea. Research has shown that the average person on vacation spends more on food and drinks than on lodging. If you choose a vacation rental, you can save a lot by cooking some meals yourself instead of dining out all the time.

Look for something close to your home. With the increasing cost of gas, people tend to spend a lot on traveling to their holiday spot. If you find an attractive location within 300 miles from your home, you can cut down on your traveling expenses and have an exciting, but cheap family vacation.

Book into non-peak time. It’s easier to find cheap family vacation packages if you book your room during non-peak time. Non-peak time is usually before Memorial Day or at the end of the summer, before school starts.

Take your friends along. Try to plan a cheap family vacation where friends could also come along. This way everything will be more fun and exciting. In addition, you can take turns babysitting and spend a few evenings alone with your spouse knowing your children are safe.

Take your own entertainment along. If you pick a vacation rental, you will have plenty of room to store your board games, roller skates, golf clubs, fishing gears so you won’t have to spend money on renting new ones.

Seek free fun. If you want a cheap family vacation, try to find a destination with built-in activities, such as the mountains or the beach. This way you can have plenty of fun hiking or swimming, or simply admiring the splendid view.

It may be true that vacations tend to cost more these days than they used to. However, if you plan wisely and start your search in advance, you will have a better chance of finding a cheap family vacation just as exciting as more expensive packages. A peaceful vacation with your family is a perfect time to forget about DVD players, video games and MP3 players, and rediscover the joy of playing board games or teaching your kids how to scrapbook.