Money Saving Secrets Blog » Vacation

Guest Post- Whirlwind Trip to the Windy City

Jennifer Billy — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:00:46 +0000

When considering great vacation spots, my family and I always try to look for things out of the norm. Getting away to ‘big’ cities like Chicago has always been great fun for me and my family. We enjoy going for an overnight stay or even a long weekend that allows us to explore one or more of the many Chicago attractions we enjoy, including the Shedd Aquarium, the Planetarium, Millennium Park, and the Chicago Children’s Museum. While we’re a growing family, we can enjoy the Windy City without running through our entire vacation budget.

Shedd Aquarium

For around $30, our family can enjoy an afternoon at the Shedd Aquarium. General admission doesn’t include special exhibits at the aquarium, but our children are currently more interested in the year-round ocean life displays. As they get older and develop more patience for special shows and visiting exhibits, we might consider a family membership that will grant us access to these features.

The Planetarium

As general admission to the Planetarium is close to $50 for our family, we save visits to this particular destination for special occasions, such as celebrating one of the children’s birthdays while we’re in Chicago. That said, a visit to the Planetarium is a fun and affordable possibility if we fill out the rest of our weekend with free activities like a picnic or an outing like Movies in the Park. The film selections are great for our kids, enjoyable for me and my husband, and a great place to sit down as a family and talk about what we saw at the Planetarium earlier in the afternoon.

Millennium Park

One of our favorite venues in Chicago, Millennium Park has a wealth of offerings that are great for the whole family – and has free admission. We can spend the afternoon taking in art exhibits and enjoy a concert in the evening. We like to participate in family-friendly events such as making seasonal crafts or ice skating (even if some of us spend the entire time clinging to the side of the rink). We tend to finish up with a dinner from foods we pick up at a local farmers’ market, benefitting the local economy and saving us the money we’d normally spend on dinner at a restaurant.

Chicago Children’s Museum

As you might guess, the Chicago Children’s Museum is our children’s top pick when it comes to Chicago visits. Because it’s so popular with our family, my husband and I bought a family membership (around $120) as a family Christmas present that pays for our visits throughout the year. I’m sure my boys would spend their entire weekend in Kids Town if my husband and I let them. Visiting the CCM is a great way for the kids to have educational experiences that are also fun, which is a perfect way to introduce them to museums.

No matter where our family goes in Chicago, we always have a good time. I’m glad that my husband and I have instilled a love of learning in our kids. We certainly don’t mind repeating some of the same activities when we visit the Windy City, simply because everyone enjoys them so much and because we can supplement a visit to an attraction with other low-cost or free activities. I look forward to future visits to Chicago, especially as the kids get older and more options open up for our family.

Author Bio:
Holly Watson is a stay at home wife and mother of 3 boys, with one precious baby girl arriving in October. She was a financial adviser until she ‘gave it all up’ to stay at home with the kids. You can follow some of her mantras at www.eatbreatheblog.com.

Guest Post- Taking the Family to Your Favorite College Spot

Jennifer Billy — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:00:51 +0000

As a college student, I had the chance to go on a few vacations with friends and family. We’d pile in a few cars, leave behind the landlocked state we lived in, and head for the beach. Saving all year and combining funds allowed us to rent a couple of Panama City Beach condos and enjoy amenities like cooking in-house and, of course, close proximity to sand and surf. Now that I’m out of school and looking for vacation destinations for my family, I remember those trips fondly for their affordability, accessibility, and fun.

One thing my travel group always liked about staying in Florida was the affordability. Split between even as few as four people, our beach side condos cost about the same amount as a nice hotel. The condos, however, offered all the comforts of home, including a full kitchen and an in-unit washer and dryer. Nothing was better than coming back from the beach and being able to wash away sand and salt in preparation for the next day of fun, all while dinner was cooking. Eating at our temporary home and being close to the beach were great ways to keep our entertainment costs low. After a day of sunbathing, swimming, and sand castles, we could dine as a group and save our money for one nice meal out during the week.

We were also able to realize cost savings by paying attention to when we traveled. We knew that costs would be higher and facilities more crowded if we planned a vacation during Spring Break. Often, planning our vacation just a few days after a holiday, such as choosing to travel after Labor Day weekend, put us in a lower cost bracket and made it possible for us to visit local tourist attractions for less money.

A wealth of attractions near our condos always made our trips more fun, such as spending an afternoon at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! or going on a pirate ship tour. The activities were engaging for children and adults alike, which is something I remembered for future visits – and for friends who needed family-friendly activities. It hardly seemed possible that a relatively quick car trip would find us dipping our toes into the Gulf of Mexico, but there we were, enjoying it all without breaking the bank.

Now my friends and family have gotten into a kind of routine. Knowing our Panama City Beach condos and nearby attractions are waiting for us, we know how much money we need to save over the course of the year.

Anticipating our vacation, we’ll discuss the meals we’ll make in-house and the fun we’ll have at our favorite museums and water parks. I am happy to have a regular vacation spot to visit each year. Inviting different friends and family members makes each trip different, and I still look forward to them as though I am headed to Florida for the first time.

Guest Post- Traveling on a Budget: Indianapolis Style

Jennifer Billy — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:15:08 +0000

As a stay at home mom of four young kids, I look forward to vacations to grab a break from the daily grind.

Our annual family vacations are pure bliss: a time to slow down and just enjoy spending time together. I try to think up fun, cheap get-aways each year. I’ve found that traveling inexpensively with a family of six is difficult, but doable.

I came across Indianapolis while searching for cities that have fun, cheap activities for both children and adults. My husband initially wasn’t sold, but once I showed him my preliminary itinerary and budget plan, he warmed up quickly.

Museums

There’s no shortage of amazing museums in Indianapolis. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is one of the biggest and best children’s museums in the nation as voted by Forbes Traveler and Parents Magazine. For a museum with so much hype, I expected the rates to be pretty steep. But, admission fees were under $20 for adults and under $12 for kids– and coupons aren’t difficult to find if you plan ahead. My kids loved the playscapes, interactive exhibitions, gift shop and food court. It’s a huge museum, and can easily eat up the better part of a day.

We also spent hours at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. While parents may not normally choose an art museum as a great place for kids, the IMA features an array of exhibits from ancient art to modern to postmodern. They also have a nature park that spans 100 acres with plenty of places for kids to explore, play and take pictures. And the best part: it’s free.

The Eiteljorg Museum is a fun, educational and cheap way to get everyone involved. The museum is based around American Indians and Western Art, so your kids will more than likely be able to connect with history in a hands-on way. My kids even recognized some names and places they’d learned in school.

Outdoor Activities

The weather in Indianapolis is typically very agreeable. We had only two rainy days, which we spent at the Children’s Museum and the Eiteljorg. On nicer days, we made an effort to spend as much time outside as possible.

We spent a beautiful sunny late afternoon/early evening at Victory Field enjoying a baseball game and The monon trail is an absolutely beautiful way to see the entire city. The trail begins downtown and goes north until reaching a northern suburb of Indianapolis. It runs through major landmarks and neighborhoods, offering a great representation of the city, all while being outside, enjoying sunshine and getting some exercise. We rented bikes from a place right on the trail and spent a few hours exploring.

Downtown and Broad Ripple

Downtown Indianapolis is accessible and exciting. We walked along the canal and even rented paddleboats to go for a quick spin. There are lots of interesting shops and restaurants both downtown and in Broad Ripple Village, a neighborhood on the north east side of Indianapolis.

Affordability

Overall, Indianapolis is an amazing getaway. We didn’t spend much money at all and the cost of living in Indianapolis is lower than the national average, making hotels and attractions super affordable.

When planning your next vacation, make sure to give Indianapolis fair consideration. You don’t have to spend thousands traveling to Disney World to have a good time!

Author Bio:
Holly Watson is a stay at home wife and mother of 3 boys, with one precious baby girl arriving in October. She was a financial advisor until she ‘gave it all up’ to stay at home with the kids. You can follow some of her mantras at www.eatbreathblog.com.

Free Disney Vacation Planner DVD

Jennifer Billy — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:31:03 +0000

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How To Take A Family Vacation Without Breaking The Bank

Jennifer Billy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:00:22 +0000

Is it possible to take a family vacation without breaking the bank? Absolutely… well except for maybe the piggy bank.

If you make a few simple changes you can put enough money away throughout the year to pay for your vacation without having to sacrifice your budget to do it.

There are two things you are going to need to get started, your expenses and a piggy bank to use for your vacation fund. Having a fun bank to place your money into will help keep you motivated through out the year. It will also get the kids involved. They will be more likely to place their extra change into it knowing that it will help them get closer to going on vacation.

Here are 5 steps to help you get started-

1. Save Your Change- The first and easiest way to start saving for a vacation fund is to save your change. When making purchases only pay with your dollars and save all the coins. At the end of the day add all the change you have received to your vacation fund.

2. Use Coupons- Use coupons and sales to lower your expenses. Set a budget for items like groceries, gas, shopping and entertainment and place that money in envelopes for the month. Then use sales and coupons to lower your spending. At the end of the month take the money you have left and put it into your vacation fund.

3. Rebates & Cash Back- Make sure to submit rebates and shop online through cash back sites. Then when ever you receive a check deposit it into your vacation fund.

4. Make Extra Money Online- Set aside a few hours a week to make some extra money by taking surveys, reading e-mails and mystery shopping. Also take advantage of reward sites. If they do not pay in cash or check then use your points to buy gift cards that you can use at restaurants while on vacation.

5. Sell Unused Items- Have a garage sale to get rid of any unwanted items or sell them on Ebay. Not only will you have extra money to add to your vacation fund, but you will be decluttering your house at the same time.

Anytime you can save money or you receive extra money just place it into your vacation fund. Within a years time you should have saved enough money to take a great vacation with your family.

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Save on Travel with Travel Zoo

Jennifer Billy — Sun, 15 May 2011 13:00:21 +0000

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Happy Birthday Emma!

Jennifer Billy — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:01 +0000

I can not believe my baby is three years old today! The only thing that amazes me more then how fast the past three years went is how much she has grown in three years. She is such an amazing little girl and I feel so blessed to be her Mommy.

We are going to be celebrating her birthday today at the Magic Kingdom. I can not wait to see her face when she sees the castle for the first time.

I also want to wish my wonderful husband Jim Happy Birthday! His birthday may be overshadowed by Emma’s, but not forgotten.

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Disney Here We Come!

Jennifer Billy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:00:42 +0000

We are on our way to Walt Disney World! I will not be around or even able to check e-mail for the next week. So if you leave a comment or send a message please be patient. I will get to it as soon as I get back.

I have scheduled some post for the week as well as some guest articles. I hope you enjoy them.