Basic rules to trip planning an affordable family vacation getaway.

Trip Planning Rule #1

Set up a budget plan your vacation getaway accordingly and stick to your budget. I know this sounds simple and you are probably thinking, "Duh, everyone does that!" But you would be surprised how few people actually follow their budget. So please remember that following your budget will not only make your vacation more enjoyable, but it will make your return home much more pleasant. Why? Well, when you open up that credit card statement, you will already know what to expect and not see those charges that make you wonder: "What was that?" and "I don't remember buying that!"

*Have a fixed spending amount for each day ($100-300 a day-depending on family size)

*Get your kids involved in the trip planning (ex. let them decide what to eat- careful with that one!)

*Only eat out once a day (make sandwiches, eat the continental breakfast at your hotel)

*Have your kids save for the trip. Remind them before the trip that the money they have at the beginning is all they get for the trip. If they spend it all, it is gone.

Trip Planning Rule #2

Create an outline or itinerary for your whole family vacation getaway. Make it fun for everyone. If dad wants to see the history museum, plan a day for that and the whole family comes along. If mom or the kids want to shop, then the whole family goes together. Remember you are on a family vacation. Make compromises and please each other.

*If you are going camping, decide before hand how far you will drive/hike each day.

*If you are taking a beach vacation, decide how long you will spend at the beach each day.

*Get a pair of walkie-talkies. This will come in handy if you are at a theme park or large area that it is easy to become separated in. These are also handy if your family is traveling in separate vehicles.

*Have a set time for all meals. Kids and adults both get cranky if they don't eat regularly. To help this out, you should bring along a backpack with snacks and water in it. We came across a great snack or meal replacement site that offered really healthy snacks, yet very tasty at the same time. This is kind of a rare combination if you are familiar with "health food." We have developed the habit of taking these snacks with us wherever we go now. You can check them out by clicking here.

*Try to stay at one place. This cuts down on packing and unpacking and also gives you the best chance of having an affordable family vacation.

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Trip Planning Rule #3

Purpose of your vacation. Vacation planning should have some kind of purpose to make it more meaningful. For instance, if you are taking a Florida vacation, is it because you want to visit Epcot, Cape Canaveral, or sun yourself? Are you planning to spend time with the extended family? Are you going on a camping vacation because you want to get away from the city and spend time with your spouse and kids? Regardless of your vacation planning, you should have a purpose. With a purpose in mind, everyone in the family knows what to expect and won't be disappointed.

Every family needs to take a vacation now and then. It is good for your body, soul, and mind. A family vacation getaway will help you reconnect with one another and remind you of your identity as a family. We have noticed some families don't take vacations or go all to rarely. Usually these families have small children or children with special needs. If your family has a special needs child, you really should take a vacation. Many families get so taken up with providing for their special needs child, that they forget to give that child one of the most exciting experiences: a vacation! If you have a special needs child, you have probably dealt with some of the stresses that are associated with raising your child. Here is a great site that gives some awesome stress management techniques for families that have a special needs child. Remember, families can de-stress and re-bond during vacations. Don't rob yourself of this simple pleasure.

Trip Planning Rule #4

Look for the free stuff and cheap entertainment! You will find trip planning an affordable family vacation is much more attainable if you go bargain hunting. Many local musuems are either free or charge small fees. If you plan your vacation getaway around festivals, you will find that there is a lot of free food samples and entertainment. Not only is this enjoyable and cheap (or free), it is a great cultural experience for the whole family. Going thru a National or State Park will provide cheap entertainment for hours, especially if you stop at the visitor centers and get the free guided tours.

Trip Planning Rule #5

Take pictures! I know everyone does this, but it is always a good reminder. If you don't have a digital camera yet, get one! They are a lot cheaper nowadays and well worth the money. You can then take as many pictures as you want then at the end of the day delete the bad ones. This way you keep your space free on your memory card. By the way, since we are on the topic, remember that a good picture involves the rule of thirds:

Visualize the picture, then draw tic-tac-toe lines on the picture. You now have the picture divided into 9 blocks. When you take a picture of something, place the object of your picture on one of the intersecting lines. This makes your

When you get home from your family vacation getaway, start a scrapbook with captions and dates. This makes it easier for you to share your experiences with others. It is also easier to remember when you pull the scrapbook off the shelf 2 years later!

Trip Planning Rule #6

Trip Planning Rule #7

If you are going to travel by vehicle, it is a good idea to have plenty of travel games , handheld video games and books along. My family likes to read and we often take turns reading a book out loud as we drive. You may want to get a portable DVD player with movies as well. This is guaranteed to keep the kids occupied for several hours. Take rest stops, so the kids can get out and stretch. This will help eliminate fights and melt downs.

Trip Planning Rule #8

One of the most overlooked items on a trip is travel insurance. Most people ignore this simple protection, because they assume their health insurance or home insurance will cover them. This is the case in some situations, limited to the continental United States, if that is where you live. However, if you travel overseas or are going on a plane, you have no protection against an unforseen illness that prevents you from taking your flight, or that lays you up in a hospital once you get to your destination. Often times you may wish to fly back to the States for medical treatment but can't afford to buy an immediate flight back. I can relate numerous stories to you of how travel insurance has saved friends a lot of money. For instance, just recently a friend of mine from Canada got a kidney infection while traveling in South America. His sister who was traveling with him, contacted their travel insurance carrier and was able to get out of paying about $5,000. The insurance money essentially saved their trip from an abrupt end. If you follow these simple trip planning guidelines on your next vacation, not only will you find yourself having an affordable family vacation, but you will have a lot more fun!