Babies come with a high price tag, but you can still travel for a reasonably modest amount if you plan ahead and take the kinds of trip that suit your new family. Just like any kinds of budget travel, you’ll be looking for inexpensive flights and travel destinations you can reach by car. Adding baby just turns up the notch on adventure a bit.
Some babies simply don’t travel well, and if you have a baby with colic or special needs, you should wait to travel when the baby is past the reflux stage or your cost savings will be eaten up with stress. Other babies are great travelers, however. If you have a baby that is quite content to ride in her carseat or sit in your lap, your options are almost endless when it comes to travel options.
Discount Packages
The internet is full of discounted travel packages, especially last minute trips. Often, babies under two are simply part and parcel with their parents on these sorts of trips. Before booking a packaged trip online, however, you should speak with a representative to ensure your baby can ride in your lap for no additional flight charge and that the destination hotel welcomes young children.
Some destinations aren’t as friendly toward youngsters as others. Look for family fun outings where a bit of fussy behavior won’t be scorned, merely part of the youthful background.
Cheap Flights
If packages aren’t your style, or you want to plan something a bit more specific, look for inexpensive flights that come out on special. Some of these flights are last minute, but others can be booked months into the future. Arrange flights now for future trips to save money. It might be hard to plan far into the future with such a young child, but a long weekend here or there will be easy to arrange and follow through on.
Car Trips
If you’re looking for an easy trip, throw as much baby gear as you’d like into the car and head out of town for the weekend. Drive a few hours in any direction and check into a family friendly location. Be sure to call ahead of time if you plan to stay at a favorite bed and breakfast to be sure they have a children’s menu. You can also call any hotel you plan to visit to see if you can arrange a crib. If so you can leave the portable crib at home.
Alternative Travel
If you usually fly, why not see what trips are available by train or boat? Explore all of your options to find bargains. Electric trains might be the least expensive travel as fuel costs continue to rise.
Off Season
Babies aren’t cued into seasons, so your little one won’t care if you head to the beach in the middle of winter. She might not splash in the water, but she can watch the waves from the inside of a warm blanket. Babies just enjoy seeing the sights – they aren’t sticklers for the rules. Off season travel means you’ll be spending less on air and hotel, and it also means the area might be much less crowded which is good news for all parents of small children.
Family Trips
The mument your baby was born you were likely encouraged to bring the baby over to see every relative you never realized you had. When you’re itching to take a trip, family visits can help to cut the costs. Drive to the home of one cousin and spend the night. Then drive to your grandmother’s for a brief visit and another free night before winding up in your ultimate destination. You might even be able to drive back the same route and score two more free nights with relatives. Who can resist another visit with your baby?
