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Four tips for budget-friendly family road trips

Vision Credit Union • Jun 20, 2019

Hitting the road doesn't have to mean a hard hit to the wallet

School’s almost out, the temperature is rising and the open road is calling. It’s time for that venerable summertime ritual — the family road trip. You’re ready, but is your wallet?

There was a time when inexpensive roadside motels, cheap fuel and simple, affordable attractions were the mainstay of summer getaways. These days, ground costs seem to have ballooned. The average hotel room in Canada last summer was $181, and larger family hotel rooms tend to be even more expensive. Tack on gas at $1 per litre, three restaurant meals per person per day, as well as entertainment costs, and you’ve got yourself an awfully expensive holiday!

Don’t hang up those keys just yet. Affordable family road trips are possible with a little planning, ingenuity and old-school spirit.

Weigh your a ccommodation options

On most road trips, lodging is typically the biggest expense. The simplest way to cut down on costs is to stay outside of urban centres and major tourist towns, where accommodation costs are higher. If your heart is set on those locations, try looking for an affordable Airbnb that will fit your family. Typically, Airbnb suites offer kitchens, so this can also help you cut down on dining out costs.

Alberta is made for camping and there’s no shortage of campsites across the province. Provincial campsites run from $5-$26 per night for unserviced sites, which makes for a pretty cheap night’s sleep.

If roughing it isn’t your thing, consider glamour camping (glamping). Alberta offers a number of locations with luxury outdoor camping sites that take the work out of camping. Typically, these include more permanent structures, like safari tents or yurts, comfy beds, running water and sometimes even heat. Predictably, glamping is more expensive than camping, but tends to be less expensive and more family friendly than the average hotel. Check Travel Alberta for a list of glamping providers across the province

Prefer a getaway with your home in tow but you don’t own a trailer or motorhome? There is a rash of new Airbnb-type companies offering RV’s at discounted rates. Providers like Wheelestate, RVEzy, Outdoorsy and even Airbnb provide peer to peer services, that make RV rental much more affordable.

Track down gas deals

Each spring, as temperatures start to rise, so do the gas prices. Starting in April each year, refiners are required by federal law to produce gasoline that’s less susceptible to evaporation during higher temperatures. That means refiners need to add expensive components in their fuel processing, and that cost gets passed onto motorists.

Given those high summer gas prices, pit stops can really add up—even for the most fuel-efficient cars. Take some time to suss out deals on local gas prices using a site like GasBuddy, which provides information on the lowest gas prices in the area. If you’re really feeling organized, you chart the cheapest gas prices along your route.

Enjoy some old school, affordable attractions

Road trips are supposed to be fun, but that doesn’t mean every stop has be an explosion of entertainment. Balance the big-ticket draws with stops at provincial parks, beaches, local festivals or small-town attractions. Word has it, Alberta is chalk full of giant bumble bees, sausages, Pysankas, gophers, lanterns, dinosaurs and more to delight and amaze the kids.

Pack a cooler

Eating out is often the silent killer of many family travel budgets. Nip that in the bud by bringing a cooler filled with snacks and quick meals. You can shop along the way and keep it filled with affordable grocery store food.


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