Money Saving Tips for Traveling Abroad with Children (2024)

Home Family Travel

By Michelle Marine

on May 19, 2016, Updated Jul 19, 2020

8 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This post is sponsored byUnitedHealthcare Global, but all opinions are mine.

Traveling abroad with my children is one of my biggest parenting desires. I grew up in Europe and was lucky enough to travel all Europe when I was young. But who am I kidding? Taking four kids to Europe is no cheap undertaking. It will take a lot of planning and saving. I’m already working on money saving tips for traveling abroad with children, and here are the first five I’ve come up with!

Money Saving Tips for Traveling Abroad with Children (2)

Money Saving Tips for Traveling Abroad with Children

Travel during the off-season if at all possible.

This gets a little tricky with kids in school, but summer vacation is the most crowded and expensive time to head to Europe. If at all possible, head overseas in the spring or fall to take advantage of better pricing on airlines and accommodations as well.While the weather could be worse at those times, it could be even better! Think spring bulbs atKeukenhofin the Netherlands and fall foliage at Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany!

Rent a house instead of a hotel room.

Renting a house makes a lot of sense especially when you’re traveling with children. It’s not that hard and it’s a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel. Another huge benefit to a house is the kitchen! You can save so much money by using a kitchen instead of a restaurant. HomeAway, Airbnb and VRBO are all places to look for quality rental homes in Europe.

Money Saving Tips for Traveling Abroad with Children (3)

Limit eating out by using grocery stores & markets.

You can save a phenomenal amount of money by hitting the grocery stores, bakeries, and marketsinstead of eating out at restaurants. I have such fond memories of traveling through France when I was 8 or 9. I wish I had a picture of my dad walking down cobblestone lanes with baguettes under his arms (they were wrapped and he was trying to look French :-)), a chunk of nice cheese, and a bottle of water. We enjoyed memorable meals near fountains and in parks for pennies on the dollar by buying groceries instead of ready cooked meals at restaurants.

Use public transportation.

I love public transportation in Europe. It’s economical, fun, and lot cheaper than taking a cab. While it can seem daunting to take public transportation in a country where you can’t speak the language, it is doable. Prepare ahead of time by studying a map and arrive at the terminal or station with a plan. In our travels, I have always found the workers to be friendly and helpful, and many of them also speak English. So don’t be afraid to ask questions if you get stuck or lost!

Consider travel medical insurance.

If you’re kids are anything like mine, you really need to think hard about medical insurance as it’s likely that your US coverage won’t protect you in case of accidents overseas. A basic travel medical policy can cost about the same as a nice meal at arestaurant. For a 7 day trip, that’s only a few dollars a day. Check out UnitedHealthcare Global for more information on how medical travel insurance can help you findquality care overseas, keep costs in line, handle translation services, arrange transportation home, and even bringing someone from home to be with you. Medical travel insurance can even handle non-medical problems such as helping find lost passports and luggage if you choose those plan options.

Thank you to MEDX for sponsoring this post. Be sure to learn about international travel insurance plans from UnitedHealthcare Globalwhose call center is there to help you 24/7.

Money Saving Tips for Traveling Abroad with Children (4)

Have you traveled overseas with your children? I’d love to hear your experiences!

About Michelle Marine

Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.

Read More About Me

You May Also Like:

Family Travel

17 Must Try Famous Foods in Québec during Winter Carnaval

Family Travel

21 Amazing Ways to Embrace Winter Magic in Québec City

Family Travel

5 Famous Hotels in Québec City You Must Visit in 2024

Family Travel

Money Saving Tips for Traveling Abroad with Children (2024)

FAQs

Money Saving Tips for Traveling Abroad with Children? ›

The best times, most agree, are between three and nine months, when kids aren't yet mobile, and any time after age two or three. The idea here is to bypass the toddler phase, and, more importantly, to avoid flying with young infants. The latter is especially risky says Dr.

How to save money with kids? ›

Check out these money-saving tips for families:
  1. Focus on food costs. ...
  2. Keep birthdays simple. ...
  3. Give secondhand a chance. ...
  4. Choose frugal fun. ...
  5. Plan ahead for the holidays. ...
  6. Hack your housing costs. ...
  7. Talk budgeting and saving with your kids.
Feb 16, 2024

How can I save 100 or more when traveling? ›

Traveling on a Budget: 10 Tips to Save Cash
  1. Plan ahead. ...
  2. Create a budget before the trip. ...
  3. Travel during off-peak seasons. ...
  4. Check Groupon and LivingSocial for savings. ...
  5. Avoid hotels when possible. ...
  6. Look for discounts before you go. ...
  7. Travel with a friend. ...
  8. Don't be afraid to haggle.

How to start a family vacation fund? ›

Here are tips for setting your vacation goals and achieving them.
  1. Decide where to go on vacation. ...
  2. Calculate expenses and budget travel. ...
  3. Set a timeline. ...
  4. Open a savings account dedicated to the vacation. ...
  5. Cut back on costs. ...
  6. Create extra income. ...
  7. Track your savings goal progress. ...
  8. How to do a cheap family vacation?
May 17, 2023

What is the best age to travel with kids? ›

The best times, most agree, are between three and nine months, when kids aren't yet mobile, and any time after age two or three. The idea here is to bypass the toddler phase, and, more importantly, to avoid flying with young infants. The latter is especially risky says Dr.

How much does the family need to save for the vacation? ›

Your budget for a vacation will, of course, vary depending on many factors. Many people set aside 5%-10% of their net yearly income for leisure travel, but your savings will depend on the type of vacation you're planning.

How to invest $1000 for a child? ›

To invest $1,000 for a child's future, consider opening a brokerage account or a custodial account, or look into a 529 college savings plan with gifting options.

What is the best savings for kids? ›

Best savings accounts for children and teens compared 2024
Savings Account for KidsBest forAPY*
FirstCardSaving and building creditUp to 4.25%
CopperSavings rewards5.00%*
AlliantCredit union savings3.10%*
Capital One 360Saving for multiple goals2.50%*
4 more rows

What are the 9 components of a family budget? ›

A family budget will contain expenses, which is the amount of money that they spend on things, such as groceries and rent, as well as things like housing, household expenses, transportation, insurance, medical expenses, communications, financial expenses, and taxes.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

How to save $5000 in 100 days? ›

It works like this: Gather 100 envelopes and number them from 1 to 100. Each day, fill up one envelope with the amount of cash corresponding to the number on the envelope. You can fill up the envelopes in order or pick them at random. After you've filled up all the envelopes, you'll have a total savings of $5,050.

How to budget for international travel? ›

But generally, the categories in your trip budget should include:
  1. Transportation. ...
  2. Lodging, including taxes and fees. ...
  3. Food and drink. ...
  4. Activities like museum tickets, tours, excursions, golf outings, etc.
  5. Souvenirs—anything you might buy on your trip that you wouldn't buy at home.

What is a good vacation fund? ›

Some people like to establish an amount of their paycheck to siphon off into travel savings. Perhaps it's 5% of your take-home pay, or an amount like $50. Once it hits a certain figure ($500 or $1,000), you can then dig in and start your specific planning. For many, though, building a budget makes the dream real.

How to save money fast for a vacation? ›

SHARE:
  1. Make a budget.
  2. Save consistently in smaller chunks.
  3. Open a high-yield savings account.
  4. Research prices well in advance.
  5. Plan your flights and travel dates strategically.
  6. Use a sign-up bonus to lower travel costs.
  7. Take advantage of holiday deals.
  8. Start thinking about currency exchange.
Aug 31, 2023

How much should I put in my travel fund? ›

For example, if your trip will cost $2,500 and you plan to travel in six months, you'll need to set aside around $33 a month.

Is it cheaper to fly with kids? ›

The price of a child ticket will differ from airline to airline. Some airlines offer discounted prices for children, whereas others have a flat fare for adults and children. On average, discounted airline tickets for children are around 25—33% cheaper than adult tickets.

Is it worth it to travel with kids? ›

The biggest advantage of traveling with babies and toddlers is that you still get to see the world! If you wait until your child is “old enough to appreciate it,” you are also waiting until they are old enough for school and other activities to get in the way of travel.

How much money do I need to save to travel for a year? ›

So, How Much Does it Cost? In general, you should expect it to cost between $25,000 to $35,000 per person to travel around the world for a year. This rough estimate comes from reading travel budgets of other bloggers, various travel planning resources, and our own experience. This is just the midrange.

What is the safest way for a child to travel? ›

Whenever traveling in an automobile or other vehicle, children should be properly restrained in a car seat, booster seat, or with a seat belt, as appropriate for their age, height, and weight. See information about child passenger safety.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg Kuvalis

Last Updated:

Views: 5808

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg Kuvalis

Birthday: 1996-12-20

Address: 53157 Trantow Inlet, Townemouth, FL 92564-0267

Phone: +68218650356656

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Knitting, Amateur radio, Skiing, Running, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.