Plan Cheap Family Vacations by Saving on Meals

There are ways to enjoy cheap family vacations with a little advanced planning, research and a good Internet connection.

Create a Vacation Budget
When planning a vacation, don't forget to sit down and prepare a budget that includes the cost of meals and snacks. Some destination websites offer budget tools to use when planning a trip, like Orlando's website, which helps create budgets for popular destinations like Disney World. The tool helps calculate how much you will spend for each adult and child in your group each day.

Cater to Yourself
Resorts and other vacation spots sometimes offer lodging that comes equipped with a microwave, range, refrigerator, plus all of the pans and utensils you need to cook a meal. Disney's Wilderness Lodge in Orlando, for instance, has cabins with full kitchens, making it a great place for families to stay while vacationing at the Magic Kingdom.

Rentals 365 is a good starting point when looking for accommodations that let you self-cater. This website matches travelers with property owners who are willing to sublet or rent their vacation homes, many of which have fully equipped kitchens.

Grocery Shopping
After settling into your room and unpacking, head out to the nearest local grocery store and stock up on soft drinks, snacks and foods that you can prepare yourself. Estimate how much food you will need for each meal and try not to purchase too much. You can always make another grocery run later if supplies run low.

Some of the larger grocery store chains offer a club card that gives members a significant discount on many items. In most cases, you don't have to be a full-time resident to become a club member, so make sure to sign up before you stock up.

Free Breakfast
Many hotel chains offer a complimentary breakfast to their guests, which will help you avoid the cost of at least one vacation meal per day. Many hotels and resorts offer a light continental breakfast of fruit, pastries, coffee and juice, but some go even further and serve a breakfast that includes scrambled eggs, sausages and waffles.

Eat at the Hotel Restaurant
In a resort area, the hotel restaurant can be a mixed blessing. If the prices are reasonable, having a meal or two at the hotel could be economical, but taking a short drive to a family restaurant might save you more money in the long run.

All-inclusive Vacation Packages
If you purchase an all-inclusive family vacation package, meals and beverages are typically included, which could mean big savings on vacation meals. It's a good idea, though, to compare the cost of a non-inclusive vacation with one where meals are provided. You could actually be paying more for food than if you self-catered, so make sure to do the math before you leave home.

Budget Busting Vacation Meals
It's easy to fall into these budget-busting traps while on vacation:

Airline Meals: As a cost-cutting measure, most airlines have eliminated the complimentary meal service in the main cabin for most domestic flights. First class passengers still get a meal, but the cost of sitting in that cabin is much more than the meal is really worth. Most airlines still offer a light snack during domestic flights.

Meals at the Airport: Because the major airlines have stopped providing free meals, the airports have picked up the slack, offering "meals to go" that can be carried on the plane. These meals are quite convenient, but they tend to cost more than regular restaurant fare.

Amusement Park/Resort Food: At a typical resort or amusement park, there is no shortage of snacks and full-service restaurants where you can sit down for a meal. Though it means not having to leave the park to eat, the cost of a typical vacation meal (Disneyworld) will be significantly higher.

Room Service: Arguably the biggest way to deplete the money set aside for vacation meals, room service provides a great convenience, but an entrée, vegetable, side dish and dessert can typically cost double than if you went downstairs to the restaurant to eat.