Earlier this week our family of five returned from our annual vacation to Great Wolf Lodge. Every year we enjoy an overnight to Niagara Falls’ favourite waterpark, a place where my kids have formed some really happy memories. This year we decided to spend two nights, since we always feel like we don’t get to full enjoy our time during in a whirlwind one night stay.
Our family rarely travels, in fact this was our only trip during 2018. We are fairly careful with how much we spend on vacations, and it’s definitely a luxury to go away even for two nights. As our family vacation budgeter and planner, I have come up with a few ways to save on vacations over the years. Below are my best tips for a budget-friendly mini vacation with your family.
Shop the sales
I never pay full price for a vacation. The internet has made it so easy and accessible to book trips at a discount, and you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of your vacation either. When we visit Great Wolf Lodge (GWL) we always make sure to book during a sale, which typically happens in early September. We subscribe to GWL’s emails, which alert us when deals are happening. I’ve also booked trips through GroupOn and Travelzoo.
Book trips mid-week
If you’re only planning to be away for a night or two, booking a trip mid-week is the best way to get more bang for your buck. We have always stayed at GWL during the week, and typically choose dates that are cheapest (Mondays and Tuesdays) to get the most value. These also tend to be quieter times, which means less line-ups at the water park.
Pack your food
Probably one of the best, and most obvious ways to save money is to pack your food. Eating out for every single meal can really add up, and the meal plans at GWL are far from cheap. For our trip we packed a large cooler with ice, and brought everything from cereal and milk for breakfast to leftover lentil curry with naan for dinner. Our fridge had enough space to store our food, but you can also keep food fresh by keeping it in your cooler and swapping the ice every day. Make sure to bring dish soap, and some bowls, plates, cups, and cutlery too. I even know people who bring crockpots with them to cook in their hotel room!
Avoid the extras
We always try to avoid the lobby gift shops and extras that are offered during vacations. At a resort-style and family-oriented vacation place like Great Wolf Lodge, the opportunities to spend, and spend some more, are endless. We allowed our kids to pick up one very small item at the gift shop, but we were pretty careful with going overboard. Besides, there’s plenty of free things to do at GWL, from pyjama story time, dance parties, colouring, and of course, playing at the water park!
Gift travel over tangible items
This year I opted out of traditional birthday gifts and asked for money towards our trip. I knew that the only way we could afford our trip would be by sacrificing gifts that I don’t even need, so it was an easy trade-off. I’ve heard of people ditching traditional Christmas gifts and choosing a fun family trip as well, whatever it is, often the memories made on vacation are not having bunch of presents to open.
