The early bird gets the worm. Sometimes I think, who wants a worm! But when it comes to saving money or having fun with my family, I'm all in. Here are a few money saving summer vacation tips I've picked up along the way.
Book your vacation lodging using a military hotel or other MWR facility - From Shades of Green in Florida, to the Hale Koa in Hawaii, staying at an Armed Forces Recreation Center can make your vacation a little more affordable. While traveling, don't forget about DoD lodging, too. We recently stayed at lodge in Jacksonville, FL for a fraction of the cost of a regular hotel, especially once you factor in the kitchenette which allowed us to save money on eating out.
Get a free military pass to the National Parks - Enjoy all the nation's beauty with no extra fees when you get the free annual pass for military members and their dependents. This pass is good at any Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites that charge entrance fees and standard amenity fees.
Grab your military discounted or free pass to events - Check your local MWR/ITT office for discount tickets to attractions across the states. You may be able to see a concert, a ball game or even a play. Also, check the venue itself for special military appreciation days or special kids' events.
Theme Parks offer free days or discounted admission - Many theme parks across the states offer discounted tickets or even free admission to active duty members and their families. Others have special days set aside for free admission for military members. Just to name a few, Busch Gardens and Sesame Place offer free admission (restrictions apply) while Walt Disney World and Knott's Berry Farm offers specially priced military tickets.
Get a zoo/aquarium membership - If you are lucky enough to have a zoo or aquarium near you, get a membership and then use the reciprocal zoo and aquarium program. The bottom line is that you will then get free access to your local spot and free or discounted admission to many aquariums and zoos across the country. You can find more about this program at www.aza.org/reciporcity.
State resident discounts - Summer doesn't mean you have to leave the state. Many fun destinations located in your state may offer a resident discount. This can apply to theme parks, water parks and historical destinations. For example, in the state of Virginia, Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens theme park both offer a state resident deal that is essentially pay for one visit and get the rest of the season free of charge.
Buy your plane tickets on Tuesday after 3PM - I've used this tip, and another I learned about clearing my cookies while doing plane ticket searches. I usually do a cursory price check for budgeting reasons and then start searching for real a few weeks later. In my experience the prices were much closer to the original when I cleared my prior searches. When I didn't clear them the prices were usually at least $20 more and rising.
Check the Macaroni Kid website - Whether you're traveling across the state or across the country, check the local Macaroni Kid at your destination for budget-friendly, family-fun. You'll get the 411 on what's happening in the area and live and pay like a local, not a tourist.
