Planning Affordable Beach Vacations For Families

From budget-friendly flights to efficient packing, and keeping the kids happy - this is your guide to affordable beach vacations for families!

March 8, 2024

Lauren Stuttaford

Travel

Sun, sand, and surf. All of the ingredients needed for the perfect beach vacation. But sometimes these trips can be costly when they don’t have to be.

In this guide, we’ll look at everything you need for affordable beach vacations for families. From budget-friendly flights to packing efficiently, and how to keep the little ones happy – we’ve got it all covered!

How To Find Affordable Family Beach Vacations

Planning an affordable beach vacay for the family involves a couple of strategic steps to secure the best deals. Here’s what you should look for.

Do Your Research

Spend some time on Google looking for popular beach destinations, and then find ones that aren’t as popular. These places tend to be much more affordable. You should also look around on places like TripAdvisor to see what people are saying about these places.

Be Flexible

Sometimes it’s just not possible to travel because of costs, no matter the season. But if you look at off-season travel, you could be saving a ton. Try to keep yourself flexible and look for flights that aren’t within the next few months.

(Side note: look at midweek flights, and keep your departure and arrival times flexible – it’s a great way to save.)

Look At Budget Airlines

Take a look at flights with budget airlines that might not show up on popular booking sites. These carriers tend to have a much lower cost, especially if you’re willing to fly economy.

You should also keep an eye out for flash sales and promotions – they’re also a great way to save a few bucks.

Look At Package Deals

Some places offer package deals, combining flights with accommodation. A lot of travel agencies do this, and it’s a great way to ensure affordable beach vacations for families.

Loyalty Programs

If you’re part of an airline’s loyalty program, you should do some investigating to see if you have some frequent flyer miles.

You could also look at hotel memberships, which could offer points you can redeem for cheaper accommodation.

Be Spontaneous

We don’t mean you should splurge on your trip – but rather to keep an eye out for last-minute deals and spontaneous getaways. Airlines and resorts sometimes offer these as a way to fill up remaining seats or rooms.

Pack Affordably

Packing affordably is a super simple way to ensure affordable family beach vacations.
Here’s what you should do:

1. Plan ahead

Put together a checklist of things you’ll need to pack well ahead of time, making sure to add to the list if you think of anything. That way, you don’t miss anything, and don’t pack what you don’t need to.

2. Pack Multi-Use Items

Opt for clothes that can be mixed and matched into multiple outfits so that you pack 1 shirt for 2 outfits, saving you space in your suitcase.

3. Bring Reusable Things

Instead of buying single-use water bottles abroad, why not pack a reusable water bottle? Those things aren’t just good for your wallet, either. They’re also good for the environment!

4. Pack Travel-Size

Travel-size toiletries that adhere to airline regulations allow you to save a little bit instead of having to possibly pay for those things at your beach resort.

5. Beach Accessories

Some resorts allow you to rent beach accessories like towels. If you bring your own, though, you save on that rental cost (even if it’s just a returnable deposit).

Got everything packed and ready to go? Great!

If you’ve got your ticket by now, then you won’t need this next section. But if you haven’t yet, let’s take a look at a few locations that are known for their affordable beach vacations for families.

Top Affordable Beach Vacation Locations

When it comes to budget-friendly beach vacations, there are some truly stunning places out there that don’t have to cost you a fortune.
Here are a few family-friendly locations to consider:

Puerto Rico
Tulum or Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Krabi or Koh Lanta, Thailand
Dominican Republic
Da Nang or Nha Trang, Vietnam
Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria
Algarve, Portugal
Agadir, Morocco
Palawan or Cebu, Philippines
Crete, Greece

Once you’re ready to go, there’s only one thing left to do: figure out how to keep the kids entertained.

Keeping The Kids Entertained

If your kids have a good time, you will too.
Here are a few creative and super affordable ideas to make sure your little ones have a blast at the beach:

Beach Games: Frisbees, volleyball and paddleball are all classic ways to have fun with your little ones.

Seashell Hunting: Challenge the kids to find unique shells, offering a reward for the prettiest one.

Sand Olympics: Organize a family “Sand Olympics”, with competitions like beach racing, sandcastle building, and obstacle courses.

Body Surfing: Let the kids try body surfing, or just engage in a water with them!

Seaside Art: This one can be fun for everyone! All you have to do is challenge them to create art using only natural materials like seaweed and driftwood.

And that’s it!

Everything you need to know about planning affordable beach vacations for families.
If you keep these things in mind, you’ll make sure that you and your family can enjoy some fun in the sun without having to stress about what your finances look like when you get back home.

most affordable beach vacations for families

How Air Doctor Can Help You

If your little ones or you, start to feel unwell during your beach vacation, don’t wait till you’re back home to seek medical care. Use the Air Doctor app to seamlessly find a pediatrician that meets your preferences.

Our easy-to-use app connects travelers to a global network of multi-lingual doctors and specialists so you can access medical care anywhere, anytime.

With the Air Doctor app in your pocket, you can access medical advice, get prescriptions, and receive expert medical guidance wherever you are in the world.

We give you a wide range of benefits, including: