The summer is one of the best times to head to the beach and soak up some sun with your family. This inexpensive vacation is one of the best choicest for families that are on a tight budget and don’ t want to have to deal with expensive surprise cost that will make the vacation a bust. With these easy to follow tips you can actually save a lot more than you’d expect for a beach vacation, which can help you maximize the fun you have with your family. So, don’t let the cost of your getaway stop you from getting some much needed time away.

1. Hotels
When you’re choosing a place to stay you should pay particular attention to your hotel room. A lot of beach front hotels will lure you in with their amazing views and convenient location, but they tend to cost you a lot more than you should have to pay. Instead of looking at beach front hotels try to examine hotels located in town first. Usually these will offer you a much better deal and typically provide you with breakfast and nice pool to spend time in when you’re away from the beach. A lot of hotels in town will put you near many local hot spots so you can experience the city just as much as the beach. One great thing about many beaches is some actually allow you to camp out on the beach. This is actually one of the greatest ways to bond with your family and will give your family memories they won’t forget any time soon. With the soothing noises of the ocean and delicious fire cooked foods, you will have the time of your life.

2. Foods
Food tends to be one of the biggest expenditures when it comes to vacationing. The best thing about the beach is you won’t want to eat large meals, which can free up a lot of money for smaller snacks that will keep the family cool. Most beaches have small vendors that tend to cost you quite a bit of money. If you really want to try food from these places you might consider sharing with the family instead of getting individual items. This will allow you to experience the food without losing a lot of money over it. One of the best things to do if you plan on eating at the beach is back items in a cooler. Sandwiches are one of the best family friendly foods to pack and be made for a lot less. Try shopping in town for your favorite ingredients and then packing up the food with some waters in your cooler. Most hotels provide you with free ice, so don’t be afraid to use it. When you are ready to have a larger meal try to venture into town. Typically restaurants in more residential areas cost a lot less than the ones in the tourist hot spots. You might also want to look at seafood prices in the area. Often, you can get great deals on seafood that you’d normally have to pay a lot for while you’re inland.

3. Transportation
While your staying by the beach you might want to consider keeping your car parked. Typically it cost quite a bit to park your car at the beach and might even force you to spend up to an hour looking for a place to park. One of your best options is to take public transportation. Most bus and trolley services will offer day or week passes to customers which can help you get around just about anywhere without a problem. Most bus services will drop you right off at the beach too, so you won’t have to make a whole lot of transitions to get to your destination. Most beach towns have a lot of things to see and within walking distance, so if you’re tired of the beach try getting walking around the board walk and checking out some of the amazing coastal shops. Many beanch towns also have a bike rental that will allow you to keep the bike for the entire day, so you can go a bit further and have a lot more fun than just walking around.

4. Spend Time on the Beach
The main you reason you go to the beach is to spend time on the beach, so don’t waste money doing other things. When you look for a beach to visit try to find one that is public and free. This will cut down your family’s entertainment spending to nothing if you can maximize your time here. Splashing around in the water and building sandcastles is totally free, so take advantage of doing this type of activity as much as possible. If you’ve been longing to catch up on your reading then the beach is the perfect place to do it. When you’re ready for a rest find a nice shady spot and bring out the book you’ve been meaning to get around to. A lot of beaches will have volleyball competitions and other activities that will bring you a lot of joy for no extra cost. If you start to feel bored then pick up your stuff and move to a different part of the beach as there will certainly be a lot to see and so throughout the area.

5. Rent Equipment
If you have beach equipment you might want to leave it at home. Typically renting gear isn’t too expensive if you know the right place to look. For many, renting at the beach isn’t exactly an option as they generally bring up the price due to their convenient location. Try to look in town before you agree to anything, this way you can get a little more for your money. There are numerous things you can rent for the beach so make sure you are choosing items that you can use all day long. Some of the items, such as a surfboard, boogie board and scuba equipment can be shared amongst family members so don’t spend money for everyone an item that can easily be shared.

6. Groupon
Before you leave for your vacation you might want to check out your social media pages or favorite coupon sites for great deals. Many groupons, especially in the summer, will attract people to the beach with their exciting deals. For instance, if you look carefully you will probably find a great deal on surf lessons amongst other beach inspired deals. One of the best values you can find is deal on dinners that can help you save a lot of family meals. You might even find some deals on tours that will help make your visit the best possible. So, don’t forget to keep an eye on your favorite sites to ensure that you will end up getting the most out of your holiday.

7. Souvenirs
One of the easiest places to bring home souvenirs for friends and family is at the beach. There are a wide selection of sea shells all over the beach that make incredible gifts for just about everyone. You can even have the kids go on a scavenger hunt to help find the best shells to give to your loved ones. If the kids get bored at the beach you can even have them make simple sea shell jewelry to share with their friends. Another amazing souvenir would be a small bottle of sand. This is a cool idea for anyone who like to add unique design element to many homes. Certain beach locations, like in Coronado, have beautiful gold flecks in their sand, which makes a great memorial piece for your family’s vacation. Your kids will love telling their friends and family about how beautiful the water and sand was, so the bottle will become extra special to your home.

8. Take a Tour
One way to change up your vacation is to take a tour with the family. Tours generally aren’t incredibly expensive and can get your family away from the routine activities. Most tours take place in various locations and will allow your children to learn a lot about the area they are visiting. For instance, some tour guides will know the best ares to find certain sea creatures on the beach and will even allow your children to get close to the one’s that aren’t dangerous. Other tours might even take you up in a lighthouse, which is a great adventure for just about everyone in the family. A lot of tours will even give you access to the aquarium, so you can have fun looking at all of the creatures in the sea without having to worry about the huge cost.

9. Visitors Center
Many people often bypass the visitors center when they go on vacation, but this location can actually help you find some of the best deal in town. Most visitors centers provide you with a book of coupons as well as a guide to the town that will help you unlock the best things to see and do while you’re on vacation. You will even get a mini lecture on the town’s history as well as the nature and animal life in the area. For many, the visitor center is where the vacation’s major planning takes place, so make sure not to skip out on this important part of the trip. Try to go to the visitors center before you check into your hotel so that you can already take advantage of the coupons provided for food, room discounts and activities. Visitor centers are also great in giving you a schedule of any shows that might be taking place during your visit.

10. Flying In
If the beach is too far to drive too then you should carefully plan out your flight tickets. There are many websites that are designed to provide you with a great fly in deal so that you won’t have to worry about spending too much. Some of these sites will even package your flight and hotel together to provide you with the most discounts possible. When you choose a flight you should always take into consideration the airline you are choosing as well as the airport you will be flying into. A lot of airlines that aren’t as popular can offer you a better rate whenever you fly, so try to look at these airlines first. You should also choose an airport that isn’t as large. This will reduce your price and will most likely get you to a closer beach location so you won’t have to rent a car.

Taking a vacation to the beach can be a whole lot of fun if you don’t bring the stress of every day life with you. With these tips you can enjoy your stay without having to worry about the debt your procured when you get home. You will really enjoy taking some relaxation time away from work so you can spend some time with your family and get the tan you’ve been hoping for.

Author: Chelsey McQuitty