|
 Leavitt, who hails from Kirkland, Washington, estimates that she has
gone on more than 30 road trips with her growing family, logging
over 60,000 miles, to places like Utah, Colorado, Arizona and
California.
From packing their own food, to staying in state parks, to scouring
for last-minute hotel deals, the family has made an art of saving
money. Their piece de resistance: A trip to Montana's Glacier
National Park that did not cost more than $400 total.
"It is easy to spend more than you expect," says Leavitt, author of
"Road Tripping". "But if you prepare it right, it can be a lot of
fun, and very cheap."
More Americans are planning road trips around the United States. In
fact, 65 percent of those polled report they are more likely to take
a road trip this summer than they were last summer, according to a
recent survey by booking site Travelocity. And when you single out
parents, a whopping 81 percent said they were more likely to hit the
road with the kids this year.
Be careful, though. While a domestic road trip might appear like an
affordable alternative to traveling abroad, costs can easily spiral
out of control.
A recent study by travel site Expedia found that Americans expect to
pay an average of $898 per person for a weeklong trip within their
own country, hardly chump change.
To keep a lid on summer road-trip costs, we canvassed financial
planners for their best tips, culled from personal experience.
Here's what they had to say.
USE APPS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Not that long ago, travelers squinted at printed maps and missed
exits. These days, there is no excuse for not using smartphone apps.
Google Maps, for instance, will get you from Point A to Point B
without getting lost and racking up unnecessary mileage. GasBuddy
will locate the cheapest local stations where you can fill up the
tank. Apps like RoadNinja and Roadtrippers can tell you about local
amenities and help plan your route, and HotelTonight or Hotels.com
can locate last-minute lodging discounts nearby.
GET CAMPY
Ditch the hotels, and stay in campgrounds, says financial planner
Therese Nicklas of Braintree, Massachusetts.
By camping in state parks with her family of four for around $10 a
night, and cooking their own food, Nicklas estimates they save about
$150 every single day.
You don't have to pitch a tent every night. Consider an occasional
splurge at a hotel with a pool, hot showers and free breakfasts.
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Diehard money-savers might enjoy so-called "dispersed camping"
permitted in many national and state forests, where you set up away
from designated campgrounds. No amenities, but no fees, either.
Also consider an annual pass from the National Park Service,
allowing you access to more than 2,000 sites nationwide for $80.
HOLD MONEY-SAVING COMPETITIONS
Adviser Niv Persaud of Atlanta has an innovative idea: Make
budgeting a game with your kids instead of a chore. "For each dollar
they save, on coupons, special deals, or cheap gas, they earn a
star," Persaud says. "The one with the most stars at the end of the
trip gets to pick the location for the next family vacation."
FORGET FLIGHTS AND CAR RENTALS
Whatever savings you realize by staying domestic could be wiped out
by airline bookings and car- or RV-rental fees. So do what David
MacLeod did, and schlep to your destination in your own car, even if
it's a long distance away. The planner from Fullerton, California
recently took his family all the way from southern California to
Montana in their trusty Honda Odyssey, saving $1,000 in the process.
BRING YOUR OWN FOOD
The silent killer of many family travel budgets: Eating out. Nip
that in the bud with a cooler or two stuffed to the brim with snacks
and quick meals.
"A simple gallon of milk, box of cereal, yogurts and fresh fruit can
provide a great breakfast at 1/4 of the cost of eating out," says
Janice Cackowski, a planner in Independence, Ohio. She also advises
eating out only at lunch, when restaurant prices tend to be much
lower.
Above all, don't be scared off by the idea of being in a car for so
many hours with your kids. Magic occurs when families actually spend
time with each other. "Something wonderful happens: You pay
attention to each other," says Leavitt.
(Editing by Lauren Young and David Gregorio)
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