Five Strategies for a Cheaper Family Vacation

Good Housekeeping

Summer vacation is just around the corner, and just because times have been tough doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself and your family of a fun vacation. With a little planning you can enjoy a great getaway without forfeiting the college savings fund.

Time it right
Try surfing the Web for wallet-friendly airfares Mondays (after 3 p.m. ET) through Wednesday nights, says Rick Seaney, CEO of farecompare.com. That's the window airlines have been using lately to clear out their extra seats. They usually post fare increases on Thursdays, which competitors match on Fridays through Sundays, so even though the weekend is your most convenient time to hunt for bargains, it's when you'll find the fewest.

Find the best destination for a family vacation

Find secret sales
Try the airline equivalent of a private sale by signing up with airfarewatchdog.com. It can help you find the best-kept secrets in air travel: "promo code fares," offered by individual airlines for select dates and routes. Another way to save: Sign up for e-mail alerts to hear about discounted fares as soon as they come out; Southwest, for instance, has been touting $49 fares on select routes on southwest.com.

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Get a suite deal
Booking a suite for your family instead of a couple of standard hotel rooms has always been a money-smart move, but now the discounts are even deeper. Many suite-hotel chains with kitchen facilities (think DoubleTree Guest Suites, Embassy Suites, and Residence Inn) are dangling deals on weekends and at other times when business travelers are scarce. DoubleTree's "Memory Maker Weekend Getaway Package," for instance, has a discount of up to 20 percent at more than 185 locations through May 22.

Don't leave home without this vacation checklist

Book late
You can cancel some hotel reservations 24 to 48 hours before your stay with no penalty. And at the last minute, prices may drop. So you can search to find similar accommodations for less, or call the hotel you're booked with to ask that they lower the price you reserved if you find a comparable room for less.

Hate packing? We've got you covered with this easy guide

Cut It Short
If a full week's getaway is still too expensive to pull off, try getting away for a weekend or two instead. The shorter period of time means less money spent on food and entertainment, and there are still plenty of memories to be had and plenty of places to be seen.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.