The Best Affordable Summer Vacations For Your Budget

Welcome Summer With A Family Vacation Everyone Will Love

By Chantae Reden | Published on September 26, 2023

If you're like us, you might be starting your search for the best family summer vacation ideas on a budget. Fortunately, budget cruises are the perfect fit — these affordable summer vacations are inclusive — everything from your accommodations to plenty of dining options, some beverages, many activities and even nighttime entertainment are included in your fare, along with the transportation from port to port. When you compare the cost per day, budget cruises tend to be more affordable summer vacations than traveling on land.

When you're thinking of family summer vacation ideas on a budget, getting everyone onboard for the same trip can sometimes be challenging. One family member might crave a relaxing retreat while another dreams of thrills galore. Especially as kids get older, families might find that every person in their crew wants to make the most of their time in the sun, however they see fit. And that's especially true of extended family — including grandparents, aunts and uncles, or cousins. On a road trip or house-rental vacation, these family dynamics can leave the person planning the trip in a bind. But a budget cruise can offer something for everyone, all in one contained location.

If you have a set spending limit, you'll find it's easy to stick to it if you and your loved ones plan ahead together.

Choosing An Affordable Summer Vacation

Avoiding expensive flights is one of the easiest ways to plan a summer vacation on a budget, especially if you're traveling with your family. Cruises leave from departure ports throughout the east and west coasts of the United States, and finding one you can drive to — or hop a short domestic flight to — will prevent you from eating into your budget just by getting into the ship. If you do need to fly, look for ports near the largest metropolitan airports. Because flights from multiple airlines arrive at these airports regularly, competition means that flight prices tend to be lower than those servicing smaller cities. That said, it's always worth pricing out a few departure port flight options.

So where should you go? The best cruises for couples on a budget and families on a budget involve stunning natural landscapes, quaint places to tuck in for a drink, a laid-back way of living and a sense of escapism from everyday routine. Fortunately, a handful of swoon-worthy destinations are bound to do just that.

Book Your Perfect Stateroom

Your stateroom is your family's home away from home, and choosing the right one is one of the best ways to customize your family's budget. Interior staterooms are an affordable and comfortable option for families who plan to be out and about all day and use the stateroom to rest and refresh at night. But that doesn't mean they're bare bones: Some interior rooms even have cool virtual balconies, where you'll see a live feed of a balcony view on a high-definition screen.

Depending on your budget, there are many options. Connecting staterooms offer a great blend of togetherness and privacy — as well as two bathrooms, which can be key if you're trying to get multiple kids ready for bed quickly or you need to get teens out the door in the morning to join a shore excursion. If you're traveling with several kids or bringing along the grandparents, it could also be worth investigating a spacious family-sized stateroom for an affordable summer vacation stateroom that can sleep up to six people in one laughter-filled suite.

Best of all, if you're traveling with little ones, cribs are included, as is continental room-service breakfast (juice, cereal, donuts, yogurt, fruit) — which is great for any kid who is known to wake up earlier than everyone else and is hungry.

Assess What Is Included Onboard