Traveler planning vacation trip and searching on laptop for black Friday deals. The Caribbean.

How To Budget For A Vacation

Planning a Budget-Friendly Vacation for Families.

By Mary Luz Mejia | Published on April 21, 2023

You've packed your bags, and you're ready to enjoy some fun in the sun. Knowing how to budget for a vacation is key to a no-stress, good time for the whole family. Those on-the-road and sea costs can add up faster than a few cervezas on a hot summer's day. But don't worry! There are ways to vacation on a budget that won't leave you wanting more and will leave a little extra change in your pocket. Here are some top tips on how to budget for a family vacation your whole crew will remember.

1. Plan Way Ahead

You may have heard this one before, but it's worth repeating: When it comes to how to plan an affordable vacation, booking as far out as you can could net you hundreds of dollars in savings and score you some pretty nifty perks, too. If, for example, you're looking for a Caribbean cruise that you know you'll want to take late in the fall or early winter, start looking in the summer. Some deals can net you 30% off per guest with kids sailing for free!

2. Upgrade Your Room After Purchase

Before setting sail on your cruise, consider bidding to upgrade your stateroom with RoyalUp. If you're a family of four, for example, getting that coveted balcony room with extra space can make your cruise vacation even better. Try bidding on your ideal suite and if you get what you're after, you'll only pay for the first and second guest in your group (based on a per night fee). Now that's a travel deal that benefits the whole family on vacation.

3. Sign Up And Book It (For Less!)

While you're still budgeting for vacation, it's a good idea to sign up for Royal Caribbean's email list to receive regular updates on destination deals, special offers, kids sail free promotions and even flash sales (for those who aren't early birds). Bonus points: You get notifications even after you've reserved your cruise to enjoy onboard experiences for less. This includes everything from beverage and dining packages, shore excursions, spa services and more that the whole family can enjoy.

And if your heart is set on a beverage or internet package, you'd be wise to purchase those before you start your cruise vacation. In an effort to secure your business, some deals can include a beverage package where if you buy one daily, you get one 50% off. Pro tip: Do the math to ensure you're definitely going to get mileage out of any daily package you buy. If you aren't drinking wine with dinner and enjoying coffee in the morning and cocktails poolside, maybe such an inclusive package isn't your best spending option.

4. Fly In Early

When figuring out how to budget for a vacation, this tip may seem counterintuitive. But if you're flying to a destination to catch your cruise ship, consider flying in a day ahead. Weather can happen and flights get delayed, and the last thing you want is to literally miss your cruise ship at port. When traveling on a budget, book early, get the best fare you can for a flight and then pre-book a reasonably priced hotel or room to crash for the night. Budget an extra day or two into your vacation before or after your cruise, and explore everything the port city has to offer.

Book your travel lodging using the online hotel fare aggregator of your choice — it's better than showing up and getting the "rack rate" price. And ask about the hotel's free shuttle policy — some won't leave until the shuttle is completely full, which might mean you miss your cruise departure time. Better to play it safe and book a cab than be stuck waiting for a shuttle bus to leave.

If you live near your port city, you can look for "park and cruise" hotels that offer discounted (or free) parking in exchange for your night at the hotel. If you live in the city where your cruise is departing, that's a bonus! Just grab a cab to the port and save yourself the extra leg work so you can sit back and relax — it's vacation time!

5. Find Where To Get The Best Travel Deals

When you vacation with Royal Caribbean, you can get so many cruise deals to help you save on travel expenses. Once you board your ship, the deals keep coming. You'll notice a handy daily planner called the Cruise Compass in your cabin, giving you the rundown of what's happening the next day on the cruise. Apart from the weather forecast, what port you're in and a map of the ship, you'll also find deals (called Offers of the Day) on anything from happy hours, spa specials and gift store sales to excursion specials. This resource can help you figure out how to budget for a beach vacation, so be sure to take a look each morning to get the most bang for your buck.

6. Wi-Fi For Less

Didn't sign up for the daily internet package? Wait until you get to port! Most port areas offer free or inexpensive Wi-Fi for cruise guests to enjoy. So if your email and social feed checking can wait, you can save yourself a tidy sum. If you did sign up and have onboard connectivity, know that you can share one plan, so long as you share the same device and aren't using the connection on two devices at the same time. Again, a little patience goes a long way!

7. Bring A Bottle

That's right, you can bring a bottle of wine or bubbly onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise and enjoy it in your room. Each stateroom is allowed two (one per adult), 750-milliliter bottles of wine, brought in your carry-on luggage. So if you're staying in a port city prior to boarding, you can pick up a celebratory bottle and enjoy. If you're not a big drinker and just want the odd glass of wine, this is the perfect wallet-friendly solution. Should you prefer to enjoy it in a restaurant, there's a corkage fee of $15 USD to enjoy onboard. Cheers!