Tips for Saving Money While Traveling Internationally With Children

 International travel can be an expensive venture without the proper, prior planning. Solo, adult travelers can usually plan trips on the cheap that include public transportation, backpacking, and hostels, but what do you do when there are children involved? Most parents enjoy traveling with their children. They want to give their kids the chance to experience the world while they're still young. But trotting the globe with a cadre of minors comes with a whole new set of complications...and expenses.

Children get tired and cranky. They can't walk long distances or carry their own luggage. Backpacking is almost certainly out of the question. Many international hostels require residents to be 18+ years of age, further exacerbating the financial predicament.

So what're you, a parent with small children, supposed to do? Leave international travel on hold until your kids grow up? Fortunately, it doesn't have to come to that. There are several proven strategies for border-hopping on a shoestring budget, even with youngsters in tow.

Tips for Saving Money While Traveling Internationally With Children

Be a bargain hawk

Sign up for every travel alert on the web that you can find. Join airline mailing lists and hotel reward plans. Keep an eye out for that perfect cheap ticket coupon or group travel package. Family-friendly hotels usually offer up package deals for four or more people. If you pick the right time of year, you can even find deals that allow you to bring your kids along for free. Do your research and memorize the hot travel times for the area of the world you want to visit. If you're willing to travel off-season, you can find great bargains.

Another good strategy is to apply for and make use of the best travel credit card with travel rewards. You'll be amazed at how many credit cards offer great travel goodies just for using their card to make your purchases. If you make steady use of your rewards card, you can potentially build up enough frequent flier miles and hotel credits to travel with your entire family for free.

Cut down on your food budget

Buy groceries and picnic wherever you can. Foreign countries have grocery stores too, and just like in this country they're always cheaper than eating out at a restaurant. Bring a recyclable grocery bag with you and do some shopping whenever you arrive at a new location. You can save hundreds of dollars by cutting out the fine dining, and your kids probably won't even know the difference.

If you're visiting a city known for its food (Rome, Paris) and you simply must try some of the local restaurants, go out for lunch instead of dinner. Lunch menus tend to be much cheaper than their evening counterparts, and they're often just as delectable. You can also trim the size of your check by laying off the booze. You're with your kids, anyway, remember? Skip the overpriced bottle of wine from somewhere you can't pronounce and settle for a nightcap back at the hotel.

With these tips, you'll enjoy traveling internationally with children and create lasting memories.