If you’ve been following along for any length of time then you know that we love traveling. But you’ve probably also realized that as a family of eight that pretty much means ROAD TRIP! It’s true–we love a family vacation as much as the next person but anyway that we can save money is a win. If your family is like ours then you’re in luck. Today I’ve teamed up with Smart & Final to share some money-saving road trip hacks. So if you’re ready to beat the heat make one stop at your local Smart & Final to stock up for a good time! Be sure to pin for your next trip! This post is sponsored by Smart & Final, all opinions are my own.
money-saving road trip hacks
bring your own snacks
Nothing can make or break a trip faster than food, am I right? When we’re road tripping we usually bring our own snacks and food for lunches. Smart & Final is a great place to snack up on snacks and lunchtime essentials. One trip and that’s it–we’re all happy with full bellies. Which is especially important when you have a car full of tired and hangry kids. Be sure to check along your travel route if there’s some snacktime goodies you need to restock on while you’re on the road.
book your bed ahead of time
We always book our hotels through a travel website. Not only do we accumulate points towards a free stay somewhere, but we’re also able to easily shop around for the best price. We can compare the travel website price to what it would be to book directly through the hotel. And we can also compare prices to other comparable hotels in the area. This is especially important when you’re traveling with a large family. Every bit of money you can save adds up! Bonus–you can read all the reviews and see what people have to say about safety, cleanliness, or the free breakfast. See what reviews say about whatever matters most to your crew!
| Read: See how you can visit our National Parks for free! |
research where you’ll go
Spontaneity can sometimes be a great thing. However, if you plan ahead a little bit you can actually end up saving a lot. From discounted entertainment tickets, to bringing your own food from your Smart & Final shopping trip, to saving on hotel rooms–a little planning goes a long way. You might be surprised to know that many theme park, zoo, and museum memberships work at multiple locations. If you have an annual pass anywhere check out what other locations it might get you into!
