FAMILY BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS

The following ideas have all been used by us with great success, saving us money where we didn't feel it was necessary to spend it and adding to our experience in fun ways.  People are very accommodating towards families with children, especially ones traveling in a simple, adventurous way.  All the tips make use of your family status without taking advantage of the people you meet.  Families sometimes have unique needs that can be accommodated just by asking.

When eating out, ask for a child's portion even if it's not on the menu, or split a dinner and drink between two children.  This saves you money and the restaurant wasted food.

At a bed & breakfast, get the bed without the breakfast if possible.  The food makes up a large part of what you pay for.  As a place to spend the night is what you really need, breakfast on cereal, milk and fruit in your room for a fraction of the cost.

At an inn, guesthouse, hotel, etc., sleep the children on the floor, making beds with camping pads and sleeping bags.  Most places will let the children stay for free this way.  In a pension when abroad, cook your meals right at the pension.  Some have porches, balconies or courtyards where you can set up your camp stove.  Some will offer you the use of their kitchen.  Expect some interest in what you're cooking, always a subject of curiosity to foreigners.

When there's no campground, try finding a B & B, guesthouse or restaurant that will let you camp out back.  Settle on a small fee for the use of their bathrooms, water, refrigeration, even sometimes a washing machine.  If they won't take any money, return the favor by buying a drink or food from them or giving them a picture of your children.

Don't be afraid to ask.  Even if you feel incredibly foolish, ask instead of assuming the answer will be no.  With children it will often turn out to be yes, instead.  After days of rigorous bicycling and camping in Morocco, we came on a lovely, isolated 5-star hotel up in the mountains.  With sudden inspiration, Kevin entered its pristine portals and asked the price of a room.  The proprietor looked at Kevin, our bicycles and the two children, took in our obvious aura of family-on-a-shoestring-budget and offered us a discount room at the back of the hotel with its own separate entrance.

The children were soon frolicking in the outdoor pool, I cooked meals on the picnic table outside our entrance and all of us were treated like royalty by the staff.  It was quite an experience, one we never would have had if Kevin hadn't asked.