A Dream Family Vacation for Less with @HomeAway

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Most families dream of taking a vacation full of fun bonding that won’t break the bank. When I was growing up, my parents made sure that we always had a week together each summer. We would get a condo or house at the beach, sometimes with other families, and it would be a magical week of sun, swimming, and no worries.

Now that I have my own family, we’ve continued the tradition of an annual family vacation. I’m always searching for destinations and lodging that offers a good value without compromising all our needs. One of our favorite destinations is the Northwest Florida Beaches, especially the Destin area.

Here are some tips on planning your own dream family vacation for less:

Vacation Home Rental

Hotels can be fun if you’re overnighting or just in town for a few days, but for a family, renting a vacation home directly from an owner gives you plenty of space, privacy, and some added luxuries that would cost an arm and a leg at a hotel. I’ve used HomeAway.com in the past to negotiate a low rate on a beachfront vacation home for our family.

Some homes offer onsite pools and hot tubs, along with gorgeous views of the Destin beaches. I like waking up in the morning, fixing a fresh pot of coffee, and enjoying it on the balcony or patio of the home.

Dining In

A wonderful way to save money while on a family vacation is to utilize the kitchen facilities or outdoor grill at your vacation home rental. While I don’t suggest eating in for every meal, because after all, you ARE on vacation, you can offset your overall vacation costs.

Activities

Staying in a vacation home, especially one near the beach, provides a low cost activity right out your back door – the beach! Many vacation homes offer the use of select beach supplies, such as chairs, beach toys, and umbrellas. All you need to bring is the sunscreen.

Not all families are content spending their entire vacation at the beach. Destin and the surrounding area offers discount shopping at the outlet malls, go carts and mini golf, water parks, and so much more. Have you ever thought about taking a fishing charter where you not only bond as a family, but you can catch a few fish to grill at your vacation home later that evening.

There are so many reasons why a vacation home can provide that dream family vacation for less, but as someone who travels with my family frequently, I’ll admit that the spaciousness of staying in a vacation home beats out the cramped quarters of a hotel room every time.

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HomeAway.com offers the world’s largest selection of vacation home rentals that provide travelers with memorable vacation experiences and benefits, including more room to relax and added privacy, for less than the cost of traditional hotel accommodations. Make memories where you stay, not just where you go. HomeAway.com – let’s stay together.

This is a sponsored post by HomeAway.com but my opinions are always my own. I have used HomeAway.com in the past to book my own family vacations to save money.