Best Family Beach Vacation!
Did you know vacations are important to your health? Yes! It’s crucial to take a break from the busyness of life and spend time resting, relaxing and having fun! Vacations are a fun way to support your physical and mental health!
Planning family vacations can be hard — trying to pick something that is appealing to everyone but also doesn’t break the bank …
Vacation expenses can add up quick — travel (airfare/rental car), food, gas, snacks, souvenirs, admission fees, parking, etc.
One of the best “budget friendly” vacations we have taken have been at the beach. Now, we live in the MIDWEST so sandy beaches and oceans are not something that we get to easily enjoy so we can plan several days at the beach alone and my kids will be perfectly entertained! I learned this lesson the first time we took our kids to the beach. We had went to Sea World in Florida and had stopped by the beach one afternoon — our kids were actually disappointed we weren’t spending more time there but I had already bought our tickets to Sea World and Universal Studios. So, on the next vacation, I made sure the majority of the time was spent at the beach.
Some of the our favorite beach destinations are Destin, Florida and Orange Beach, Alabama. Our kids have always loved the ocean — building sand castles, swimming in the ocean, relaxing on the beach and searching for seashells during the day and crabs at night.
It’s perfect for families with kids — especially when you have kids from of all ages from toddlers to teenagers!
Where to Stay:
Location is key! I highly recommend you find a condo to rent that is either on the beach (or within walking distance of the beach). This is ideal for families with kids. You may spend a little more to stay close to the beach but it is worth it!!
One of our first “beach” vacations was in Destin, Florida. Our youngest daughter, Kate, was 2 at the time so she still needed afternoon naps. We stayed at a condo that was across the street from the beach. We would all go to the beach and then either my husband or I would take her back to the condo in the afternoon so that she could take her nap. The other one would stay at the beach with the older kids. This way, the older kids weren’t disappointed to miss out on time at the beach waiting for their little sister to take her nap. (By the end of this vacation, my husband and I might have been arguing who got to go back to the room to take a nap, lol!)
Another reason you’ll want to stay close to the beach is that there aren’t really any bathrooms on the beach …
Staying in a condo was also perfect when we went to Orange Beach, Alabama this past summer when our kids were teenagers. They got to sleep in while my husband and I went for early morning walks on the beach. And, in the afternoons, our kids would walk up to the condo to get a snack (because #teenagersarealwayshungry!) while we were able to stay and relax at the beach.
Why Stay in a Condo (instead of a hotel):
Choosing a condo over a hotel room allows you to have a kitchen where you can cook some of your meals to save money. I know, I know, one of the perks of being on vacation is that you don’t have to cook or clean the kitchen but you can actually save a lot of money by cooking a few meals in your condo. We get groceries for breakfast, lunch and snacks and then go out for dinner. This allows more flexibility in what everyone eats too because we aren’t deciding on one place to eat for every meal.
Condos will usually have more than one tv — one for the kids to watch and one for the adults! This is important for those unplanned rainy days!
Condos have way more space than most hotel rooms. You won’t be tripping over luggage or feel that you are on top of each other.
And, some condos have washer and dryers — this is very important if you are staying at a beach! You are going to want to wash your swimsuits and beach towels. You also want to wash the sand out of your clothes before packing them to return home.
How to Find the Best Condo to Rent:
We found https://www.vrbo.com to have the best deals and the best selection of condos for the Orange Beach, Alabama area. There are a ton of places to view on this site.
How it Works:
You’ll book your reservation through the vrbo.com site. Depending on how far in advance you make the reservation, you can pay a deposit and then make payments until it is paid in full. Once the balance is paid, you’ll receive an email a few days before your arrival which will include the passcode for the lock box on the door (which, by the way the lock box was handy to leave the key in so we didn’t have to worry about losing the key and it allowed the kids to get into the room while we stayed at the beach!) You’ll also receive information about the condo — what to do upon arrival, who to call with questions, and departure instructions.
When using VRBO, you can ask questions to the owner of the unit you are interested in staying at. There were a lot of great pictures about the unit we wanted to stay at but I still had a few questions so it was nice to “talk” to the owner.
Each place is different because they are owned by different people but some offer a little welcome basket for their guests.
So, when planning you next family vacation, think about a beach vacation and staying on the beach. Always have a budget for your vacation — know how much you want to spend and price everything to find the best deal for you.
Another tip to save money on vacation is to use Groupon. Go to www.groupon.com and enter the city you are traveling to and search for restaurant and/or “things to do” deals. We have found places that we might not have otherwise found and we’ve also saved up to 50% on our meals doing this!
Now, who’s ready to book their next vacation at the beach? If you have any questions about planning a vacation to the beach or about booking through the vrbo site, please comment below. I’d love to help you plan your next vacation!!
