Last but certainly not least in budget-friendly strategies: be an aggressive hunter of deals online. The internet gives everyone an unprecedented opportunity to watch for bargains and pounce within hours of a price drop.
Sign up for free email "bargain notifiers": at major airlines; at the websites of your favorite hotels and resorts; at online travel sites such as Expedia.com and Travelocity.com. Often, when airfare deals bundle in hotels, you can save even more.
Do some background research so you recognize a good deal, and are prepared to buy fast!
If it's a Caribbean vacation you want, summer season prices are much reduced from high season -- and "summer" prices typically last from May through December. You do need to know about hurricane season in the Caribbean... But as one writer about family travel in the Caribbean says:
- "Overall, the weather in the Caribbean is predictably wonderful. In the summer, days peak at about 95, with lows in the 70's. In the winter, temperatures run about 5 to 10 degrees cooler. The sea remains warm enough for comfortable swimming year around." --Caribbean With Kids
Also, check current family travel deals.
