My family loves vacations. So, it doesn’t take much to convince us to hop on a plane and go!
Five years ago, my cousin announced he was getting married in Aruba. My family didn’t hesitate to book our hotel and flights. We weren’t going to miss a wedding in Aruba.
We’d just returned to the United States after living three years in Dubai. So, we were ready for family time.
Five years later, my cousin and his wife decide to celebrate their fifth anniversary in Aruba. Once again they invited everyone to gather in their favorite vacation spot.
This time, we expanded the crew, and I made this a family trip for the memory books. This article will outline some valuable vacation tips I learned from my family vacation in Aruba.
#1 You Need a Vacation Fund
One of my greatest purposes for money is travel. I tell folks all the time, “I work for my next vacation.”
My family and I take at least two to three trips a year. Sometimes four if we want to include international travel too.
Everyone is always asking how I do it. How can I afford to always be on the go and take my kids too? The truth is, I save for vacations every paycheck.
A few years ago, I created a vacation fund. A vacation fund is a separate savings account where I save for my next vacation. Each paycheck I make a deposit so I’m always ready for a good travel deal. When a trip or trip expenses come up my vacation fund pays for it.
A vacation fund ensures my family and I travel without going into debt and return home at ease.
If you want to always save for vacations too decide how much you can afford to save each paycheck. Then set up automatic transfers from your primary account to your vacation fund every time you get paid.
You’ll have enough money saved for your next vacation in no time.
#2 There is Power in Group Economics
My family and I have invested in rentals and hotels together. So why not pool our money to take over a bowling alley too?
We are in a pandemic and social distancing has become a way of life. So just like at home, we had to wear masks and practice social distancing in Aruba.
Initially, my cousin wanted to rent a yacht and have everyone celebrate his anniversary sailing the sea at sunset.
But when the guest list ballooned to 30 people, there was not a boat big enough to accommodate everyone and allow us to observe social distancing. We had to get creative.
I came up with the idea of family bowling. We’re a competitive bunch and bowling would allow us to compete, have fun, and spread out.
So that’s when I got to work looking for bowling alleys we could take over for a few hours of family fun. Everyone was willing to contribute so my cousin and I didn’t have to be on the hook to cover all the costs.
We pooled together our money, hosted a private party, and provided a safe space for everyone to gather and have fun.
Luck would have it, I won the first round of bowling against my family.
#3 Hire a Chef to Save Time and Money
Call me bougie if you want, but hiring a chef for our family vacation to Puerto Rico was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Since then, I have compared the cost of hiring a chef versus eating out for every trip. So far, in each analysis, a chef wins every time.
For example, in Puerto Rico we had a chef cook two meals a day for three days of our trip. The cost was $1200. Each day we had so many leftovers the food lasted two days.
Our chef prepared meals, brought local fresh fruits and vegetables, and made a few desserts. For $200 a day my family had healthy, delicious meals, and tasty drinks. More importantly, we avoided the restaurant crowds.
How many families of four can eat three meals a day for $67 a meal? Let alone a privately cooked meal.
For Aruba, I used the same logic. Once again, we were traveling during a pandemic. The other factor I need to mention is 11 people were in my house. Imagine trying to find restaurants that could accommodate our large group.
As a result, I hired a chef for Aruba. I started my search by asking friends that travel a lot for recommendations. I also asked our Airbnb host who he recommended. You can also look for a chef on websites like Take a Chef.
Then, I compared rates and found one we could afford and enjoy. Hiring a chef in Aruba was very cost-effective given the high cost of food and eating out in Aruba. For example, one dinner for four cost us $145, but three meals for 11 people and cooked by the chef were only $500. You can’t beat that!
The best part is, everyone, chipped in to cover the costs. So for me, the decision was easy-peasy.
Collectively, my family and I saved time (no cooking for me while on vacation) and money.
Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Vacation?
Not sure where my family will go next but we’ve talked about Jamaica for Christmas. I plan to use these lessons learned to help me and my family plan for the next trip. I already started asking around for chef and rental home recommendations.
Travel can be affordable, fun, and memorable. Plan with your family and together you’ll make lasting memories.
Here are some other ideas to make your trips memorable and cost-effective. Plan time for your family to explore the sights and relax. Travel with games and schedule a game night. Or dedicate a whole day to sitting by the pool or on the beach.
My family and I rented a van and explored the entire island of Aruba. It’s fun to venture off the map, see, and explore. Take lots of pictures and make your adventures fun for everyone. Then, sit back and enjoy!
What are some of your vacation tips or lessons learned? Share in the comments below so we can all learn from each other.