It is a full family project. We put up Tiki torches and barbecue. We play Monopoly, and then the kids tell spooky stories. We love it.

Iris Duran, a mother of three in Norwalk, California

While draining her bank account into the gas tank of the family wagon, a mother of three hears the Clash on her car radio and ponders the question of the summer family vacation: Should we stay or should we go?

The answer, if she plans well and seeks bargains, is google_ad_section_end() >

Staycation Is All I Ever Wanted

A staycation involves resting and playing like it vacation without leaving town. Rising Discount Bags gas prices have made that a popular option.

Janin and Marc Spoor, worn out from the stress of work, realized they needed a break. But limited in both time and money, they started a tradition staying at a nearby luxury resort for an overnighter.

best part of a staycation is you are already saving money on travel, so you can splurge on a really nice hotel, said Janin Spoor, who found a reduced hotel rate. stayed at the Four Seasons. You spend on a luxury stay, which comes with its own perks, like yoga classes, indoor pool, kids club, free parking, free meals for kids, etc. It all depends on the hotel.

had a great time. We didn't have to spend a long time in the car, so we weren't tired when we got to the hotel. We headed straight to the indoor pool and started having fun right away, Spoor said.

Once they were done splashing in the pool they took in the sights around the hotel. Although it was close to home, they had not explored the area before.

really felt like we were somewhere else, she said, but with a new baby, being 20 minutes from home was a distinct advantage.

As it turned out, the hotel was more than prepared.

was great. The hotel brought up a crib, baby shampoo, diapers, wipes and a diaper pail, Spoor said.

If a night at a luxury hotel is out of the budget, family moments can also be created in the back yard.

kids love to pitch a tent and sleep out there. It is a full family project. We put up tiki torches and barbecue. We play Monopoly and then the kids tell spooky stories, said Iris Duran, mother of three and an instructional technician at AdvancePath Academy. love it. But, as the Spoors and Durans have found, the kids just want Cheap Bags to have fun.

you won't be spending money on Cheap Handbags airfare and hotel, splurge on fun, said Jamie Pearson, publisher of the family travel website Travel Savvy Mom. an inflatable water slide, go to the theater or buy really good seats to a Major League Baseball game.

Travel experts recommend inexpensive collectibles or useful Wholesale Handbags items for more than one purpose.

souvenirs, it's a good idea to get kids something they're going to need anyway. T shirts, sweatshirts, stationery, pencil cases and pens are all smart and cheap, said Jamie Pearson, publisher of the Travel Savvy Mom website.

It can also help to have a souvenir theme. find them everywhere we go and even unexpected places. During our recent trip to Wisconsin we scored a Harley Davidson themed penny at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee and a Jelly Belly themed penny in Kenosha. It's fun, inexpensive and the kids get a thrill when we come across the machines. The key is to always have a shiny penny and a couple of dollars in quarters.

A souvenir that also holds educational value is the travel journal. Each child should carry one Wholesale Bags and make it a habit to relive the day adventure in its pages before bedtime. And, of course, nothing is more personal or valuable to remember a summer vacation than photos.

Pay Attention, Not Discount Handbags Dollars

Listening to what family members really want out of their vacations can yield better and less expensive results.

of our readers told us she felt like they needed to take their family on a cruise, said Nancy Schretter, managing editor for the Family Travel Network. they sat down and talked as a family, they found out what the girls really wanted was going to the beach, collecting shells, seeing wildlife and having fun together. They ended up driving to nearby Chincoteague [Virginia] where they could stay at an inexpensive motel, collect shells on the beaches and see the wild ponies there. The kids loved it and it was one of their most memorable family vacations.

A destination convention and visitor bureau is also a good resource for bargains while a vacation rental home is another avenue to savings.

family stayed in a three bedroom rental home in a popular vacation area for $100 per night," Schretter said. "The average resort rental rate in the area was $275 per night for one room.