Family vacations can be expensive, especially if there are quite a few in the family. So anything that you can do to keep costs down is a welcome relief to the family budget. And there are lots of ways to save money and still have fun family vacations. Here are some of the best ways to do that:

* If you are going to be staying for more than just a few days in the same area why not look into renting a house or condo instead of just staying in a hotel? Actually hotels are very pricey for the space that they afford as compared to a rental home or condo. Even if you don't save much money, if you have more room for everyone to stretch out in comfortably, that can be a big plus on it's own. But often you can save with a rental home, especially if you do your homework well in advance of your travel dates.

* Making your family vacation spots fall within driving distance of your home can save lots of money too. When you fly to your vacation spot, it's not only more expensive to fly, but you also will need to get a rental car at your destination and that always adds more expense to the overall trip that can be saved if you just bring your car along with you instead.

* Try to get lodging that has a kitchen where you can prepare some of the family meals instead of eating out all the time. Again, rental homes often have everything you need including kitchen appliances, dishes, cookware and so on, so all you have to do is a little grocery shopping when you arrive to be ready for the week's meals. Often you may find yourself out during lunchtime, but breakfasts and dinners make great meals that can be had at home and this will save a huge chunk of money over the course of the entire vacation.

* See if you can save even more money by getting all inclusive deals on the internet that have everything you need included in the price. This is like buying your vacation in bulk instead of paying for it one piece at a time, and as any consumer knows that strategy can often save you lots of money in the long run. You can also check on sites like priceline.com for special vacation deals that amy not be available anywhere else.

* If you do have to fly, shop around at various travel sites on the web for the lowest airfare you can get. Often prices vary considerably from one site to another, so make a thorough investigation and be prepared to book the best deal you find as they can disappear quickly if you don't.

Saving money on your family vacation getaway can help you be more relaxed and enjoy yourself while you at one of your favorite family vacation spots knowing that you were a smart consumer and got a good deal.