Tips to help you get a family vacation deals

1. Sign up for travel e-newsletters

Many airlines, tour operators, online travel agencies and travel sites have newsletters that they will send you via email; these usually include the latest cheap family vacations or last minute travel deals.Don't forget to sign up for the Family Beach Vacation Fun Guide!

2. Shop around

Check various travel sites and talk to some travel agents to get prices. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples, know what is included. That great cruise deal may not include airfare to the port!

3. Consider all possible discounts

Do you have Air Miles or frequent flyer miles you can cash in? AAA membership or other affiliations? Ask about child or senior discounts if traveling with grandparents. Do they have family rates or group rates? Don't be afraid to ask.

4. Find hotels to accommodate large families

Some hotels and resorts accommodate large families. In some cases it may be cheaper to pay for a suite or studio room than to get two rooms. Best Family Beach Vacations has compiled this list of beach resorts that will accomodate a family of five vacation.

5. Travel in off-season

Off-season will vary depending on where you are traveling so do your research and find out when

that is. Off-season includes summer and fall for the Caribbean and when the kids are in school for theme parks like Disney and so on. Usually school breaks are the most expensive time to travel to family destinations and cheap family vacations will be hard to find.

6. Traveling during the week can save you money

Saturday and flights during the week are less crowded and therefore more likely to have last minute discounting. Some companies charge a bit less for vacation package that leave mid-week. Also, business hotels are mor likely to charge less on weekends.

7. Read your newspaper's travel section

The Saturday travel sections in newspapers are still a good source for travel news, tips and cheap family vacations, departing from your city. Read them religiously.

8. Do some negotiating of your own

Just ask for a deal or a better price! This will usually work if you are dealing directly with a hotel or car rental company directly. It may also work with some travel agents.

9. Book late

When looking for last minute deals, start shopping around about 6 weeks prior to your departure to get a good idea for prices and availability. Narrow down where you want to go and compare some prices. About 3 weeks prior to departure is probably your best time to book. When you notice packages begin to sell out, you want to book before you miss out on that deal. The prices only go so low and sometimes sell out before they really drop in price.

Find out more about last minute deals.....

10. Book early

Some of the best deals may be had booking early and not last minute. Most tour operators and cruise companies offer discounts for early booking. If there is a specific date you want to travel and or you have a specific resort or destination in mind, you are better off to book early and secure your vacation than to risk waiting for a cheap family vacation deal that may or may not happen.

10. Book a Weekend Getaway

Weekend Getaways are usually cheaper than extended vacations, they can be booked last minute, and are available for hundreds of destinations!

Overall, keep in mind the cheaper is not always better. If you save a few hundred dollars by adding lots of stops to your flight or staying in a hotel you are not happy with, it won't be worth it. Save some money but don't compromise too much with what you really want and need for your family vacation.

Check out our hot travel deals for some cheap family vacations....