Here is a list of the top items we love as a family. I have an assortment of budget travel resources, top toys, outdoor gear, and more. I am an Amazon Affiliate and may get a small commission when you purchase some of these items, but this is at no cost to you, and all opinions are my own. We love spending on experiences more than gear, so we almost always look for hand-me-downs or thrifted things first. That said, sometimes high-quality gear can really improve the experience.
Outdoor Gear
REI kids’ winter gloves and mittens. I’m not sponsored by them, but I sure wish I was. They come in gloves or mittens, are warm and water-resistant, and have withstood my kids’ hard outdoor play. In general, we have found REI-branded kids’ gear to be affordable and high quality.
Buy everyone a whistle. This is a cheap piece of safety gear that could really help if your kid gets lost. My kids have them on whenever we are hiking in large wilderness areas or National Parks. After my dad got lost in Yosemite, all the adults started wearing one too.
Travel apps
We like to use the AllTrails app. It helps find good hikes with lots of details about how long the trail is and how hard it might be.
While Airbnb has changed a lot since its inception, it’s still a great resource for family lodging while traveling. Kids tend to need more downtime than adults, and I much prefer hanging out at home to a hotel room. Recently, I have had some good luck using them to book experiences as well.
Top Toys
Keva Planks and MagnaTiles-These open-ended building toys last through the years and keep kids of many ages active and engaged. Both are often found in Children’s Museums and Science Centers.
Beach and Swimming Gear
We LOVE swimming. I think the kids would be happy if we went literally every day. The great thing about swimming is that, in general, it’s pretty affordable. There are a few things that can really improve the experience.
Good goggles are a must. We like these kinds of goggles for the kids. They fit the kids’ faces well and have an easy-to-adjust elastic band.
We use resort towels when available, but we also splurged and bought higher-quality, quick-dry, low-pack-volume Nomadix towels that we love.
Budget Travel Tricks and Tips
I like to follow Going.com. It’s a paid annual membership that sends you flight deals. This helps me book good flights for way less. Guatemala during the day, non-stop from Chicago for $235 in 2026. When you are buying for 4-5 people, the savings add up quickly. It’s also helped me find my mom cheap flights to visit family from Minneapolis nonstop to Phoenix for $105 and helped my husband find cheap flights from a small Wisconsin airport to visit his Grandpa in JN for $150. Remember, when you are trying to book budget trips, being flexible with place and time helps immensely. For example, this winter I wanted to go to Central America (specifically Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, or Puerto Rico). I entered my departure airports into Going, and it would send me cheap flight deals. I’d watch to get a feel for the average cost, then be ready to jump on one when it was a good deal, nonstop, and with good departure times. (I don’t like arriving in a foreign country after dark with kids if I can help it.)
Playing the credit card points game can get you a lot of free perks, but it can be overwhelming to start. For a great intro and simplified plan, I like Points for Normal People, which is both a blog and a podcast. For a deep dive into any specific topic on credit card points, I recommend The Points Guy.
