Do your homework beforehand, and budget families can travel with ease

Guo Mengmeng

Many people mistakenly believe that you need to spend a lot of money to travel often. Wrong, wrong, wrong!! This article is here to tell you that by following a few key principles, you can enjoy wonderful family trips without breaking the bank.

When going out to play, aside from fuel costs (or public transport fares), which are unavoidable, why not look for 0 free 0 tourist spots? This way, you can save quite a bit on entrance fees and lighten the financial burden.

In my free time, I often check Yahoo’s travel news to catch up on recent events. Besides exhibitions, there are many local activities that are both fun and—get this—free!! Since they’re usually time-limited, it’s easy to miss them if you’re not careful.

In recent years, many neighborhoods with different painting themes have emerged. Aside from being photogenic, they also offer a glimpse into the unique culture of each area.

Taiwan is a beautiful treasure island, with different flower seasons throughout the year. A quick online search will show you that each month has its own dedicated floral event. For example, the recent cherry blossom season is now in full bloom—it’s a must-see highlight you shouldn’t miss.

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In recent years, many traditional industries have transformed into tourist factories. Aside from a few that charge an entrance fee, most are free to visit and even offer DIY activities (which may have a fee). If it's a food-related tourist factory, they’re almost always generous with free samples. In the summer, they also offer cool air conditioning, making them a great place to escape the heat—aside from department stores and supermarkets, of course.

Taiwan’s natural environment is unique, with many distinctive natural landscapes from south to north. Aside from national parks, most are free of charge. That’s why Mengmeng usually recommends including a forest experience in your travel plans—take in the rich phytoncides (forest air).

When traveling, eating is a must—“food is king” and can’t be skipped—but you can decide how much to spend on meals. My husband Liang Ba and I eat a lot when we travel, but we don’t splurge at restaurants. Most of the time, we go for local specialties and street food. Especially now that everyone has a smartphone, you can easily look up popular queue-worthy eats online. Sometimes, those humble-looking little shops serve up some of the best local bites. When it’s just the two of us, we can eat all we want without spending too much, but once the group gets bigger, meal costs can really add up—so this is an area where you can definitely plan wisely.

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Some places may not charge an entrance fee but do charge for parking. Of course, finding free parking is ideal, but if that’s not possible, paying a small amount to park in a safe spot is way better than risking your car getting towed—then having to shell out big bucks to get it back, plus dealing with family frustration.

[Life Chronicles of Chen Liangliang & Little A’Gei &e&e&e]Authorized reprint | Original source: [Follow these principles, and you can have amazing family trips without spending much]