Phoenix is a great choice for a family vacation. There are plenty of water parks to tire your kids out at, museums and zoos to give them culture and knowledge, and plenty of other wacky and fun stuff to do. One of the great things about Phoenix is that a vacation there won’t cost as much as say going to New York City…that being said, families mean a lot of people…and costs can easily sneak up on you. Today we will discuss the average costs of a family vacation in Phoenix, as well as ways you can save while making memories.
How Much Does a Family Vacation in Phoenix Cost?
Now that you have decided on Phoenix as the location for your next family trip, you’re asking yourself “How much money will I need for a family vacay to Phoenix? On average, one adult spends $115 per day in Phoenix while on a trip. Meals cost around $50 on average per day and local transport is around $20. I like to estimate kids at adult prices (because this way I’m safe in case of unexpected things – so for a family of 4 spending 7 days in Phoenix it will cost somewhere around $3220. That’s cheaper than other cities but definitely not cheap.
What is the Best Time to Visit Phoenix with the Family?
You definitely do not want to visit Phoenix in the Summer. If you can visit Phoenix sometime between November and April (fall-winter-spring), you will enjoy some incredible temperatures (anywhere from 60-80). Sure, you can get hotel deals in Phoenix during the Summer, but do you want to be in a city with your kids in 100-degree weather?
Where to Stay in Phoenix to Save Money
Ok. There are two options we’re going to suggest and we’ll give you our reasoning behind this too:
A family-friendly Phoenix Airbnb
Why? When you search for a place on Airbnb, you can choose all kinds of options. If you’re traveling with kids, these are a few things to include in your search for the perfect Phoenix Airbnb vacation rental:
- Two bedrooms
- Washer/Dryer
- Kid-friendly
- Kitchen
- Air Conditioning & Heating
- Wifi Included
You can pick tons of other things, but these are the basics. With two bedrooms, you can have a little privacy and calm after a long day of site seeing. With a kitchen, you can save on hotel breakfasts (the most overrated meal of the day – how hotels charge $15 for eggs and coffee is beyond me), and you can pack snacks at home. A washer dryer combo will just make your life convenient, and Airbnbs usually have better wifi than most hotels since they’re not sharing (I recommend asking the host what type of connection and speed they have).
A family-friendly Phoenix Hotel
This would be my second choice. You can share a room, or get adjacent rooms with a shared door. I always feel iffy about taking kids to a hotel, but kid-friendly hotels often have perks like free breakfast for kids…and even pools.
How to Save on Dining Out in Phoenix
First, check out all these Phoenix restaurant coupons. Then, do a little research on some great kid-friendly restaurants in Phoenix. Here are a few we love:
- Rustler’s Roose
- Comedor Guadalajara
- Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles
- The Teapot
- and Organ Stop Pizza
How to Save on Transportation in Phoenix
The bad news is that Phoenix (overall) is not the most walkable city. The good news is that there are some very walkable neighborhoods including:
- Downtown Phoenix
- Central City
- Coronado
- Garfield
- and Evans Churchill
The great news is that there is a great Public transportation system in Phoenix that is comprised of:
Local, Express and RAPID commuter bus service
Dial-a-Ride
Vanpool service
and the Valley Metro Rail
This system is pretty affordable with bus tickets starting at just $2. There are also options for all-day passes, 7, 15, and 31 day passes.
Kids 6 and under ride free when they are accompanied by a fare-paying adult. There are also reduced fares for people ages 6 to 18 years old, ASU students, homeless people, seniors (over 65), people with disabilities, you get the idea. Check out their website for the latest information.
If you have other questions on how to save money on your Phoenix family vacation, leave it in the comments.