Your family is begging you for a vacation. You’re considering Houston since it is an incredibly family-friendly destination. You know the kids would love to visit Space Center Houston and the Houston Zoo. Your angsty teenage daughter really wants to go to the Fine Arts Museum. If things go well, maybe….just maybe you can sneak in some fishing or a day at the beach. However, traveling as a family can get expensive. Now you’re asking yourself how much a Houston Family Vacation costs.
What is the Average Price of A Houston Family Vacation
Let us crunch some numbers to help you plan an affordable, but fun Houston vacation. Keep in mind these numbers are an average, and that you and your family may spend less (or more) on your vacation.
On average, a 1-week vacation for one costs a little over $1,000 for one person. If you are part of a family with 2 people, this amount now runs over $2,000. Kid’s flights and prices are usually lower, but they will still add to your bill. Here are some of the costs to consider:
- Flights
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Attractions
- Incidentals
As you can see, it is of the utmost importance that you plan things right.
How to Find Houston Flight Deals
You may have to make a few concessions to find the best prices for your family’s flights to Houston. The best time to visit Houston is either February – April or September – November. This also means that this is when flights will cost the most. Try to plan your flights right before or after the high seasons begin so you can find affordable flights, but still enjoy better weather.
Sometimes, when booking your flights, there are offers for cheap Houston vacation packages, so it does not hurt to see what is being offered.
When you are looking at flights, check out the fine print. Are there luggage fees? What is the cancellation policy? Can you use credit card miles for your flight? These are all things you need to consider to book the least expensive and most convenient flight for your family.
How to Save on Restaurants in Houston
Houston is a fantastic food city. You can get almost anything your heart desires. Here’s a list of where to go for different types of food:
- Chinese Food – Chinatown & Old Chinatown (downtown).
- Indian and Pakistani – Little India
- Korean – Koreatown in NorthWestern Houston
- Kosher-Jewish – Meyerland
- Ethiopian & Nigerian – Bissonnet Street
- And, of course, Mexican food – you can get this all over the city.
Restaurant Coupons
Let us discuss pricing first. On average, dinner in Houston for one person costs $30. Breakfast and lunches will be cheaper and so will the kid’s meals. But I always like to price at the highest price point because there is nothing worse than running out of money when you’re on vacation. Start off on your search for Houston Restaurant Coupons. Then, you can always call the restaurants and see if they will match the coupons. Oftentimes, they lose money on fees and they’d rather work with the public directly.
Houston Restaurant Week
Plan your visit for one of Houston’s legendary restaurant weeks. You can enjoy deeply discounted meals at participating restaurants while helping the Houston Food Bank. This usually happens in August/September.
If you want to save even more money on food during your Houston Vacation, stay at an aparthotel or at an Airbnb vacation rental. They are oftentimes less expensive than hotels and come with equipped kitchens which will make it easy for you to save on food by making breakfast and snacks instead of having to purchase them.
You can also look for deals at family-friendly Houston hotels. Oftentimes, these will include a breakfast buffet or deals where kids under a certain age eat for free. These hotels also tend to have amenities such as pools, so it is a great idea to keep these in consideration.
How to Save on Houston Attraction Visits
When you have a family, going to a special attraction like Houston’s Downtown Aquarium or the Children’s Museum of Houston can add up. First, we recommend that you get the Houston City Pass. It gets you discounts of up to 47% on some of Houston’s most interesting places to visit. Best of all, you use a mobile ticket that is valid for up to 30 days.
You can also look for free things to do in Houston. There are tons that will allow you and your family to enjoy the city while saving money.
FREE MUSEUM DAYS IN HOUSTON
Some museums offer free days. Plan your trip around these days so that you and your family can have fun without spending a buck:
Always Free in Houston
- The Menil Collection
- The Moody Center
- Houston Contemporary Arts Museum
- Lawndale Arts Center
- Blaffer Art Museum
- Rothko Chapel
Thursdays
- Buffalo Soldiers National Museum – Free 1 – 5 pm
- Children’s Museum of Houston – Free 5 – 8 pm
- The Health Museum – Free 2 – 5 pm
- Holocaust Museum Houston – Free 2 – 5 pm
- Houston Museum of Natural Science – Free after 6 pm
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – Free 10 am – 9 pm
Follow these tips and you will have an incredible Houston Family Vacation that won’t break the bank.