Reunions
Stretching your reunion budget
You want your reunion vacation to be great – but, of course, you don’t want to spend more money than you need to! Here's how to get the most bang for your vacation buck:

Negotiate with the cruise line, resort or hotel for a good deal. They’ll be willing to work with you if you’re booking accommodations for a sizable group of people. Ask if they offer a reunion discount plan like Budget.com does, or if they’ll create a plan for your group as they do for business meetings. Find out if kids can eat and stay free, or at a discounted rate. Conserve your resources by alternating expensive excursions with free activities. For example, balance a high-priced day at a theme park or golf course, with a day of free activities around the hotel pool, a morning hike in a nearby national or state park, or a trip to a playground or local zoo. Play chef for the day. If you’re staying at a house, or a condo with a kitchen, stock up on groceries so you can prepare some meals rather than eating out every day. Plan a picnic or a barbeque, always sharing the chores so that no one feels overwhelmed. The last day of the trip, consider a potluck meal where everyone contributes all the groceries they accumulated from the week. Even in a hotel, you can save on food by stocking your mini fridge with milk and cereal for the kids’ breakfast, or heading over to a nearby coffee shop rather than the hotel dining room.  Bring your own snacks and bottled water. Limit the kids to one special souvenir at the end of the trip. Encourage them to use allowance or birthday money if they want more.