Is this a familiar scene? You are sitting at your dining table, surrounded by family and half-eaten pieces of chicken, likely thinking of bills that seem to be reproducing when you aren’t looking. Across from you, your seven-year-old is watching a YouTube video of a family at Disneyland, and your teenager is dropping not-so-subtle hints about how their friend just got back from a “life-changing” trip to the Maldives.
You check your bank app. It doesn’t say “Disneyland.” It says “Stay at home.”
Here is the secret though, You don’t need to break the bank to give your family a vacation they will talk about for the next decade. In a world where it seems that the price of almost everything is increasing everyday, the idea of a “budget” vacation might feel like a myth. However, with a bit of strategy, a dash of wit, and the right financial partner, you can turn that “God when?” into “Look where we are” with your family.
Here is how to plan a family getaway on a budget.
1. The “Family Congress”: Setting a Realistic Budget
Before you book a flight or even Google “cheap hotels,” you need to have what we usually call a Family Meeting. This is where you decide exactly what kind of vacation and where, which influences how much you are willing to spend without “Sapa” (extreme broke-ness) greeting you at the airport upon your return.
According to 2025 travel data, the average cost of a 7-day domestic trip for a family of four in Nigeria, including transport, decent lodging, and feeding, can range from ₦600,000 to ₦1.5 million (or even more depending on the “soft life” level you choose). International packages to destinations like Kenya or Egypt currently start around ₦650,000 to ₦900,000 per person.
One good approach to this would be not to have waited until December to start looking for these funds but to use AltInvest to create and grow a dedicated “Vacation Pot.” By putting away a fixed amount monthly into an ethical, Sharia-compliant investment, your money would have grown while you slept. It’s much easier to spend ₦1 million in December when you’ve been building it since January. Not to worry, you can start this in January 2026 if you missed doing it this year.
Another good approach is to use travel financing, not a loan, but an ethical, interest-free travel financing option that helps you go on your trip and pay in installments for it. You can check out AltTravel for the best option available.
2. The “Destination Debate”: Domestic Gems vs. International Dreams
There is a common misconception that if you haven’t crossed a border, you haven’t traveled. But have you seen the exchange rate lately? In recent years, domestic tourism has taken center stage. Destinations like Idanre Hills in Ondo State, Erin Ijesha Waterfalls, or the Kajuru Castle in Kaduna offer breathtaking views for a fraction of the cost of a European visa.
A nice hotel room in a tourist zone like Lagos or Abuja now averages ₦45,000 to ₦70,000 per night for family-friendly suites while a UK tourist visa alone, including health surcharges, can now cost upwards of ₦300,000 per person.
If you must go international, look at “low-bureaucracy” destinations like Zanzibar (visa-free/on arrival) or Ghana. You save on visa agent fees and the emotional trauma of a rejection letter.
3. Accommodation: The “Home Away From Home”
For a family, booking two or three hotel rooms is the fastest way to drain your budget. Plus, kids in separate hotel rooms are just a recipe for “Who broke the TV?” anxiety.
In 2025, the short-let market in cities like Lagos and Abuja has matured. You can get a 3-bedroom apartment with a kitchen for the price of one luxury hotel room.
If you have a kitchen, you don’t have to pay ₦15,000 for “Hotel Breakfast” (which is mostly just expensive eggs and cold toast). Buying groceries at a local market and cooking breakfast can save a family of four over ₦200,000 on a week-long trip.
4. Entertainment
The secret to a successful family vacation is the “1-for-1 Rule”: For every high-energy, paid activity (like a theme park), follow it with a low-cost, relaxing day (like a beach or park).
A day at a theme park costs between ₦5,000 to ₦15,000 per person while many Nigerian beaches have gate fees as low as ₦1,000 to ₦3,000. Packing a cooler with drinks and snacks turns this into a full day of entertainment for the cost of a few pizzas.
Don’t forget the “Adult Joy”, ensure the location you choose has a decent lounge or a quiet spot where you can breathe. If you’re travelling internationally, an AltBank Platinum Mastercard can be a lifesaver here, giving you access to over 1,300 airport lounges globally, because nothing ruins a budget trip like a three-hour layover with no Wi-Fi and overpriced water.
5. The “Invisible” Costs: Don’t Let the Small Things Sink the Ship
Budgeting for your trip isn’t just about the big tickets; it’s about the silent drainers.
Roaming charges are the 8th wonder of the world (in a bad way). Use local SIMs or eSIMs.
Also, did you know that Nigerian road snacks have tripled in price in most areas? A pack of plantain chips is now ₦300-₦500. Buying these in bulk before you set out can save you a surprising amount.
A truly amazing holiday is one where you come back refreshed, not one where you come back worried about how to pay your bills now that you’ve spent all your savings on YOLO (You Only Live Once), so remember to choose ethical travel financing, and choose options that’ll cost you less where you can, when it comes to accommodation, feeding, and general travel arrangements.
Happy vacation!
