Whether your next family trip is on the road or on a flight, costs may start to mount. To make your vacation more budget-friendly, follow these tips and cut costs with a quick trip to the dollar store.
For starters, the dollar store is a great place to grab last-minute essentials. For anything you may be missing the day before you depart, there is a good chance you can find it here.
Some Supplies
If you are prepping for a road trip, packing food can help bring down the cost of eating several meals on the road. Make sure to grab paper plates, utensils, napkins and paper towels when at the dollar store.
Some Snacks
This is also the time to stock up on whatever you need for food, including condiments and sides.
Dollar stores are also great spots to load up on snacks. A few boxes of candy to spread throughout the entire trip will make kids happy. Anyone with a last request for cheese puffs or barbecue chips will have an easy time satiating their appetite.
Some Peace of Mind
Dollar stores also have items you might not think necessary, until in a situation when you really need them: Cheap sunglasses, activity books and decorations are all great last-minute grabs.
Many dollar stores also stock disposable cameras, even in 2019. Grab one and have fun taking pictures like it is the early 1990s.
Anyone traveling with a child on a road trip or airplane knows dollar stores come in clutch again, as most have an entire aisle of throwaway toys. Getting the kids some new toys before a lengthy trip has a number of benefits. First, kids are likely to lose their belongings. Whether they leave them in the hotel, on the plane or at a rest stop, it may be a good idea to not pack anything they are too attached to. Letting the kids choose a throwaway toy before leaving can really take away the stress of the trip.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Nov 6, 2025Christmas in NYC with Park Terrace Hotel, Hyatt Regency Times Square & More
Family travelers to the Big Apple this holiday season can look forward to a lineup of once-in-a-lifetime offerings. Here’s a closer look at some of what is on offer:
Sponsored Content
TAP Air Portugal: A Milestone Year
From small airline to global success, TAP Air Portugal turns 80 and better than ever.
Hotels
Nov 6, 2025Enjoy Unforgettable Festivities this Holiday Season in the Maldives
Two Six Senses hotels in the Maldives are getting ready to invite family travelers to spend the holidays in sand instead of snow. From Dec. 22 to Jan. 2, 2026, Six Senses Laamu and Six Senses Kanuhura feature holiday programming combining festive dining and activities.
Slideshow
Nov 6, 20257 Rainforests Around the World to See
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through these rainforests around the world with us.
Sponsored Content
Discover the Azores & Madeira: Portugal’s Island Paradises Await
Embrace the Portugal’s Magical Islands of the Azores and Madeira
Destinations / North America
Nov 5, 2025How to Give Back on Your Next Maui Vacation
The island of Maui is known for its sun-quenched beaches and lush tropical landscape, but it is also known for the destructive wildfire that devastated communities in 2023. A few years may have passed, but the island is still working to recover from the damage. One of the best ways to help a destination after it has experienced a natural disaster is by continuing to support the tourism economy in a responsible way. There are great ways to do that through voluntourism, even for family travelers.

ShareThis