Hotel Savings Strategies
The biggest travel expense is usually the hotel. Choose a hotel with free breakfast — at $15 per person per day, that is $60 per family per day saved. Over a 3-day tournament, a family of four saves $180.
Book suites with kitchens. Cooking team meals instead of eating at restaurants for every meal saves hundreds over a weekend. A pasta dinner for 20 kids costs $30 in groceries versus $200+ at a restaurant.
Compare total cost, not nightly rate. Add resort fees, parking, taxes, and meals to see the real price. A $79/night hotel with a $25 resort fee and no breakfast often costs more than a $130/night suite with free breakfast.
Meal Planning to Save Money
Plan all meals in advance. Stock up at a grocery store on arrival day — buy pasta, sauce, bread, fruit, sports drinks, and snacks. Suites with kitchens let you cook team dinners and store leftovers.
Use the hotel free breakfast for mornings, prepare lunch in the suite between games, and cook one large team dinner. This eliminates restaurant costs for most of the trip.
Money-saving meal plan:
- Breakfast: hotel free breakfast
- Lunch: sandwiches or leftovers from the suite
- Pre-game snacks: fruit and granola bars from grocery store
- Post-game recovery: chocolate milk and protein snacks
- Team dinner: cook pasta or tacos in the suite kitchen
Transportation Savings
Compare the cost of driving individually versus chartering a bus. For teams traveling 200+ miles, a bus can be cheaper per family when you factor in gas, tolls, parking, and wear on vehicles.
If driving, choose a hotel with free parking. Some Orlando hotels charge $20+ per night for parking, which adds up quickly for families staying multiple nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a family save by cooking meals in a suite?+
A family of four can save $200-400 over a 3-day tournament by cooking breakfast, lunch, and one team dinner in a suite kitchen instead of eating at restaurants.
Are budget hotels always cheaper?+
Not necessarily. Budget hotels often lack free breakfast, charge for parking, and have no kitchens. A mid-range suite hotel with free breakfast and a kitchen can have a lower total trip cost.