The cruise ship terminal is actually located near south side of Old San Juan so instead of booking a hotel in beach resort area of San Juan, we decided to book one right in old section for close proximity to terminal as well as local sights. The $17 US taxi ride from San Juan's airport to Old San Juan was about half an hour. During ride, I was impressed by how developed city was compared to many other cities I've visited in Caribbean. The beach high-rise hotels along north side of San Juan were visible from highway. Our stay for night was at Hotel Milano which is right on Calle Fortaleza, which is one of major commercial streets in Old San Juan. The hotel was clean and comfortable but not luxurious which was okay with us as price was very affordable. Its quality was probably comparable to a Travelodge or Days Inn. A very pleasant surprise was free continental breakfast at hotel's rooftop restaurant. It gave a nice view of neighborhood from top.

In today's fast paced society a vacation just isn't a vacation unless its costing you a small fortune to get to, and stay at, some exotic venue that usually offers no excitement without dishing out more money. I suggest we put on brakes and get back to basics. You surely won't have a better opportunity to do so than on family vacation.

Let's not forget that "family" extends beyond our home life. Most of us have family that we rarely get to spend time with either because of distance or time issues. But, one should always make time for family. Right? I knew you would agree! Not trying to make you feel guilty here but, we do have a way of letting life rush us through years. I call it "non-intentional neglect" and most of us are guilty of it at some point in our lives. So, let's re-invent family vacation to include some real quality time that reinforces value of our families.

Would you consider a visit to grandparents, distant uncles, or a friend's home a vacation? When I was growing up, family vacation usually meant visiting family members who lived some distance away. Coming from a family of limited finances, this tradition was budget friendly yet, was sufficient to satisfy our need to escape norms of home life.

Of course, as teen age years approached, it became harder and harder for my mom to convince us that "we would have a good time" visiting relatives. Some of which we had already spent several vacations visiting and had, I guess, lost their uniqueness to us as teenagers. That said, if any of you can figure out what makes a teenager happy, except socializing with their own peers, then congrats! Let me know your secret. All kidding aside, I believe that they still enjoy family outings but have a strong resistance to acknowledging that they are actually having fun. In other words, they are having fun and just refuse to admit it!

I was a single parent for many years and just didn't have money for family vacations requiring hotel stays and admission fees. I guess I followed in my mother's footsteps in hoping that a visit out of town would suffice. And it did. For many years, family vacation consisted of a visit to a dear friend or family member's home who was willing to put up with four kids for a week. These are truly "beloved friends and family!"

I am fortunate to have a good friend for life who has two children within same age group as my kids. Since we didn't get to visit often throughout year, these visits were exciting for both my kids and hers who had become good friends.

So, by all means plan to visit a family member's, or friend's, home for a week. Young children especially enjoy these trips. They make new friends and family ties are strengthened. This is an excellent way to reinforce family values and importance of keeping in touch with family members that may live some distance from your home.

Do a little research before you go. Find out if there are any museums, historical sites, low cost attractions, or state parks within driving distance from where you'll be staying and plan to visit. Remember to ask family member or friend you are visiting if they have any suggestions. Since they live in area, they will most likely be aware of popular spots. Ask about bowling, roller skating, or special movie nights in area and plan accordingly. You can even plan some game or craft activities to keep everyone busy and having fun.

For those of you who have worn out your welcome or simply don't have family within a reasonable distance, finding vacation spots that will provide a memorable experience for everyone in family can be a challenge. Especially on a tight budget. Don't be discouraged, it is not impossible. Plan for your vacation and include it in your budget. This is easiest way to prepare for a vacation expense and take stress out of planning.

Since goal here is to get most fun for your money, let's talk about some low cost vacation ideas that could be right for your family.