Vacations are important for a number of reasons—they give you a period of time to relax and de-stress from everyday life, you get the opportunity to see and experience new things, and they allow you and your family to create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, many families feel that they can't afford vacations, but there are a number of ways to cuts costs and make a getaway possible. One way to stretch a vacation budget is by staying in motels (like Ambassador Motor Inn), which are typically less expensive than hotels and resorts, but still offer comfortable accommodations and a few amenities. Use the following tips to make your vacation even more affordable by saving money on food while staying in a motel:

Have a Way to Keep Food Cold

Eating out for three meals a day can become quite expensive on a family vacation, so it is in the best interest of your bank account to find a way to purchase some groceries and eat some meals in your motel room. If possible, try to book a motel with a mini refrigerator in each room; if that is not possible, bring a cooler with you and utilize the ice machine to keep food items stored inside cold at all times. When you have a way to keep groceries cold, you can store milk for cereal in the morning, yogurt for snacks, and sliced deli meat and cheese for sandwiches to make a delicious lunch, just to name a few options. If you opt to use a cooler because a mini refrigerator is not available in the motel you are staying in, make sure to replace the ice regularly in order to keep food at the proper temperature.

Consider Bringing a Slow Cooker

During your vacation, you and your family deserve at least a couple special dinners out at restaurants, but if you need to be frugal when it comes to supper other days, consider bringing your slow cooker from home to prepare easy and delicious meals in a motel room. As long as you have a way to keep needed ingredients cold, you can prepare a whole dinner for your family for a fraction of the cost of going out to eat. Just remember to purchase disposable silverware and plates!

Have Snacks on Hand

There is no reason to waste money at the nearest vending machine when you can bring your own snacks for you and your family to enjoy. Chips and salsa, granola bars, and bagged popcorn are all tasty, non-perishable, and easy to store in a motel room, so you can have something available to eat any time during the day or night.