This post is sponsored by Armed Forces Vacation Club. All opinions are my own.
I’m not going to lie: I love vacations. I love dreaming about them. I love planning them. I love going on them. (I do not love unpacking from them, though.)
I just love traveling and seeing new places. (I’m guessing that you might be like me, seeing as you’re a military spouse. It’s kind of in our blood.) In the last few years, my husband and I have traveled to Ireland and England, explored our former home state of Virginia, and spent a month cruising around the US on a once-in-a-lifetime road trip.
I wasn’t kidding when I said I love traveling.
The only thing is, there are two problems with vacation:
- They can get expensive… fast. And that can hurt any family– no matter how much you’ve put aside for the trip.
- They take time to plan. (Time that most of us don’t have.)
Enter: Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC). Membership is free for all active duty, National Guard, Reserves, and retired service members and civilian DoD employees. (Their sister organization, Veteran Holidays, is for those who have served and are out of the military but who didn’t retire from the military.)
AFVC offers a variety of tools and opportunities for military-connected families that can save time and money so you can relax and enjoy your trip and stay.
What kind of savings? We’re talking about 7-night resort stays in destinations worldwide that start at $349*. The savings touch any kind of vacation you’re interested in– beach, family, vacation, couples getaways, sightseeing– so you can plan and go on the vacation that is exactly right for you and your wallet.
What kind of time can you save? AFVC’s website easily aggregates everything you need to know about a particular location or resort. Stay in resorts close to military installations for a quick getaway, like Williamsburg, VA or go globe-hopping to the Canary Islands, Finland, Spain, or a myriad of other locales. The properties are all over the world… and most even have TripAdvisor ratings. You’re not relying on what AFVC says is good; instead, you’re seeing the comments from real-life people who have actually stayed there.
If you’re feeling inclined, you can also make use of the Vacation Planning Resource Center which offers help for the unique experiences that military families have. Grab tips and help for how to plan a vacation while PCSing. Maybe you want to know more about vacationing with kids or how to do it within a budget. If you’re looking for specific help with a particular destination, you can also find help and information there.
Membership is free, but there are additional opportunities for savings if you choose to upgrade to a Premium membership. (And if you’re a little late with Christmas ideas, you can give certificates for vacation through AFVC, too. Win!)
