5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Plan an Unforgettable Dream Birthday Trip for Your Child
TD Garden in Boston, MA
With my son turning ten years old soon and my husband and I wanting to give him a gift he’ll always cherish and remember for such a milestone in his life, we sought to do something big. He loves basketball, so we knew it had to be something related to the sport. What was an experience related to basketball that he doesn’t do every day but would make his entire 10th birthday year? Aha! We had it! The Boston Celtics are one of his favorite teams, as is his mom :), and Jason Tatum is one of his favorite players. How unbelievably AWESOME would it be to take him to a game to see them play, not when they came to our hometown, but to fly there to a game at the TD Garden in Boston, MA!
When it comes to family vacations, we prioritize making time for them because it allows us to bond, make memories, put a pause on the hustle and bustle of daily life, and share new adventures and experiences. It truly is a blessing to experience these moments together, and it expands our horizons and dreams the more we get to do it.
Immediately after that epiphany came the question, “What’s our budget, and how can we make it work?” I believe in planning ahead and taking advantage of deals when optimal. Try to get your most pressing payments out of the way first, like transportation, where you are going to stay, and your meals and entertainment. We decided on a $2,000 budget for a family of three. Here’s a breakdown of how we were able to stick to it.
Main Attraction & Entertainment - Game Day Tickets
The main reason for our travels was to see the Celtics play at TD Garden. So, we started there. We checked their roster of games and saw that they had one the week before my son’s birthday. Purchasing these tickets and our hotel accommodations proved to be the most expensive purchases of our trip. So, it’s good to get these purchases knocked out a soon as you can. We purchased our tickets about a couple of months in advance, prior to the playoffs. We paid around $250 per ticket, which accounts for $750 of our budget.
The game was EPIC and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! The food was also amazing. No boring stadium food there. Think a cookout with charred sausage dogs right off the grill!
Plan Ahead - “Must See” List
To add to the fun, my son and I created a list of things we wanted to see and do while in Boston, and a challenge to complete while at the game. Here’s our list below. We got to do most of our Top 5 list, except for meeting a basketball player. We did get to see them in person at the game and received some cool souvenir items. Feel free to copy and make it your own! :)
TOP 5 Boston Must-See & Do List
Meet a Basketball Player
See the Boston Harbor
Try Famous Boston Foods
See Landmarks
Shop
Challenge
Predict the Game Winner
Predict Who Scores the Most Points
Predict Who Will Win the Jump Ball
Predict the Team Leader at Halftime
Predict the Score Leader for the Other Team
Airfare - Book Family Weekend Getaways for $300
We knew this would be our son’s first flight experience and wanted to make sure we flew on a familiar airline that my husband and I had flown before with reasonable pricing and accommodations. We decided on Frontier. Their pricing is affordable compared to other carriers, and since our flight was less than three hours long, we were ok with standard seating.
We were very pleased with our flights going and coming. We had no issues getting to our destination and returning home within a reasonable timeframe. We were amazed that the three of us could fly round-trip to Boston on a standard flight for just around $300 total!
With such savings, you do give up some amenities that you may enjoy from other flights. There are no complimentary beverages or snacks. There is a menu from which you can purchase beverages, snacks, and other items like headphones and blankets. Additionally, you’re only allowed a backpack, a purse, or a diaper bag for free. Carry-ons and checked bags are permitted for a fee.
We each packed light with our clothing in backpacks. I also carried a stylish tote bag to hold any electronics and have room for items we purchased while shopping. Check here for all charges and sizing guidelines.
Lodging
My family and I love Embassy Suites and their complimentary breakfast daily. We love their made-to-order omelets cooked fresh with all the toppings you could want — cheese, tomatoes, peppers, onion, jalopenos, ham, bacon, sausage, and more!
They’re the first place we try to book, no matter where the destination. The quality of the stay is always consistent. We never have to worry if we’ll be getting a clean room, complimentary breakfast is made fresh daily, and you even get a happy hour around 5:30-7:30pm with a complimentary soft drink, juice or wine beverage (wine isn’t available at the Boston location) and snacks! Our stay came around $900 for a suite for three nights.
Meals
We ate breakfast for free at our hotel each morning and were able to save money there. While were out and about sightseeing, we’d grab a quick bite and reserved our restaurant dining for dinnertime. Boston is known for their seafood, specifically their fresh lobster selections, and they do not disappoint!
We dined at Legal Seafood during our stay and were captivated by the freshness and juiciness of their seafood! I ordered this succulent lobster and my husband and I enjoyed trying their variety of oysters on the half-shell. They had four prepared selections to choose from at just $2 each. My son even delighted in fresh popcorn while he waited for his meal!
Legal Seafood - Boston, MA
Sight-Seeing & Shopping
On our day to see the city and do some shopping, we booked a tour of the city and hopped off at multiple locations. While we didn’t get to do much shopping, we saw multiple streets filled with shops to suit every vacationer’s taste.
Overall, this was an experience we’ll remember for a long time and we hope you’ll enjoy it with your family!
