5 Payment Plan Family Vacation Options

Yes, payment plan family vacations exist! And not necessarily in layaway form. Some hotels, for example, only require a small deposit upon booking, leaving you plenty of time to save up. Other places, such as Disney World, offer bona fide payment plans. Here, we look at our favorite payment plan options for family vacations.

1. Disney 

Disney World; Disneyland; Aulani, A Disney Resort; Adventures by Disney; and even Disney Cruise Line offer the Disney Vacation Account. The program essentially acts as your own Disney vacation advisor, prompting you to estimate your trip budget with a series of questions and creating a customized plan for payments based on your answers. You can easily track your savings progress until you have enough and are ready to officially book. The program is completely free!

2. Beaches Resorts

Beaches Resorts (and adults-only Sandals Resorts) offer the Luxury Layaway Installment Payment Plan, allowing guests to split up their vacation payments. Payment plans can range from three months to two years in length. Beaches has three resorts in the Caribbean: Beaches Turks and Caicos, Beaches Negril and Beaches Ocho Rios.

3. eLayaway

How cool is this? eLayaway.com allows you to save money for gift certificates that can be used on airfare, cruises, Marriott hotels and even Disney vacations. (It also offers layaway programs for tons of retailers). eLayaway takes an allotted amount (determined by you) out of your bank account and before you know it, you’re on a beach in the Caribbean with your family.

4. Sears Vacations

The same company who brought you holiday shopping layaways also offers vacation layaways! Families can save up to 50 percent on vacations to popular destinations such as Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando, and pay as low as $49 per month for those trips. There’s no cost to pay in installments with Sears Vacations, where you can book both hotels and cruises.

5. Travel Agent

Working with a travel agent is a surefire way to get a payment plan family vacation. Your travel agent will work with your budget and desires to craft a vacation itinerary that makes sense for your family. While you’ll likely be required to dole out a small down-payment upon booking, you won’t need to pay your final balance until closer to the trip. Plus, you’ll have the option to make payments along the way.

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