One of the most mind-boggling decisions to make this holiday season is the perfect place to celebrate the occasion; however budget doesn't always coincide with plans. What's better than spending the holidays with your family out of town and not worrying about the price tag?

If you're looking for ways to shrink your expenses and looking for the perfect place to spend the holidays then you're in the right place. In courtesy of Business Insider and CBS Pittsburgh, here are a few travel tips to make the vacation as cheap as possible and some affordable holiday escapes for your family.

First and foremost, the top most priority to consider is the place where you'll be staying. Hotels don't usually cost less especially during the holidays, so consider renting an apartment or a condo instead of checking in a hotel. Not only will this lessen expenses, this option also provides spacious rooms and more amenities.

Renting an apartment is just the first step to minimizing your expenses when you're in a hotel room cooking isn't really an option and ordering food from a hotel won't be wallet-friendly. So grab your stuff and take a trip to the grocery store and buy supplies which can last for several days.

If you want to spend your vacation on a beach, consider Myrtle Beach. This offers several affordable beachfront hotels which cost less. There are also lots of activities to look forward to when spending your holidays here such as visiting the Myrtle Beach Skywheel, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, WonderWorks indoor amusement park, Hollywood Wax Museum and Alligator Adventure, known as the "Reptile Capital of the World".

If a kid-friendly vacation is what you're up for, then a trip to Washington D.C. would be the perfect one for you. With lots of iconic monuments and museums, your family trip will surely be memorable and cheap since affordable lodging places are also widely distributed in the area.