Thanks to the subtropical climate and care-free beach atmosphere of Myrtle Beach, it's easy to trade the hustle and bustle of your every day life in for a relaxing few days filled with fun in the sun. A trip to Myrtle Beach doesn't have to break the bank – in fact you should find that with a little intentional planning, you can create a budget-friendly yet memorable vacation experience for your family without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Use the following tips and tricks to round out your affordable Myrtle Beach vacation:

Choose a Room with a Kitchenette

While the cost of a hotel room with a kitchenette may be a bit more expensive than one without, you'll likely find that being able to make your own meals throughout the duration of your trip pays for the extra cost of the kitchenette. Having access to kitchen facilities will also save you money on your overall meal costs, which will keep more money in your pocket for the fun stuff that you want to during your visit to Myrtle Beach. At the very least, get a room stocked with a mini-fridge and microwave so you can create basic meals yourself.

Take the time to find out where the closest grocery store is to the hotel you're staying in and stop there on the way to check into your room. Grab stuff for a couple days' worth of meals to stock the room with and you'll be set to fuel your first few adventures without having to map out restaurants or worry about breaking the budget.  

Pack Your Own Essentials

Even if you don't plan to spend all of your time at the beach during your vacation, it's important to protect your skin and body from its heat every time you are outside of your hotel room. If you don't pack enough sun block, skin moisturizer, and bug repellent, you'll have to buy it during your vacation at a touristy-type shop, which means that you will probably pay a lot more for it than you would have at a local store near your home. So pack two or three times the amount of skin care items you think you'll need so you don't have to even think about it in Myrtle Beach. It's a good idea to pack some backup hats and sunglasses too. And making sure that everyone on the trip has a backpack to carry around will enable them to bring along plenty of water and a bagged lunch when you head out to adventure.

Commit to an Entertainment Package

Myrtle Beach features a variety of events such as concerts, festivals, comedy shows, plays, and children's theater shows that can help bring your vacation to life. You can save money on these outings by choosing an entertainment package to invest in that features a few different events that your whole group will enjoy. The concierge desk at the Myrtle Beach hotel you'll be staying in may be able to provide you with a prepaid entertainment package. Otherwise, you'll find various vendors in town that are willing to put together custom entertainment packages for you.

You can then fill in the time around your paid events with free adventures to area parks, beaches, museums, and time spent in the pool and at other amenities that are featured within your hotel. The balance between paid and free experiences should give everyone the thrills they're looking for while providing enough downtime for relaxation and stress reduction to play a role in the vacation.

When used in combination, these tips and tricks are sure to help you save a considerable amount of money without having to give up any of the essential comforts your family expects while on vacation. Check out hotels like Marina Inn at Grande Dunes to find the perfect spot to stay at Myrtle Beach.