Staycation, daycation, or naycation, call it what you will, people are cutting back on vacations during the last 2 years as a result of shrinking budgets, evaporating jobs, and a renewed focus on saving and spending only for necessities. But if you have a family and just can’t or won’t put the annual vacation in the discretionary category, what can you do?

There are a few alternatives available if you are willing to forgo some of the normal perks you might be used to. The downturn has benefited all types of discount travel companies and websites. There are the long(ish)standing discount travel sites like Priceline or Hotwire, where you either bid for your airfare and/or hotel or agree to accept whichever airline your price and itinerary match.

While easy on the pocketbook, these types of sites do require a bit of extra work and some uncertainty in the planning process. You bid doesn’t always get accepted and your itinerary might have you traveling at odd hours of the day – or night!

Other types of sites include newsletters like Sherman’s Travel or TravelZoo, which list deals offered by cruise lines, destination resorts, or major travel portals such as Travelocity and Expedia. There are often unbelievable deals available at these sites (I once saw round trip airfare from SFO to London for $50!) — but you have to act fast to get the best deals, which can sell out within minutes of the release of the newsletter.

Even the airlines themselves can be a source of killer deals. JetBlue has started a “Cheeps” program, advertising airfare on Twitter for as low as $9 for a one-way flight. Like any amazing deal, you have to book fast, though. JetBlue Cheeps are generally only available on Mondays from 10am until 6pm EST, and the number of discounted seats is limited.

Meanwhile, Trooval.com offers another option to save you money while also giving you flexibility around your travel dates. Trooval aggregates all of the free deals that timeshare companies give away in their attempt to get people to site through their sales presentations. There are all kinds of free deals on the site from hotel stays of anywhere from 2 to 8 days, to tickets to Sea World and Disneyland. And anyone with a family knows that tickets for 4 to Disneyland add up to a small fortune quickly.

To get the free deal, you book your trip just as you would on any normal travel website, and you also commit to sitting through a 1-2 hour sales presentation. Other than the presentation, there is no other commitment. Even if you don’t buy anything, you still get the tickets or hotel stay for free!

So if the kids are driving you crazy this year about having nothing to do, but you’ve been worried about how to afford a vacation, with a little legwork you can still afford to take a vacation to somewhere sunny and relaxing. Go have some fun. It’ll be good for your family’s morale — and potentially for your health — when times are tough.

Planning the ideal family vacation can be a challenge. You want to pick a place where the kids will have fun, but it’s just as important that Mom and Dad enjoy a much-needed break from their daily routines. With that in mind, Trooval has compiled a list of our top 5 recommendations for family-friendly getaways.

5. Branson, Missouri

If you’re looking for an affordable vacation destination that will be fun for the whole family, look no further than Branson. With dozens of theaters, 12 golf courses, 10 museums, several water parks, and other attractions like the Silver Dollar City theme park, Branson has a little bit of something for everyone. And if outdoor activities are more to your liking, Branson also offers fantastic options for fishing, camping, rock climbing, and lake activities.

4. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Located right on the coast, Myrtle Beach boasts beautiful beaches, excellent fishing, family-friendly restaurants, great golfing, and several theme parks. Broadway at the Beach is a must-see, with theaters, restaurants, shopping, an aquarium, and other attractions.

3. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Families can find some great places to play and relax south of the border. The Mayan Riviera offers natural beauty in its beaches, crystal clear cenote pools, and prime SCUBA and snorkeling spots, as well as man-made wonders in the Mayan ruins scattered throughout the region. Younger family members will love learning to snorkel in the calm inlets of Xel-ha’s open sea aquarium, and will enjoy the performances, exhibits, and activities at Xcaret Eco Park.

2. San Diego

With 70 miles of spectacular beaches, San Diego is a prime location for families to come to get away from it all. Add the world-class San Diego Zoo, the 1800-acre Wild Animal Park, LegoLand, SeaWorld, and the historic Gaslamp shopping district, and you have a recipe for years of unforgettable family vacations.

1. Orlando, Florida

Perhaps the ultimate family vacation destination, Orlando is home to some of the nation’s greatest theme parks, including Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. Within driving distance, families can also find the Central Florida Zoo, Kennedy Space Center, and Gatorland. The budget-conscious family can always take a couple of days to enjoy the free white sand beaches located nearby.

We hope that all our hard work has paid off as our first major site update goes live this week. Here are a few of the key changes you may notice:

The Trooval.com blog

You can now find our blog by clicking on the link on the Trooval.com homepage. We’ll be using this space to share tips, information, and site updates with the Trooval community, and we look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions as well.

More overseas destinations

We have over 50 resort partners already, and we’re adding more deals every day. Of course we have destinations across the US — from Vegas to Branson to San Diego to Myrtle Beach. But we also have some fantastic vacations in Mexico, Thailand, and Canada.

An improved FAQ page

We’ve been compiling the most common questions about how Trooval works because we really believe in being as up-front as possible with our customers. If you have any questions or concerns that aren’t addressed in the FAQ or About Trooval pages, feel free to use the Feedback button on the righthand side of the home page or get in touch with us via Twitter, Facebook, or email.

Significant changes to make the website easier to use

From signing up to booking a deal, we’ve listened to your feedback and tried the make the whole process as easy as possible. That said, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve. If you have any suggestions that would help make Trooval a better place to book your free vacation, feel free to let us know. You can comment here, catch us on Twitter or Facebook, or simply send us feedback using the widget on the Trooval.com homepage.

We’ll have recommendations on the best family getaway spots, tips about how to safely and successfully navigate the timeshare purchasing process, and ideas for ways to have an amazing vacation without breaking the bank.

Keep checking back here, because we’ll be adding more content soon. In the meantime, you can post your comments here, or keep in touch with us by becoming a fan of Trooval on Facebook or following our @Trooval Twitter feed.

Happy Troovaling!