Family holidays are notoriously expensive because not only are you confined to certain weeks that the kids can travel, but attractions and meals out soon add up to a small fortune as well. If you want to stick to a budget, read our tips that can help you save a surprising amount of money on your next family break.
1. Avoid the middle of the school holidays
It’s no secret that holiday prices increase during the school holidays and because families are something of a captive audience, the prices are paid, albeit begrudgingly. Although you can’t escape seasonal cost hikes entirely, you can book your breaks for the mostcost-effective moments, which tend to be the final week of a school holiday. An impending new term or return to school is often cause for panic and last-minute planning, which takes time and shopping. These are two things that are in short supply during a family holiday, but if you prepare before you jet off, you can get back just in time for an easy transition back to school with some extra money in the bank. Just don’t be tempted to take the kids out of school without permission, as the fine for doing so will more than likely negate any savings.2. Choose a less common destination
It’s too easy to be tempted by must-see destinations that are setting your social media channels alight, but with fashion comes increased cost. It can be hugely beneficial, financially speaking, to make a note of some dream locations, so you can try to visit them when the fuss has died down and, in the meantime, travel to some less hyped or spots.
Turkey offers cheap package holidays for those willing to look beyond traditional family favourites such as Spain. Forget about the mainland and the Canary Islands for a while and you’ll be able to enjoy a different kind of exoticism for less money and without compromising your family experience.
3. Look ahead for travel deals
Travel need not be so expensive that it burns a hole through your pocket, so you’d want to plan your move in advance. One of the best ways to save money on your trips is by finding Holiday Deals from Bristol Airport, or wherever it is you depart from. Look up websites that offer you packages and deals for your trip, and you will likely stumble upon one that offers you the pricing you’re looking for.
In addition, plenty of family-friendly destinations know that the way to purse-wielding parents’ hearts is to offer free kids places, which is why you should be able to find a wealth of offers to take advantage of. From cheap meals to buy-one-get-one-free on attraction entry fees, if you bookmark any and all useful discount vouchers and plan your holiday around value-added days and nights out, you can save a lot of money.
If you have very young children, it’s worth checking to see if any attractions offer free entry, as over the course of a week or two, this can quickly add up.
4. Take the plunge with all-inclusive
On the face of it, all-inclusive holidays seem more expensive than other options, but when you start calculating the cost of three meals a day per person, plus snacks and activities, a set-price break can translate to excellent value.
A lot of all-inclusive resorts that are family-friendly host plenty of activities to keep you and the kids entertained and those with private beaches can include water sports, which are a big expense on most breaks. Just be sure to check all of the conditions for your stay, to avoid being charged for extras, as these are what makes an all-inclusive holiday more expensive than other options.
5. Go for an unpopular flight time
If the thought of a 2am flight with kids fills you with dread, that’s how most other parents are feeling too, hence they will pay extra for a more sociable hour. If you can handle the fallout from some tired little ones for a few hours, choosing these unpopular flights can save you a lot of money, with mid-week offerings maximising your savings. Just try to remember that they can sleep on the way to the airport and on the plane, so it won’t be as bad as you think – especially if you make sure everything is in the car and ready to go the day before. Family holidays are always going to wield sizeable price tags, but by being savvy and choosing savings over convenience, you can reduce them a great deal.