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Your family holiday is something you look forward to all year, a great excuse to get away and celebrate all of your hard work. It's also something that's been hard-earned, and can take a lot of saving and sacrifice to make it happen.
But when your family holiday finally comes, you can find it costing you a lot more than you expected. Between eating out, activities, and the other inevitable expenses, you could be in a situation where you're spending much more than you can afford.
Want to know some great ways of cutting costs on your family holiday? Take a look at some of the following tips.
Jump to:
- Cut the cost of the holiday itself
- Check out Airbnb
- Go all-inclusive
- Plan and pay for activities in advance
- Eat before you get to the airport
- Save money on your roaming bill
- Plan some low-spend days
- Keep the kids entertained
- Take packed lunches
- Eat off the beaten track
- Keep an eye out for free activities
- Get insurance before you go
- Don't be tempted by duty-free
Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons
Cut the cost of the holiday itself
Saving money on your holiday can leave you with more money for the holiday itself. If you set yourself a total budget for the holiday and your spending money, then you should be able to allocate accordingly. You could try looking at destinations that are out of season, or taking advantage of cheap introductory deals by booking in advance. There are a lot of things you can do to cut your holiday costs, leaving you with more money left over to enjoy yourself with
Check out Airbnb
Airbnb is a great website for finding affordable holiday accommodation in some fantastic locations. Having your own private space can make things feel more like a home from home, which is ideal for feeling relaxed while on holiday. While there are some things to know about using Airbnb for the first time, you'll likely want to use it again and again! With Airbnb, you can enjoy stays in town and locations that are away from the central locations, helping you discover places you wouldn't have otherwise. You can also get discounts off your first stay if you're referred by a friend!
Go all-inclusive
Going all-inclusive can be a great way for families to save money on their holidays. With all of your food and drink paid for, your actual holiday spending will be minimal, leaving you with some money to spend on some day trips and activities. While going all-inclusive can limit your choice of food, there are plenty of great resorts with multiple restaurants to give you some variety.
Plan and pay for activities in advance
Getting organised with your holiday can help you save money, as well as help you plan what you're going to do when you get there. It's often cheaper to book activities in advance, especially if you're looking at going to attractions or guided tours. You can make some big savings with advance tickets, so it's worth checking out some travel guides to help you see what's there and what's worth doing.
Eat before you get to the airport
You can save money at the airport by eating before you get there. Eating at the airport feels like something you have to do before going away, but it can be more hassle than it's worth. There's usually a lack of choice, big queues and everything ends up being a rush. Not only that, but airport food is expensive! You can end up paying way over the odds for a sandwich, eating into your holiday budget. Eating at home before you leave, or even grabbing something on the way can help you save money, as well as time once you get to the airport. Your food will be much tastier at home anyway!
Save money on your roaming bill
Using data is inevitable when you go abroad, but you could end up with the shock of your life once your bill comes back! Some companies now provide free roaming, which is great, but if you don't have this, or your data allowance is low, then a pay as you go option could provide you with much better value. Grab a SMARTY sim only deal to help you benefit from cheaper data both abroad and in the UK, saving you a lot of money on your bills each year. Take advantage of WiFi where you can, and try downloading TV shows and films in advance at home so that you can watch them uninterrupted while you're away.
Plan some low-spend days
The key to keeping your holiday spending down is careful planning. There could be some days where you fit a lot in, leading to increased spending, while others could incur minimal spending. Finding that balance is important, so it will be sensible to plan some low-spend days to offset the high-spend days, while also giving you the chance to enjoy some downtime. Taking time to relax on your holidays is important, so try not to make every day jam-packed with activities!
Keep the kids entertained
Keeping the kids entertained while on holiday isn't always easy! There'll always be some 'I'm bored' or 'I want' moans and groans during your trip. But by being prepared and planning different activities, as well as packing plenty to do can help you keep them busy. From making plane travel easier to finding things they can do on the beach, it will be beneficial for both you and your kids to have thought of multiple activities. Fortunately, the beach and the pool have plenty to offer, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find some fun things to do during the day.
Take packed lunches
It's easy to fall into the trap of eating out every day during your holiday, but that will lead to a high food spend by the end of it. If you're staying in a hotel that offers breakfast, make the most of them in the mornings and fill up for the day. You can visit your local supermarket to buy essentials to make some packed lunches, which can be great for when you're on the beach or sightseeing for the day. Sandwiches can be very easy to make, while you'll always find places that sell fresh fruit and snacks to keep you going.
Eat off the beaten track
Restaurants in tourist areas are known for their high prices, taking advantage of the passing trade. But if you're a bit cleverer with your choices, you can soon find some restaurants that are off the beaten track with much lower prices. This is particularly true in popular tourist cities such as Paris and Rome, as well as in seaside resorts. Take a look at online reviews and travel guides to help you find some affordable restaurant choices that offer local flavour at great prices. Don't forget that street food can also be a good way to sample some of the local dishes, and can be much cheaper than eating in a restaurant every night.
Keep an eye out for free activities
In the UK, we're lucky to have a number of free activities for tourists and families. Museums and country parks are often free of charge, and can be ideal if you're looking to save money on different activities. The same goes for trips overseas! Many cities will offer free things to do, including free entry to museums on certain days and so on. Trip Advisor can be your go-to place to find out about free activities where you're travelling, helping you find both common destinations, as well as some you might not have heard of.
Taking advantage of free activities, even if they're self-guided tours, can help you save a lot of money on your holiday spend.
Get insurance before you go
Getting travel insurance is a must for your holiday. It might seem like an unnecessary expense, but if something were to happen, you'd hate to be left with a large bill to pay during your stay. Even something as simple as an ear infection can end up costing you a lot of money, which could be better spent on more enjoyable things! Take a look at ways of finding cheap travel insurance to make sure you're covered during your stay.
Don't be tempted by duty-free
Shopping at the airport can be a tradition for some families, but you could get lost in the hype and end up spending more on goods than you would at home! Alcohol and fragrance aren't always cheaper, so you should do a price comparison where possible. Some brands can be cheaper in the airport, especially for clothes and accessories, because of the VAT saving, but you should always check before you buy. Going to the airport with a list of things to buy can help avoid unnecessary spending that could eat into your holiday budget.
Planning your family holiday can be a lot of fun, but worrying about your spending can put a dampener on things. By being strict with your budget and planning your spending in advance, you can be sure of a stress-free time that lets you all enjoy a well-deserved break. Need some holiday inspiration for this year? Check out the best holiday destinations for 2020 and start planning your family trip.
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