How to have the perfect family holiday without breaking the bank

The annual family holiday can often be a headache in itself, especially when it comes to your finances with higher prices during peak seasons. However there are a few things you can do, such as looking into car hire comparison, which can really make the difference between a stress free holiday and one which breaks the bank. Here are my money-saving travel tips for the family break.

1) Book early

If you start planning your trip as soon as possible, it can make a huge difference than leaving things until the last minute. This is definitely the case with flights, as you’ll be able to book onto the most convenient flight for you at the cheapest rate. Leaving your flight booking until later can mean having to get the earliest or latest flight out to your chosen destination just to get a flight that meets your budget. And that’s not easy when travelling with kids.

2) Use comparison sites for the best deal

There are so many dedicated comparison sites dedicated to travel which you can use to find the best deal for flights, hotels and car hire. It’s remarkable just how much money you can save booking a holiday this way and it definitely takes the stress out of booking your trip. Don’t forget to also use these sites to book the most competitive travel insurance for your family; an essential for any trip abroad.

3) Do your research

Once you’ve booked your trip, there are still ways to save money by researching your holiday. If hiring a car, plan any journey beforehand to ensure you save fuel and also avoid toll roads which are an unwelcome expense. Any place you visit will have areas dedicated to tourists which will get busy and are bound to be expensive. Before you travel, look at the surrounding area and you’ll find areas which are off the beaten track and not as visited as others, which will almost certainly be cheaper. These unspoilt places are always the memories which stay with us longest on any trip.

4) Plan in ‘money free days’

If you’ve planned lots of adventures for your trips, make sure you balance them out with a few days where you hardly need to spend any money at all. Head to the nearest beach for a spot of sunbathing, sandcastle building, swimming and rock-pooling or a forest or wood for a nature walk and a picnic. When researching the area before you travel, also look to see if there are any free activities available especially through your hotel if you’re heading to a resort.

5) Stock up

Before you travel, make sure you’ve packed some essentials for any journey to ensure everyone is kept happy. Snacks are always more expensive at the airport so pack some into your hand luggage, as well as stocking up when you arrive at your destination. Also taking your own entertainment means you won’t have to stop off to buy more when you’re bored of hearing ‘Are we there yet?’ for the hundredth time that morning.

Natalie Likness‘ love of travel was introduced to her from an early age due to a trip abroad before she was even born! Having close family and making friends across the world, she has continued to travel ever since.