How To Plan A Holiday On A Budget

This is a guest post written by Hannah from Last Stop Lunar called “How To Plan A Holiday On A Budget”. If you are interested in ideas or suggestions on how to save money when you are travelling with your little ones, you will find this post very useful.  If you would like to know more about Hannah and her blog, please scroll down to the bottom of this post where you can find her details, under “About the Author“.

Going on holiday is amazing. You get to enjoy the sun on your skin while spending quality time with the people you care about, whether that’s your friends, partner or kids. Notice how I said quality time, not quiet time.

But we all know that holidays can be very expensive. All-inclusive package deals to popular destinations can cost thousands. So, how do some people afford to go away all the time?

I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to blow your savings when you go on vacation. I travel a lot, but I always try and do it cheaply and have a set budget.

Here are my secrets on how to plan a holiday on a budget to make your money stretch further when you’re away.

How To Plan A Holiday On A Budget: BEFORE YOU GO…

Use flight comparison sites

Package holidays are great, but you can save big money if you buy flights, hotels and transfers separately online instead of through a travel agent. Start with your flights and use a comparison site like Skyscanner to get the cheapest deal.

Be flexible with dates

Flight prices vary massively due to peak dates and times. If you don’t have a specific date in mind you can check the whole month and see which date is cheaper to fly on (weekends are usually more expensive.)

Similarly, if you don’t mind waiting a few hours in the airport, you can knock money off by getting an indirect flight.

If you have kids and can only go on holiday at specific times of the year, aim towards the end of the summer holidays (last week of August or first week of September) or choose October half term.

Choose lesser known destinations

Popular destinations have higher price tags. Instead of choosing a place that everyone goes to, why not visit somewhere a little more undiscovered? If you’re visiting Europe there are hundreds of towns and cities that will be just as beautiful as the more widely known ones, but much cheaper. Think Navarre instead of Barcelona, or Croatia instead of Marbella.

Fly from smaller airports

Flying from smaller airports like Liverpool, instead of London, could make your flights cheaper. However, getting there and back needs sill to be taken into consideration.

Try an Airbnb

You don’t have to pay high prices at a hotel anymore; renting accommodation directly from a private host can work out much cheaper. I love Airbnb because it’s safe, easy to use and convenient.

Some of the most unique places I’ve stayed in have been Airbnb’s including a houseboat in Amsterdam, a medieval loft in Florence, and a poolside villa in Rhodes.

How To Plan A Holiday On A Budget: WHEN YOU ARE THERE…

Make your own lunch

Dining out three times a day can become very expensive, especially when you have fussy little mouths to feed. Go to a local supermarket when you arrive and stock up on essentials like bread, fruit and cereal to prepare your own breakfast and lunch.

Making your own breakfast and packed lunch on holiday may not sound ideal, but it will save you a fortune and keep everyone happy.

Alternatively, if you’re booking a hotel, see if there’s a breakfast option when you book. Many hotels include a continental breakfast in the cost of the room. You can fill your boots, stuff a bread roll or two in your bag, and be full for the rest of the day.

Plan excursions yourself

When you book an excursion you’re paying for the tour guide and the convenience. You can save money if you do your research and book things yourself. Booking in advance usually saves you money and you can avoid long queues. Look out for discounts (over 65 and under 26-year-olds often get into museums free) and free walking tours.

Visit restaurants away from the main road

You’ll get cheaper and more authentic food if you choose restaurants which are away from the main tourist strip. Places on the main road with English menus outside will often hike up the prices because they know they are catering to tourists.

Enjoy yourself!

Try not to be hard on yourself if you do go over your budget, or spend money on things you don’t need – sometimes you just need to eat expensive ice cream for breakfast

Do you also try to travel on a budget when travelling with your kids? What do you think of Hannah’s tips on how to plan a holiday on a budget? Do you have more tips that we could add to this list? You can find Hannah at Last Stop Lunar blog and you can also follow her on Twitter.

Last Stop Lunar is a brand new UK based travel blog.

For more holiday budget saving tips, check out this other post on 15 Tips On How To Travel On a Budget. You can might also be interested in more of our posts about Holidays.

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋