Affordable Holidays: Belt tightening family holiday ideas

In the prevailing mood of belt-tightening austerity, and with the £/€ exchange rate an added source of concern, many of us are thinking of holiday in Britain this year –in spite of the wash-out summers that we’ve experienced over the past couple of years.

If you’re among the stay-at-homers, don’t be disheartened – from camping and holiday parks or log cabins to luxurious seaside hotels, there’s no shortage of tempting options. Many have good-value deals, especially if you book early – late deals may be available, but it’s risky to wait because availability may end up short because of both Brits holidaying at home and other Europeans flooding here because of the exchange rate.

But if you are among the many who are still intending to go to Europe, especially the ever family-friendly France, we’ve come up with some tips for keeping your costs down while still having a holiday to remember.

Great British Breaks
In this country, some of the best bets for harmonious family holidays are the likes of Center Parcs, Wales’ Bluestone holiday village, and Haven and Hoseasons holiday parks. All offer the facilities for self-catering, plus (at some or all of their venues), waterparks/indoor pool complexes and other indoor facilities. Alternatively, the Forestry Commission has introduced some wonderful cabins in forests in Scotland, Yorkshire and Cornwall, run by Forest Holidays.

Whether you choose a holiday park, a cabin or a rented cottage, aim to be within easy driving distance of a major town with indoor activities. Stay near Southport, for instance, and enjoy the charming seaside resort itself, nearby Formby with its wild dunes and red squirrels, Liverpool with its culture, and Blackpool with its theme-park fun. Or stay on the Yorkshire coast and you have a variety of resorts to explore – including Scarborough and Whitby – and easy access to both the North York Moors National Park for outdoors pursuits and York with its great museums.

If you plan on visiting a lot of pay-to-visit sights, it may be worth signing up at Days Out, which for a small subscription offers vouchers to many attractions. Look out for coupons on cereal boxes too. Who knows? – what you save in air-fares, as well as in accommodation, eating out and days out, might well tempt you to splurge on a night or two in a family-friendly seaside hotel…

Saving Money in Europe
Start watching the pennies from the moment you begin planning your European holiday, by choosing accommodation you can pay for in sterling. This is the case with British-run holiday parks such as Siblu and Canvas, but also with many gîtes or villas that are owned by Brits. But cheapest of all, try to find a home-swap, whereby you and another family trade houses for free.

If you do want to stay in a hotel, look out for special offers, and if there are none, ask – again, the number of Continentals coming to Britain may make some European hotels amenable to giving discounts or throwing in free breakfasts, kids’ club sessions or the like. And don’t reject half- or full-board packages, which many lake and beach hotels in France and Italy insist on in high season – they can save you a good deal.

Self-catering is an obvious money-saver, but part of going on holiday is trying out local cuisine and taking a break from the kitchen. When you do go out, consider doing so at midday rather than in the evening, when many restaurants offer extremely good-value menus (prix fixe in France).

Packing a picnic for the beach or theme-park, including plenty of water, can save you fortune on sub-standard fast food over a couple of weeks. And be aware of the number of little treats you buy – carousel rides, ice creams, trinkets from gift shops – and try to limit them. No one’s saying you should ban them, but it’s easy for them to become an expensive habit.

Spend time on the Internet before you go, finding out a region’s free attractions, or days on which they might be free (in Paris, for instance, there’s free admission to the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay on the first Sunday of the month and on Bastille Day). And check the websites of theme-parks, zoos and so on for money-saving vouchers or discounts for advance booking.