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If you’re bemoaning the cost of travel post pandemic, spare a thought for those vacationing with a family!
Transporting, accommodating, feeding, and entertaining an average size group can add up ridiculously fast. However, with some thought and determination, you can travel with a tribe and keep your budget in the black.
Here are ten practical tips for saving money on a family holiday.
1. Start a travel fund now and invest it wisely
With a mortgage to service and endless demands on the household budget, it can feel nigh on impossible to save money for anything — let alone a holiday. But just putting a small amount aside each week will see it build up relatively quickly. Think of it like a Christmas Club, but for travel! What sort of account you choose to put it in is also important. There’s a push to see open banking help consumers manage their data and find the best financial products. Open a high interest online saver account for example, and away you go — literally!
2. Do your research
From flights and hotels, to tours and car hire, most people believe you can get a better deal by booking online. Certainly check comparison websites — but beware of hidden service fees, inflexible terms and conditions, or distorted pricing that excludes necessary extras. And before you hit ‘book now’, take a few moments to contact the airline, hotel, or tour operator directly and let them know the price you have found. They may be prepared to match it — or even beat it! It’s also worth signing up for email newsletters from travel providers you like; many announce sales and special offers to their mailing lists, before promoting them elsewhere.
3. Drive rather than fly
For a typical family of four, flying anywhere carries a sky-high price tag. A road trip is usually more affordable and will allow you to choose your own adventure. Make sure the car is serviced beforehand and have an app on your phone for tracking down the cheapest petrol. In New South Wales, you can use the free Fuel Check app to find the closest/cheapest fuel anywhere in the state.
4. Travel off-peak if possible
School holidays, public holidays, long weekends, seasonal festivals, and major sporting events — travel during these periods is always going to be more expensive than usual. Travel off-peak instead; it almost always means cheaper flights and accommodation, fewer crowds, and shorter queues. If you must travel during peak seasons, try and be flexible with dates. Sometimes simply adjusting your schedule by just a few days can result in big savings.
5. Go regional
Go where the tourists aren’t and you’re going to save money. No ifs, buts, or maybes about it. Regional destinations like Dubbo and Tamworth (NSW), Bendigo and Ballarat (VIC), and Toowoomba and Charters Towers (QLD) offer plenty of amazing things to do, but they attract far fewer holidaymakers than our bigger cities. It will mean more bang for your buck, and you’ll enjoy some truly unique experiences as part of the deal.
Likewise, if you have your hearts set on a beach holiday, think outside the box and select a piece of coastline that everyone else isn’t lining up to visit!
6. Eat in, or outside!
Eating out can get expensive fast — especially with a family in tow. While you’re on the road, save cash by having pre-prepared snacks on hand. Take refillable bottles of water and reusable containers of healthy treats. You won’t have to pay a premium for refreshments at convenience stores and petrol stations along the way.
When you arrive at your destination, try and self-cater for at least two meals a day. Shop locally and make breakfast at your accommodation, along with sandwiches for lunch. Picnics are always a hit with littlies. In the evening, look for restaurants promoting ‘kids eat free’ or ‘early bird’ menus (which tend to be at family-friendly dining times anyway).
7. Do DIY tours
Doing excursions with commercial tour operators is great, but they usually come with a hefty price tag for families. So, arrange your own day trips instead! Different family members can take charge of mapping out an itinerary for different days. Browse local tourism websites and reputable travel blogs for ideas.
8. Look for family and multi-attraction passes
Are you wanting to tick off several tourist attractions during your trip? Research which ones offer a family entry pass, as the savings can be significant. If you’re planning a visit to Sydney, check out the range of combo passes for Sea Life Aquarium, Wild Life Zoo, Madame Tussauds, and Sydney Tower. IVenture’s multi-attraction passes are another option; the Sydney pass includes entry to Taronga Zoo and several other high profile must-sees.
9. Remember that the best things in life are free
All of that said, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep kids entertained on holiday. Depending on their ages, adventure playgrounds can be more fun than theme parks. If you’re travelling with an older crew, bushwalks and the beach will usually win everyone over. Many museums and galleries offer free entry, and they may even stage family friendly activities as part of the deal (call ahead to check).
10. Take home only memories
Most tourist attractions have gift shops and it can be hard to resist buying souvenirs. Instead, get the kids to draw something related to the experience or keep a diary about the highlights of their holiday. And of course, take lots of photos. Everything can go into a memory book when you get home, which you’ll treasure for years to come.
This post was published thanks to Basiq.
Browse our range of Australia tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of tips for saving money on a family holiday? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
The information contained in this story is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice in any way. We make every effort to ensure this content is accurate, but we do not guarantee it. You should do your own research and seek the advice of professionals before acting or relying on any of the information provided in this story.
Additional images: Depositphotos, Bigstock, and Envato
About the writer
Cindy Bingley-Pullin is a Sydney-based freelance writer, wanderluster, corporate bee, and happy homemaker. In between analysing spreadsheets in the office, she pursues her combined passions of travel and writing. Cindy’s work has appeared in Virgin Australia’s Voyeur magazine, International Traveller, Fitness First magazine, and the Sydney Morning Herald.
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
