How to book a TUI family holiday in 2024

If your attention is firmly on blue skies, beaches and buffet restaurants right now, you’re not alone. And while booking a family holiday should be fun, it can often feel like an overwhelming task on the family to-do list.

Once you’ve sorted out where to go, there’s the small matter of paying for a trip and hoping that your plans don’t change before jetting off. Happily, TUI offers a bunch of brilliant incentives to help alleviate some of the worrisome aspects of booking a family holiday.

From being able to secure a break for £0 and pay the balance in instalments to free kids’ places and a family luggage allowance, there are lots of ways to take the burden off the family budget. Throw in top-notch kids’ clubs and a range of hotels with epic waterparks and you’ve got a recipe for a fab family holiday.

For inspiration on where to book, we’ve rounded up the most popular TUI hotels according to Mumsnetters and we’ve got handy guides to the best TUI Blue hotels in Greece, the best TUI Blue hotels in Spain and the best TUI Blue hotels in Turkey, all featuring top tips and recommendations from the Mumsnet holiday forum.

Keen to start planning your 2024 family adventures? Here are 7 reasons why TUI makes booking a breeze.

We have had great experiences with Tui kids clubs and have used Sensatori, family life and the new Tui Blue. The facilities and staff are fantastic.

- Mumsnet user, Morellocherries

1. Kids go free!

Kids are priceless. Until you decide to take them on holiday. Luckily, TUI has released more FREE kids’ places than ever before in 2024 so you can save big when taking your little ones away. A free kids’ place covers flights, accommodation, food and drink and transfers. While it sounds too good to be true, we found hundreds of eligible breaks at the time of writing this piece, saving you hundreds of pounds in the process. Only one free kids’ place is available per booking (pick your favourite child now) based on a minimum of two full-paying adults. Additional children must pay the full brochure price.

We’ve always had a good experience with the Tui kids clubs. Both of mine made loads of friends who they’d then find in the pool later.

- Mumsnet user, MeOldBamboo

2. The kids’ clubs are some of the best in the business

Fun for kids and a godsend for parents, kids’ clubs are often a holiday highlight for the whole family. And on a TUI break, clubs are staffed by UK-certified staff and are split into different categories so that activities are completely age-appropriate. Depending on the hotel, you might find a Minis club for kids aged 3-6 and a Maxis Club for those aged 7 to 12. TUI Blue for families resorts even come with a BabyClub for little ones up to the age of three and a ‘Hangout’ area for tweens and teens from 12 to 15, complete with free WiFi and games consoles.

The best bit? The kids’ clubs are INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF YOUR HOLIDAY. A breath of fresh air for Brits used to pricey childcare and expensive school holiday clubs.

3. You can book with a £0 deposit

Haven’t quite got the funds right now for an epic escape? No problem. You can secure a break without having to fork out for the whole trip up front thanks to TUI’s £0 deposit offer.

To take advantage of the book-now-pay-later scheme you’ll need to set up a Direct Debit and book at least six months in advance (so it’s well worth reserving a spot now if you’re looking to travel in July or August). The Direct Debit payments will be split into at least three instalments with the last payment made 98 days before you jet off.

You won’t pay any more for your holiday, it just means that you can spread the cost to make paying for it more manageable. A win-win for family finances.

Just came back from a TUI resort in Rhodes which had its own on site Water park. I loved the water park, as it had slides for both adults and children to enjoy and we had a great time.

- Mumsnet user, Pinklady301

4. There are tons of hotels with unlimited access to waterparks

Nothing says Fun Family Holiday like a waterpark and there are loads of TUI hotels that include free access to slides, flumes, lazy rivers, splash parks and pools of all sizes. If you’re travelling with active kids in tow, a waterpark will keep them happy all holiday long. Mumsnetter favourites include TUI BLUE Ephesus, set between a beach and a mammoth waterpark on Turkey’s Aegean coast; Villa Mandi in Tenerife which includes unlimited access to Siam Park, officially one of the world’s best waterparks; and the Algarve’s Aquashow Park Hotel with an on-site waterpark home to some sensational slides.

5. You can get exclusive discounts via the app

Want access to extra savings and a personalised trip planner? It’s worth downloading the TUI app to cash in on app-only discounts. Plus, you’ll be able to set up a fun holiday countdown and put together an itinerary for when you’re there using the personalised trip planner feature which is packed full of top tips and experiences. You can also pre-book activities and kids’ club sessions to make the most of your holiday and get live updates on flights and transfers to stay on top of your travels.

6. You’re covered if plans change with TUI Flex

By adding TUI Flex, you’ll be able to make fee-free changes to your booking until just before you go. It typically costs around £40 per trip and with TUI Flex you’ll be able to change your holiday dates, destination or hotel without paying additional fees (one change per booking). You can also update passenger names if plans change. And if you need to cancel for any reason, you’ll be able to get a full refund. All changes need to be made at least 28 days before you fly. A small price to pay for peace of mind.

7. Families get 20kg of luggage per person as standard

Kids come with a lot of stuff so it’s reassuring to know that all TUI holidays that include a TUI Airways flight offer a 20kg luggage allowance per person as standard. Hurray for not having to squeeze beachy bits and bobs into tiny cabin-sized bags or being stung with extra fees during the booking process. The price of a package holiday includes your flights, luggage allowance, transfers, accommodation, food and drink and access to kids’ clubs.

About TUI

When it comes to booking a holiday, we know everyone likes something different - from great value all inclusive deals with TUI MAGIC LIFE where kids can go free* at selected hotels to our action packed Holiday Village options and our TUI BLUE for families hotels which cater for everyone and are handpicked just for your family.

Our holiday portfolio ticks off everything from beach holidays and city breaks through to lakes and mountains getaways. We also offer tours that let you experience exotic places like Costa Rica, South Africa and Japan in a brand new way, and multi-destination trips with over 5,000 combinations to choose from. As one of the biggest UK holiday companies, we're here whenever you need us - via our stores, website or 24/7 Holiday line. Book now for 2024 and get a £0 deposit* when you pay via Direct Debit*.

About the author

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel, product reviews and homeware roundups.

She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London and loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids, aged seven and four.