What are your best tips for saving money on family holidays? Share to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher, courtesy of Lloyds Bank. NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We all know that taking the family away can come with a hefty price tag, but in the cold, dark months everyone could do with having a bit of sunshine to look forward to later in the year. Lloyds Bank would like you to share advice on finding a great family getaway that doesn't break the bank.

Here’s what they said: “Holidays with your family can create memories that last a lifetime, however sometimes your finances can overshadow the time away. Whether it’s early, meticulous planning or a spontaneous last minute break, we would love to hear Mumsnetter’s tips for getting the most value from a family holiday" – Lloyds Bank

We know Mumsnetters are a savvy bunch, so what tips do you have for keeping the cost of your holiday down?

Do you venture off the beaten track when it comes to choosing a destination? Would you plan your own holiday package to find the best individual deals and eliminate unnecessary extras? Maybe you go away with other families to share the cost - or go for self-catering options to control your budget?

Whatever your tips, Lloyds Bank would like to hear them for saving when it comes to booking your family holidays: whether at home or abroad.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw and one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

We take packed lunches as food for 5 costs a fortune. Also plan ahead and try to find vouchers or deals for places to go in the area. Walks and parks are free and always good to explore somewhere new, it doesn't always have to be paying to go somewhere to have a fun day.

Planning ahead is key!

Book flights as early as possible, sometimes where they're £30-£50 each for a return.

Make use of self catering websites, such as airb&b

Make the most of having family and friends abroad, and in return offer for them to come and stay

Go camping for a cheap and easy option

Add local attractions/ tourist information ok Facebook for up to date prices and deals.
Collect local leaflets when you arrive - often these have deals in them.
If self catering in the uk meal plan as at home and have a supermarket delivery scheduled for day of arrival.
Make use of money saving deals such as a 3 day pass for attractions within one region as you can save quite a bit.

If flying from Gatwick they have an accessorize in duty free. It's really cheap, you can buy some holiday Accessories and not worry about them taking up space in your suit case.

Rather than risk excess luggage charges, buy toiletries (with the exception of suncream)at the airport after security, or from a supermarket in the resort.

Self catering places have always worked out best for us - we just have the treat of eating out for one meal a day whether that be breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also means that we can have a cheeky glass of wine when the kids are tucked up in bed - without paying expensive bar prices.
Always rifle through leaflets out on display in the areas you are in - very often they have vouchers on them, which means you get a cheaper day out. Or book things up online before you go - most places offer discounts for online advance bookings.
Take water bottles with you.
Keep it simple - often our best and most fun days out and holidays have been when they are packed with traditional, good old fashioned fun!!

Shop around look for special offers and book via a cash back site!

go camping in the middle of nowhere

These have all been mentioned before, I suspect, however:

Use screenscraper website such as Skyscanner to work out the cheapest flight to your destination.You can also use this site to find flights to other nearby airports, sometimes cheaper.

Use Holiday Autos to work out the cheapest car rental price. Choose the smallest car you can get away with. Check that the boot will hold your luggage!

Use a Cashback website to book your travel insurance, airport car parking etc..

Use Terravision or Easybus for the cheapest bus transfers from numerous airports. Can be as low as £1.00 for a transfer from Stansted to Central London.

If travelling from Gatwick into London, buy a ticket to East Croydon and then continue your journey on your Oyster card.

With booking.com you can often book a hotel room ( pay at hotel) without an initial payment, giving you time to decide about hotels.
With Travel Republic you can book an entire holiday, and reserve it without total payment, for £1.

On air&b, use the map tool to compare accommodation prices in one area at a glance. Try and get your host to suggest restaurants as often they will have knowledge about local places that serve amazing food away from the crowds.

Search for blogs by people located where you want to go. You can get interesting tips about cities,
local activities, tips for restaurants in your chosen destination.

If you want to meet locals, search for private guided tours or Supper clubs. These are both brilliant ways to meet interesting people and socialise.

Wherever I go I try and find jumble sales. antique fairs and car boot sales to spend a day soaking up the atmosphere of a place and looking for interesting clothes and gifts.boot sales
here

oh and I usually do a supermarket order to arrive on the day we return from hols, so we have milk etc and avoid coming home to bare cupboards,

Camping and self catering whether it be at home or abroad. There are many readyset up tents and equipment sites in Europe. Much more affordable than other options.

Get off the beaten track and go away from tourist hotspots - enjoy the genuine local charm at genuine prices.

Stay in self catering - saves a fortune on eating in restaurants. Make a packed lunch to take with you, then splash out on a few treats through the week.

Pack a cool bag, that way you can make packed lunches and keep them cold until lunch.

Always call up the hotel or accommodation provider directly and ask them to negotiate.

Go out of season. We have just been to Disneyland Paris in January and it was super cheap, we paid £250 for 4 nights in a Disney hotel including park tickets! It was cold but the park was extremely quiet.

My top five tips are..

1. shop around - whatever you want to do, plan in time to look and find the very best offers.
2. ask for a discount - when you book - phone up and do it. Most places have the option to offer you a percentage discount - so you never know how much you might save. Be brave and go for it.
3. Look (in advance) for vouchers for when you're there - whether it's in the uk or abroad, use a search engine and social media to find offers, free days out and vouchers for the area. It can save a fortune. You can even win meals or days out on social media for when you're there!
4. Self cater - it makes such a difference if you can hit the local supermarkets and cook for the family at the accommodation.
5. Consider a house swap - this is the ultimate way to have a bargain holiday. You swap your home with another family. It's all above board and there are lots of websites that will help you arrange it safely. Good fun - and you know your house is looked after when you're away...

happy hols all.

We scour the internet to find out where the locals eat, not only does it mean the food is good it means you're not paying inflated tourist prices. Picnics are also a favourite with us, and we always self cater so that we can eat in if the budget gets tight!

Search the internet to find the best deals in the first place. Self catering is the way to go for a large family.

All my family is in Ireland so we go there to visit on holidays. It's never "cheap" but certainly cheaper to stay at my parents house but not in a hotel. We try to bulk buy euro when rates are good as it will always be used.

Best ways we save money on holiday is to either camp or stay with friends. Occasionally we rent a self catering property. Safe catering saves a lot compared to cafe, hotel and restaurant prices. Also, as you can't always know what food might be available (unless you can get a food delivery) then the first couple of days can be made in advance and taken down frozen in a cool box.

It can be good to give children pocket/holiday money so if they want an ice-cream or a beach ball or something they can be responsible for what that money goes on.

We also pay out for membership of National Trust or English Heritage etc as that can save money and often has good facilities that are better than service stations where you can stretch your legs part way on the journey, eat your packed lunch or tea and incorporate some ready-paid day trips. NT also cover some coastal car parks so members can park free.

Only do some day trips and on other days do some free activities like using the beach, crab fishing or coastal walks. Taking card and board games can save on evening entertainment.

If you go camping near the coast then camping and beach can take up most of the time and activity and maybe just one day trip can be enough... see the holiday as being the camping experience/adventure.

If you are self-catering near a coast then you can get to the harbour when the fishing boats come in and barter with a fisherman direct for cheap fish freshly caught. Definitely eat what there is a lot of locally... fish at the coast, beef if near farms, etc.

I use the internet and check all travel agents for deals at times i want to go i then write down places i like that are already reduced, I then go to the travel agent and get the price down more by bartering. I never pay full price for any holiday. you have to be confident and pleasant even if its just by another £20 pp its still worth it

Self catering is great! Order a weekly shop in to be delivered to your destination so when you get there it's all ready for you.
I always find cooking away from home a lot more relaxing and enjoyable and despite what I said about ordering a shop in, I love visiting independent shops for local produce. (especially if abroad!)

Look for vouchers or online booking for attraction that offer discount if brought rather than 'on the day' tickets at the attraction.

Use price comparison websites for everything. If booking luggage onto the aeroplane book it in your childs name as its often cheaper.

Go self catering if you can, make it fun for the kids by having picnics. Do lots of research before you go, maybe you can find coupons and discounts for things to do.