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

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De Kempervennen CP tips anyone?
Hi we're off to de Kempervennen for 6 nights at the end of March/April and would like to book the snow dome ski packages first. Which is the best time of day for ski lessons? Also I'm wondering about the best way to eat without spending too much. We'd like to do a day at de elfteling too but I think it's complicated to get to by public transport. I was googling car hire and it is quite cheap to rent a car for the week so might be the most practical solution. Anyone done this?

Always take a packed lunch and a bag full of snacks with us on a day out. Camping is definitely great too.

Youth hostels.

YHA have the most amazing family Snooze Boxes at the Eden Project (sleeping a family of four - one double / two singles).

Self catering, always. Check out what shops are local to your accommodation if possible, & meal plan before you get there. Take some basics - condiments, oil, a jar of mixed herbs etc. Buy the rest when you get there, if you can. Aim for meals all made in/on one or two pans or trays. Pizza, pasta, curry etc. Use single-meal stir-in or cooking sauces. Any fridge will likely be pretty small, so consider this when you shop.

If you're going anywhere for a specific activity or event, never pay the on-the-door price. Find a cheaper deal & book in advance.

Packed lunches wherever you reasonably can. You can do this even if not self catering - buy sliced bread, bagged salad, prepared sandwich fillings, fruit, drinks etc. Make it up in your room before you set off for the day. Take small cool bags to pack it all in. A can or two of pop does quite well as a cool brick for a few hours.

Use the free wifi wherever possible!

Personally I like to shop around to get the best deals on travel/accommodation/package deals/insurance but I don't like to scrimp too much when I'm actually on holiday as it ruins the mood. For example, I like us to do at least one really nice dinner at a restaurant, spend a bit of money in the local market etc... So my preference is to shop around upfront, even go somewhere a bit cheaper, then save a decent amount for spending and treat ourselves while we're away, without guilt!

Games to play in the car and at the destination

We find booking ourselves and not through a travel agent works out cheaper we have had some great holidays when we have found accommodation and flights separate and a lot cheaper

Self catering holidays where I plan beforehand a precise food list and meal plan menu. We try to limit buying food and drinks whilst out and find free local activities.

We always use the facilities at breakfast to make some sandwiches for lunch! That way, we only have to pay for dinner :)

My Top tips are to research thoroughly every aspect of cost!! Using comparison sites such as Skyscanner for flights, Hotel comparison sites, car hire etc etc. But also check against Tour Operators prices too (last July we booked for this May 11 nights, AI, 5* everything included for £1,800 less than he current price!). Remember whatever you choose to book to search for voucher codes (MSE/Hot UK Deals / Voucher Codes all have threads for these) and where possible ensure you maximise your discount by using a CashBack Website.

Arrange your own insurance, but ensure you check the policies properly before purchasing to ensure it suits your needs. Self Catering can save you a great deal of money and always works better for fussy eaters so if you are looking to cater this way then ensure your accommodating has the necessary cooking utensils/cooker etc etc. Also I would recommend researching the nearest supermarket/Cash Machine/Chemist and Local amenities.

Once you have booked your holiday be it in the UK or oversea's try to pre-plan any excursions as pre-booking & Voucher sourcing can save you a great deal of money compared to "Gate Prices".

If you are travelling oversea's ensure you book any airport parking asap and also look at combined parking and hotel options as these (believe it or not) can often be the same of even cheaper (and yes it was for us 2 years ago when we flew out of Manchester!). Avoid paying for any snacks or meals on the flight, they are expensive and not very nice! You are free to take sandwiches/snacks/sweets through customs but not drinks.

If you are hiring a car oversea's you can also save by taking your own booster seats (we have an inflatable Bubble Bum and a Trunki BackPack/Seat) these costs around £25-£30 but hiring a car seat overseas will cost you between £5-10 a day. The same for a sat nav, this is also a chargeable extra so if you have a smartphone you are taking you can download NAVFREE for free.

If travelling within the UK avoid Service stations like the plague for food and petrol but fine for a driving break, you'll pay well over the odds for everything from Petrol to Food!! So remember your Packed Lunch!

We have a credit card designed purely for travelling oversea's. It offers a competitive exchange rate on Withdrawals and purchases, whatever we spend/withdraw that day we pay off that night so avoid any interest charges, and it also has no fee for withdrawing cash. You can find a list of the different cards on MSE. Over the years using this card has saved us a great deal but its also great for protection too. Once we get home the card is popped away until the next holiday.

Don't waste money pre-booking your seats in advance, CAA states that children should be seated with at least one parent, however if you get to the airport early enough then you can normally all get seated together as airlines NEVER prebook all seats out.

One more small cheeky tip is if you are travelling with a child under 2 (who are not entitled to their own seat), when the online check-in opens and you choose your seats (not pre-booking) then if you book 2 seats apart i.e Window /Ailse seat then the odds are the middle seat will not get booked and your lo will get a seat ;-) x

research and plan for most eventuality, buy travel insurance separately from airplane tickets. Do as much self catering as possible. Go on as much comparison website to get the best deal.

When booking abroad I always look into the cheapest deals, when holidaying in the UK we stay in caravan and try to take our own food for eating as it saves a fortune than eating out

Do your research. Compare, compare, compare. There's always a cheaper price to be found. Use a cashback site to gleam even more return. Buy attraction tickets before you go - always better deals than walking up on the day.

Self catering accommodation. We use saved up supermarket points and vouchers for a 'freebie' food delivery when we stay in the UK.

We like to go self catering as doing your own breakfasts and making packed lunches saves a fortune over a week or two. we also look for vouchers for days out before heading off on holiday

Self catering, booking through topcashback, and going for 10 days rather than 2 weeks - feels like the same amount of time but works out quite a lot cheaper!

Start to budget/save money for your holiday before going, there are a lot of great apps out there (like moneylover) which help you keep track of the money in your bank accounts and try to teach your kids to budget before your holiday. Spend on what you need before your holiday so you are able to spend money on what you want during your holiday! Also check websites like groupon for discounts while on holiday.

DIY is often cheaper than a package especially for skiing holidays. Save a couple of thousand easily.

Vouchers like Tesco Clubcard Days Out can really make a big difference.

My best tip is to shop around before you purchase your holiday and barter between companies.

Shop around for best currency rates before travelling by using a comparison site and the same for airport parking.

When there we always get plenty of salad and bread etc for lunch and often have evening meals in the hotel or eat at local restaurants off the beaten track, these are often a lot cheaper and more authentic cuisine.

I would say plan your holiday early and save a little bit away each month even if its just a tenner. it soon adds up as spending money so you can relax and enjoy your holiiday!

pre search for free attractions in the destination

With 3 children going all inclusive saves us a fortune. All the drinks and ice creams they want every second of the day soon add up. I love not having to keep saying 'no' when we are on holiday.

Roll your clothes in your case as it stops them wrinkling and is a space saver. Doing that has often meant not needing to check in bags at the airport saving time (online check in and no standing at the baggage carousel!), money and means no ironing

One large meal a day (breakfast if possible) means that not much is needed the rest of the time. Light lunch of a sandwich while out and about and some nibbles or similar for tea: DH and I used to eat out for 3 meals a day whilst on holiday and money wasn't an issue. Nowadays we have two DC and every penny counts; we have found a cheap way of doing holiday food and it is actually better for us moneywise and healthwise!!!

Rather than go on one big holiday abroad , as a family we tend to go to many one day or weekends away in the UK. We take plenty of snacks with us and the children enjoy it just as much!