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

I know its all the families holiday, but where possible, cook your own food, you can put breakfast on, cook, eat, wash up as a family. Make sandwiches to eat throughout the day, take drinks, crisps etc, the less you have to buy the better. Take easy to make food for tea, ie jacket potatoes, cheese/ beans: Pasta. Obviously on a self catering holiday this can apply

We use university accommodation which is often quite cheap over the summer. We self cater and keep unopened large bottles of water in the car in case we forget to take drinks with us. We give each child a bag full of pound coins which they can spend on anything from ice creams, toys, sweets, comics etc but with strict instructions that when it is gone, it is gone and they are not to ask for things - seems to work. We look after a friends dog when they go away and they look after ours in return

Put a bit away each week.

Search websites for vouchers for free or reduced entry to places that you may be available to visit during your holiday. Eat packed lunches. Set a daily spending budget and STICK to it.

1st always try and take your own food on days out, if in the USA especially Florida there are normally vouchers you can get where kids eat free,
Also museums are free entry in this country and a cheap way to entertain the children

shop around for insurance quotes dont just take the one offered by holiday companies and always disclose illnesses

We either go camping, self catering or b&b. I think there are lots of options thesedays on where to stay - book early as the cheaper good value places go quick! If camping we love to spend time having breakfast and then we pop to supermarket for sandwiches and goodies for a nice picnic - we are the family that sneak food into places - so overpriced!!! as long as you are discreet, tidy and take your rubbish back with you I cant see how its a problem bringing your own food (we do usually buy a tea/coffee etc). We tend to eat out for tea and we budget for that. We love holidays by the beach as in the UK there are so many beautiful places you can stay, and its a great way of spending a full day without spending too much, especially for families with little kids! We have a cool box for the beach, windscreen, pop up tent (if its not windy) and find we can spend all day there and its lovely. Camping is by far the cheapest (just as long as you dont mind being a little cold in the mornings), but we would love a caravan (only so we had our own loo and shower)! We have a big whisky bottle full of 2 pence pieces and we always tip that into a bucket and take it with us for the arcades.

Go all inclusive when you have young children , it would save you keep putting your hand in your pocket every five minutes as icecreams & soft drinks are free.

self cater self cater self cater!!!!

Never convert your money at the hotel. The exchange rates are much better on the street

Take picnics to the beach to avoid eating out

Stay near lots of National Trust properties for cheap days out using your membership.

Look for discount codes and enter travel sites via cashback websites so as to get holidays as cheap as possible. Consider going for shorter periods - eg 4/5 nights instead of 7 nights. and pack some snacks with you so as to need to buy less at the destination

topcashback and the halifax saving helps me. plus putting money aside every day helps me focus for saving :)

1. Cashback websites and cashback credit cards (obviously pay it off at end of month)
2. Haggle - always!
3. Packed lunch - we always buy a loaf of bread when we get there and make sandwiches for lunch, we also took breakfast bars and snacks from here. Also food for the airport (not liquids or fruit) they will allow sandwiches, we took plenty for plane esp is meals are not provided.
4. Credit card that does not charge - Halifax do a Clarity credit card no charge for using (only for withdrawing cash) and also it gives cashback!
5. Tell the hotel it's a special occasion, birthday, anniversary, late honeymoon, you normally get stuff thrown in.
6. Can pre book taxis with hotel they can guide you on how much you should expect to pay if using taxi (saves you getting ripped off!)
7. Last minute deals if you can get time off

Take advantage of school inset days and organise a long weekend away, with a visit to a theme park/attraction on the inset day. Entrance fees and accommodation are always cheaper midweek!

A relative has a caravan beside the sea, so nice to take the family there for a break, take our own food so no more expensive than if we were at home.

I am a meticulous planner, you have to be as a family of five especially with a new addition due shortly!
We booked flights to the South of France the day they were released saving a massive amount of money!
I then spent hours researching local campsites until I found the perfect site right on the beach and within easy walk of a local village and only 10 minutes from the airport so no need for car hire!
My search for accommodation included Eurocamp and all the other main companies. I also check websites offering private rentals which can save heaps of money. In the end we shaved an extra £300 from our cheapest estimate by booking through Breakfree Holidays booked via quidco cash back site.
The end result is a holiday abroad for 10 nights for less than £1000 for a family of 6!
We will shop at a local Lidl Supermarket and have chilled evenings Alfresco dining and hopefully a nice glass of wine when the children are tucked up asleep after fun at the beach!

choose a self catering option - that way you can save costs on food by having dinner in rather than having to go out

Look for booking agents on cash back sites you may be able to get some money back :)

My husband used to swear by going all inclusive until we went on our honeymoon and the food at the hotel was rubbish, and the food at the local restaurants was lovely and really cheap. My advice would be to check out the reviews of food at hotels & restaurants before you book, then make your decision on whether to go all inclusive or self catering.
Ps if you are going with just you & your partner always say its your honeymoon or anniversary... nearly always guaranteed special treatment or a better room!

go all inclusive! cant beat it x

The Sun newspaper do some cheap holiday offers.

Book before the end of January as there is normally Amazing offers on

Book a single pool villa instead of the double pool villas #tory austerity measures