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

take your own food and have picnics!

Book places not popular with the hoards.
Book flights and hotels separately.
The last week of the summer holidays is often a bargain.
Don't buy clothes especially for a holiday- everyone has more than enough clothes already.
Don't book and pay for things you won't use e.g. number 1 priority for our dc was always a pool but now their teens it's WiFi.

Choose you destination by looking at flight prices first. Once you've found the best deals on flights, look at accommodation and shop around on the various booking websites. Before you book flights or accommodation, google for discount codes or book via a cash-back website. Stay in resorts which are popular with the locals, as food and drink etc will probably be cheaper.

Young children love taking a picnic and really do help to keep costs down on self-catering holidays.

We save 20p and 50p coins in a tin to
cover parking costs whilst we away. Technically we are still spending a fortune but as we have a stash of coins put aside it doesn't seem to hurt as much as eating into our daily fun costs!

Easier to do with younger children but visits to (free) playgrounds seem to go down very well - I think the novelty of different layouts / equipment design is v attractive.

We like to go to Haven, which means swimming and some activities are already paid for. For the past few years I've managed to get some good deals by checking school holiday dates well in advance and working out best time to go-our school holidays are often slightly different to average which means we can book off peak prices.
Also, I tend to book a click and collect shop for tesco/asda near the site for essentials. We do still eat out a couple of times but making sure we have snacks/juice/breakfast etc already saves a lot.
And always check for promotion code or cashback before booking :)

Don't assume that staying at home is the cheapest option.
Use cashback/discount websites, where possible.
If your employer offers access to discounts, remember to check if it covers travel/holidays!
Tesco Clubcard vouchers are very handy - either for accommodation or meals out.

Purchase your holiday at the right time - very early or very late

1. Stop spending money on Magazines look online you can find out all the juicy gossip on there.
2. Drinks and food you grab on passing all adds up keep food and drink in your bag so you don’t spend your pennies in the local shop when your peckish or thirsy
3. A Swear box is really good if you say naughty words lots and could save lots of money
4. Clothes get second hand I get a lot of my clothes from selling sites on facebook and its good as new second hand is great
5. Look through your bags and find all the coppers that are floating around and put the in the bank your be surprised how much you find even down the side of sofa

6: ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY

Just put a tent up in the back garden

Take packed lunches / picnics wherever you can.
Self catering is always cheaper. You can eat out/ eat in on alternate nights.

buy some bread and make sandwiches!

If you are abroad and have a hire car, go to supermarkets in local towns instead of resorts, they are far cheaper

Euro Lines have cheap coach trips to Europe. We've been to Disneyland and Amsterdam by coach. Book things separately rather than through an agency. 2 adults and one child to Disneyland for 5 days and 6 nights cost £1000 including food. Through the Disney website it would have been more than double! Plan everything in advance. For city breaks buy the travel passes and entertainment cards for 48 hours and save a fortune on attractions. Only take hand luggage on the plane, book out of season, check sky scanner for cheap flights. If doing a package holiday travel Republic is the easiest and one of the cheapest sites. On the beach is expensive.

Always self catering. That way you can pack picnics and eat cheaply in the evenings. Also, depending on holiday location and the way you travel, you could take enough shopping with you so that you don't have to shop in the more expensive holiday park shops or supermarkets that charge more because they are in a holiday hotspot

have a hearty breakfast so everyone only wants to pick the rest of day eating

Except for US $ and the Euro don't buy currency In the UK.
Buy once you get there. Change £10 at the airport then change the rest in town as the rates there will be the best.
I often choose a holiday destination on the basis of where has a good exchange rate at the time!

when booking holidays try and book packages holidays which has stuff for the kids and the adults to do and this way you avoid spending money on taxis as you be taking buses

set a limit for spends each day and keep to it

Plan 6 months ahead so you can stalk Ebay and voucher sites for the best discounts and vouchers for free,cheaper entry to local attractions

We always go to the local supermarket on holiday to buy lollies/ice creams - a pack of 4 in there is usually cheaper than the cost of just one from an ice cream van or tourist type shop

stay at home and have a staycation

Go self-catering and batch cook at the start of the week.

STICK TO THE UK.

It is not just the holiday that costs but is all the added extras - make sure you do your research, take things with you that cost more to buy when you are there than at home! Currency is usually better exchanged in the country than here the only exception being dollars and euros

Do your research before you go for great deals on attractions and restaurants x