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Travelling inexpensively as a family means travelling smart. Let’s dive into money-saving ways to eat, play, and stay so you and your family can have an incredible holiday that doesn’t leave you in debt. The key is to be flexible, do your research, and embrace the challenge of travelling on a budget.
Savvy travel planning
School holidays can limit when you travel but, for those with younger children, traveling in shoulder or off-peak seasons can mean cheaper flights.
No matter the age of your children, consider going to less-travelled destinations in the same region, where everything from accommodation to activities is likely to be cheaper, and you’ll avoid the crowds.
If resort holidays are your thing, the same approach applies – look beyond the tourist hotspots for resorts that tick all the boxes without the hefty price tag. In places like Bali, however, the opposite can be true, so do your research or work with a travel agent – the most affordable resorts are in busy Kuta and Legian.
Being open to different destinations and when you travel can save you hundreds of dollars. Look for package deals on sites like Flight Centre or Luxury Escapes that include flights and a cruise or accommodation and car hire.
If you’re set on where and when you want to go, use flight comparison websites like Skyscanner or Google Flights to set price alerts and grab the best deals.
Consider booking separate one-way tickets with different airlines rather than return flights, as these can cost less.
You’ll probably have noticed that the cheapest tickets often require you to make at least one stopover. Use this to your advantage by checking whether you can stay a night or two at stopover destinations on the way. Flights from Australia can be gruelling, especially when flying with kids in tow, so if you can break up the flight with a stopover, it may save your sanity and snag you a cheaper ticket – and you’ll get to explore somewhere new.
If you want to travel to multiple destinations, look for regional budget airlines, trains, and buses to cut transport costs. Europe has extensive and affordable rail networks, for example, while in Asia, budget airlines often have great deals.
Whatever you do, search for flights using an incognito browser so airlines and booking platforms can’t use cookies to track your search history and increase prices on repeat visits.
Budget-friendly meals
Eating out every day you’re away can give your credit card a workout, so self-cater as much as you can. Booking accommodation with a kitchen or kitchenette allows you to refrigerate food and prepare simple meals and usually means you’ll have more space than a standard hotel room.
Apartment hotels designed for business travellers can be ideal in big cities. They may not have restaurants, room service, or a kids’ club, but they will offer affordable prices and a living area, kitchen, and bedrooms.
Eat breakfast at your accommodation before heading out for the day, pack a picnic lunch and gather supplies at local markets and supermarkets to cobble together simple dinners most nights – it can all be part of the adventure.
When you do want to eat out, choose lunch instead of dinner at restaurants – lunch menus are often cheaper – and seek out street food for delicious meals at a fraction of restaurant prices. Many destinations, such as Japan and Singapore, also have amazing hawker centres (food courts) and convenience stores with tasty meals at budget prices.
Affordable accommodation
Staying in one place has its advantages when you’re travelling as a family. Hotels may offer an extra night for free if you stay multiple nights (at least four, typically), saving you a significant amount – especially if the number or age of your kids means you need more than one hotel room.
House swapping isn’t just budget-friendly, it can provide a comfortable and convenient home away from home. Keeping on top of laundry is a whole lot easier, for starters, and you won’t need to pack as many clothes – if you can each take a carry-on suitcase rather than stashing luggage in the hold, you may be able to secure cheaper flights. Aussie House Swap and People Like Us make it easy to pair up with other people around the world wanting to do a like-for-like swap.
Holiday rentals via Airbnb or Stayz often work out cheaper than hotels, especially when you factor in the ability to cook your own meals. Family-friendly hostels are also worth considering and, no, you won’t be sharing a room with backpackers; hostels often have family rooms with their own bathrooms, and you’ll have access to a communal kitchen.
Discount passes
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that can save you a lot on sightseeing. The London Pass, Paris Museum Pass, and New York CityPASS, for example, all offer discounted entry to major attractions, often with fast-track access. Always check if a pass covers the places you actually want to visit – sometimes paying for individual tickets is cheaper if you’re only visiting one or two attractions.
Public transport passes can also save money. Look for day or weekly cards that allow unlimited travel on buses or subway trains instead of paying per ride. In Europe, some cities also offer family tickets, where kids travel for free.
Hop-on-hop-off bus tickets with the likes of Big Bus Tours can be a great way to get around to all the sights in big cities like London, with some tickets including discounted entry to attractions and cheaper tickets for teenagers and kids (children under four are free).
Free stuff
There’s plenty to see and do overseas without spending a cent. Parks, hiking trails, gardens, and beaches are usually free to access, but it does depend on where you are – in Spain, don’t be surprised if you have to pay to hire a sunbed on the beach and, in London, BYO picnic blanket rather than sit in deck chairs in one of the Royal Parks – you’ll be asked to pay.
Be sure to visit some of the free museums in Europe while you’re there. Children under 18 can access most museums for free any day of the week. On the last Sunday of every month, you can all visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel for free (book ahead), while the Louvre in Paris is free on the first Sunday of each month, outside of summer.
In the US, the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. don’t charge admission, while others such as The Prado in Madrid offer free admission for the last two hours before closing time.
Local festivals and outdoor events can also provide fantastic entertainment for free – a quick online search will tell you which concerts, markets and cultural celebrations will be on during your visit.
Self-guided walking tours are fun, especially with the help of an app like GPSMyCity to show you the way – involve the kids in navigating the route and it may well be a highlight of the trip.
Travel insurance
We all know that the good times can take a slight detour when travelling. When the going gets tough, Travel Insurance Direct policies may assist with travel insurance cover for family travel to help keep your trip moving in the right direction, so you can refocus on the fun.