Family Holiday On A Budget Keeping Kids Happy

For most people, holidays aren’t cheap. Worse still, holidays may be even pricier when taken out during the out-of-school term time. Everything gets even more expensive if you have to travel with kids during the term breaks. These are extra mouths to feed and additional imaginations to satisfy. If you’re planning on taking your entire family on holiday but the funds are tight, you might be wondering what you can do to make sure your kids stay happy on their holidays. 

In this article, you will learn a few tips and tricks to help make your upcoming holiday a memorable and fun experience. With some creativity and careful planning, this is possible. 

How to Keep Kids Happy on a Budget Holiday

Travelling is one of the most challenging and expensive parts of a holiday. But you don’t always have to travel by plane.  Always consider the feasibility of driving to your destination and riding ferries to get across channels and seas. You can easily traverse the country using euro rails or interstate railways at a much lower cost than flight tickets. Keep in mind that most airlines will charge you all kinds of fees and taxes on top of the advertised prices. Eurostar often offers an amazing experience and is surprisingly cheap. 

Accommodation

There are many hotels with pools in Scotland which are great for keeping the children entertained. In many cases, you will find that hotels only have room to accommodate a maximum of two children and two adults. If you have a bigger family with more than two children, you certainly don’t want the others to be in a separate room. It’s important to maintain close supervision of your kids, especially when visiting a foreign area or country that you are not familiar with and have a different language. Instead of booking a hotel, consider taking a family-sized villa. This is not only less expensive compared to booking separate rooms but also lets you keep your children under close supervision. Keep in mind that there are also several options for self-catering lodges and apartments. 

Food

Dining out every evening can drain your wallet rather quickly. Don’t forget that most restaurants located in tourist areas will charge you extra for the menu items. When you get to your destination, find out if there are local mini-marts or supermarkets where you can buy all the basic items you need. If you’re not staying in an all-inclusive location, you could minimise costs by having a glass of orange juice and toast in the morning instead of heading out for breakfast at a local restaurant. 

Be Cautious

The last thing you want is for your kids to become sick or get injured while on holiday. Always use bottled water and stay away from any kinds of foods that might have been prepared using unclean water, such as salad, pasta, or rice. Keep your kids well hydrated, and make sure any meat you didn’t prepare yourself is well cooked. Before you leave, make sure that your whole family is fully insured to help protect your finances in case of a medical emergency. 

Travel

The process of traveling to and from the holiday can be a strain for everyone. Children and parents confined in a small space for extended periods of time can easily cause friction. Make sure that there are enough books, toys, and charged tablets at hand. Keeping the car clean is also a common issue; make sure there are rules in place regarding rubbish disposal and keeping everything clean. Car mats and rubbish bags should also be available and easily accessible, in case of spills and other issues. If you’re bringing along pets, make sure you have boot liners. 

Plan for Days Out

It’s important to find out about the local attractions before you book the holiday. This will help you determine the amount you need to make sure you have a variety of places to go once you get there. Rather than pay for the overpriced foods and beverages at the attraction sites, consider packing up a few snacks or going for a picnic, such that everyone will be filled up throughout the day. 

You can then take your kids some souvenirs or gifts from the amount you save. You don’t have to go all out just because you’re on holiday. It’s not a must to go out every day to enjoy the stay. Set aside some days for rest, which is also very important.