Want to learn how to travel on a budget? Here are all the insider secrets that you need to know.
Family trips aren't just fun - recent research has proven that taking holidays together as a family can have a profound and lasting impact on children's overall happiness and well-being.
Research published in the Journal of Commercial Research found that experimental gifts of family outings or vacations of any kind helped formed stronger relationships over material presents.
It proved significant in promoting brain growth and showed children who travelled often scored higher in subjects like reading, math and general knowledge, all while building positive memories to last a lifetime.
However, a holiday for some can feel far out of reach what with the extortionate prices packages holidays come in at nowadays but worry not, today the travel mad mum in me is going to share some of my top tips to help you travel on a budget.
- Timing is everything. The best time to book a trip away is in the middle of the week. Airfare and hotels are much cheaper during off-peak seasons, meaning you will have to be flexible on timing.
- Don't rule out private accommodation such as Airbnb, a budget hotel chain or even hostels. Some families need more amenities than a hotel and at a much cheaper price. For example, as a large family of seven, we prefer self-catering as it allows us to cook our own meals in comfort and prepare healthy snacks to bring with us on our adventures all while costing a fraction of the price of the average hotel.
- Check one-way flights. When researching travel options, sometimes it can be cheaper to fly out with Ryanair and home again with Aer Lingus, the same applies to ferries. Make sure you search incognito and start with Google flights which shows you how much you could save per ticket if you alter your itinerary by a few days.
- Flash sales are life. When planning DIY trips, sign up to airline, ferry and your preferred destination's newsletter. Most if not all companies share discounts and sales with subscribers first, meaning you get a heads up first before it hits the media.
- Consider camping. The winter months are the best time to invest in a tent because most stores tend to drop prices of older models to allow room for new stock. Camping is a great way to go back to basics, to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature all while being affordable.
- Attractions and activities quickly drain money when you're away so it pays to be super savvy before you travel. Look for simple and free things to do with the kids. Research local beaches, museums, parks and even festivals and plan your trips around them. This will leave money for future trips or maybe an extra night or two on the one you are currently planning.
