Family days out are a great time for everyone involved, but what about taking a bona fide family holiday? You have to plan until your hair falls out just in case of an emergency, and then there’s all the extra packing you think you have to do for your children; it only makes sense that a lot of families go out of term time just because they’re ready to do so then. Yet, it doesn’t have to be as hard as it first seems. There’s quite a few things to think about first of course, so here’s a bit of a checklist to help you plan. When you have a little one in the back, the world of travel is going to revolve around them, so here’s a few ideas on what you can to make the process easier.

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Keep the Suitcase Light

You’re never going to need as much clothing or cleaning items as you think. Often enough, you can pick up more at the airport if you need to, or if you can’t stop worrying. Wear your heaviest clothes upon arrival, and roll the rest of your outfits instead of folding them.

Know How to Navigate the Airport

So the big restaurants, like that of Pret a Manger, are always going to be a popular destination for anyone heading to an airport early. They offer great breakfasts at an affordable rate we’re prepared to pay for. However, they can get packed very early on, and joining the queue when you wish you were still in your pjs, and clutching your kid’s hand, is going to be an absolute nightmare.

Whilst the duty free section can also be hell to get through, it has some hidden secrets for to try out for a more peaceful experience. Try the pre packaged sandwiches in the fridge at the convenience stores in the back of the airport, like WHSmiths and it’s ilk. You’re seen to a lot quicker, and you can even package the food away safely and cleanly when you have to quickly rush off.

Try and sit close to the gate you need to go through, and be ready for the boarding announcement. Be as nifty as you can to avoid speeders with wheely suitcases, and get to the front of the queue first. It’s good preparation for getting on plane as soon as possible, and makes you more ready for any 5 miles treks you may have to get on with.

Try a Smaller Island or Tourist Area

So taking a trip to Thailand to get acquainted with the culture and religion is all well and good, but there’s a lot of jeopardy involved for new families. There’s a reason it’s a gap year hotspot: there’s plenty of hostels and attraction for the student life.

Try somewhere like Ireland or Sri Lanka for a more contained area that still has plenty of variance and life to it. There’s an incredible amount of magic in both of these locations, and you’ll be up to your eyeballs in culture to revel in. Similarly, both of these countries have plenty of cave systems and rivers to explore and go boating on, and you’ll never lose track of where your family is.

Try a Cruise

Want to go away but have a laidback time whilst soaking in the sun and sea like any other tourist? A cruise might be just the trip for you. It’s good for families as there’s plenty of facilities on a boat to keep the little ones clean and taken care of, and the creature comfort of having a proper bed won’t go amiss either. Try looking at deals at places like the Bolsover Cruise Club for trips that take a few weeks or just a few days, and settle yourself into the idea gently but with an intense experience you’re never going to forget. You can relax on the high seas with some slight swaying that can rock any baby to sleep, and any sea sickness can be quickly done away with with a bit of orange juice and lemonade from the bar.

As a new family, you can do a lot to experiment with your holiday experiences, and learn by doing when it comes to finding something everyone in your family wants to enjoy. Try some test runs first, by just having two or three days away, and then do the whole two weeks once you know how easy travelling with a baby or young child can be.

One of the biggest things that puts people off travel is the cost of it all. From travel insurance to flights, there are several expenses when it comes to planning a family holiday. Plus, when you’re paying for multiple people, the cost can really add up. But there are many ways that you can cut down the costs of a family holiday. And I don’t know many people that want to pay more for something if they don’t have to.

Even if you’re tied down by the constraints of school holidays for a family getaway, you might be surprised that you still can get some cheap holiday deals. The key is to know where to look and to time it all right. So before you book your next trip, have a read through this list of tips, and hopefully, you’ll be able to get yourself a bargain. Winning.

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Avoid Using High Street Travel Agents

Let’s face it; high street travel agents are there to make money. They have all of the costs of a physical premises to pay for, as well as staff wages. So although it can be a simpler process (someone plans the whole thing for you), you are rarely going to walk out of there thinking that you’ve bagged yourself a bargain. So look online or do it all independently. It can take some planning to book separate flights, transfers, and accommodation. But it will no doubt save you quite a lot of cash.

Book Using the Local Currency

If you’re looking to go abroad, then booking things like accommodation or excursions before you go, look to pay for them in the local currency. The pound is getting higher at the moment, so take advantage of using it against the Euro or US Dollar, for example. When you do so, it will make what you are paying for just that little bit cheaper.

Be Flexible With Airports

This is both the airport that you fly to and the airport that you fly from. When you have some flexibility, then it is going to get you the cheapest flights possible. If you’re flying from London area, then it does give you a variety of options. Often London City airport flights are going to be cheaper than London Heathrow, for example. It all depends on what airlines fly from where, and often more budget airlines fly from the smaller airports.

Avoid Weekend Travel

Many people look to maximise time off by going on their holiday on a Friday or Saturday, then returning the following Sunday. Travel companies know that people do this as it saves days off work. But if you’re able to take a couple more days off work, then travel on a Tuesday, or a Wednesday has often been cheaper in my experience. Using comparison sites for flights can be a really good way to check on this.

Have you got any other tips that have helped you to find a great deal in the past? Would love to hear what you think.

It’s an ambitious to think about next year’s holiday already, but did you know that being super prepared will actually save you a lot of time, energy and money in the long run? This article is going to show you exactly how you can prepare right now, for your vacation next year and save yourself a lot of rushing and more importantly, money.

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Location

First and foremost, deciding where you’re going to visit now will save you having to rush into a decision when the time comes to book a holiday. Either browse online or head to your local travel agents and see what countries look the most appealing to you. Not only will you save yourself from rushing, but you will also be able to give yourselves an idea on how much your holiday is going to cost you.

Think about what you love doing and find a location that fits that perfectly. Or you could take the alternative option and go for something that’s completely out of the ordinary for a super exciting trip away!

Clothes

Clothing is something that many people leave until the last minute to buy, because they want to catch the summer sales. Did you know, that many stores and companies actually offer their best deals after the summer has ended because they are trying to get rid of stock? Why not find the perfect sundress now ready for next year, rather than pacing the shops and not being able to find anything you like?

Picking up clothes as you see them will be less of a blow to your bank account too. Also, if you need any alterations making to your clothes, then you’ve got more than enough time to arrange it. The same goes for swimsuits, shoes and any other attire you’d typically take away with you.

Renew passports and travel insurance

Another thing that many people forget to do until it’s almost too late, is to renew their passports and travel insurance. Take a look at the expiry date on your passport, and if it will expire before you go away next year, get it renewed now so that it’s done, and you don’t have to make a large payment out last minute.

Make sure that your travel insurance is also up to date so that you’re not left stuck if anything does happen while you’re away. Check out any dangers that may arise where you’re travelling and add it to the policy of your insurance to make sure you’re covered from every angle.

Book now

If you find the holiday that you want to settle for right away, then why not book it now to save the worry of that particular hotel being fully booked, or that price being changed when the holiday season comes back around.

Booking now will also give you a much longer time period to save and pay your holiday off, and you will be able to head into work and be the first to book the time you want off without having to worry about someone else already having it booked off.

Another great reason to book now, is also what’s already been mentioned in this article. There’s no need to rush to find somewhere you like, you can take your time to buy clothes and other essentials for your holiday, and it will also give you something to look forward to for a long time.

Save gradually

Finally, saving gradually for your holiday will make the expense of it seem greatly smaller than it actually is. This includes other costs like food, drinks, spending money, putting the dogs into a kennel, parking at the airport etc. Sit down and figure out a budget that you want to reach by the time you go on holiday, and put the right amount of money away each week so that when it comes to it, everything is paid for and you don’t have to worry about a thing!

So there we have it, 5 ways of preparing for next year’s holiday, today! Doing all of these things will make sure that you’re avoiding any last minute panic, and also making sure that you’ve got plenty of time to book everything you need. Remember that having time on your side is one of the best things you can do, and to hit those sales now rather than later for your summer attire! Lastly, enjoy your holiday!