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A family holiday is something to look forward to, but taking the kids away adds up fast — and the bigger your family is, the more expensive your holiday will be. You could use that money to cover other needs at home.
Careful budgeting helps you avoid overspending, so you still have enough to cover the bills after your trip.
Still, that doesn’t mean your holiday has to be any less fun. By planning ahead, you can find opportunities to save money. Think about the main areas where costs add up and how you can make your budget go further.
Look for travel deals
Travelling is one of the more expensive parts of any holiday, but some companies offer deals to help families cut costs.
TUI, for example, offers free kids’ places to make holidays more affordable for families. The offer applies when you have two or more full-paying passengers. These places are also available during some school holidays.
Find an affordable way to visit attractions
Taking your kids to theme parks and other family-friendly attractions can give you all precious memories that last a lifetime. But whether you’re introducing your little ones to the joys of Legoland or Alton Towers, tickets are pricey.
On top of admission, you may pay for locker hire or pram storage. And then there are snacks, drinks, souvenirs and other expenses.
To cut costs without missing out on the fun, research and plan ahead. Agree on the rides and shows you all want to do, and factor extras like priority passes into your budget. Take your own snacks, and set a limit for souvenirs. Encourage your kids to pick one or two things they really want.
Make your own food and drink
According to the Post Office’s Family Holiday Report 2026, families set aside an average of £771 for a holiday, and around £165 of that goes on eating out. Enjoying family meals is one of the best parts of being away, but you may be able to bring the price down.
One option is to take food with you or stay in a self-catering property, which is usually cheaper than hotels. If you have a kitchen, you can cook your own meals and save money on eating out. You can still treat yourselves, but you won’t need to pay for every breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Your kids might not love the idea of eating in while on holiday, but make it as fun as you can. Take turns to choose what you’ll eat, and maybe add fun sides or desserts you may not often have at home.
To save money on drinks, take a small bottle of cordial with you. Add a splash to tap water for a drink the kids will actually finish. Mini, on-the-go cordial bottles that fit right in your pocket are perfect for holidays.
Create a realistic daily budget
It’s easy to spend more than you plan on holiday. But set a daily spending budget to make sure you have enough cash to cover the entire holiday.
A holiday budget calculator will help you work out how much you need. If an emergency forces you to go over budget one day, spread the extra across the remaining days.
Save on entertainment
Watching a movie or TV show is a cheap, simple way to entertain the whole family on holiday. If your hotel or rental property has Wi-Fi, you can connect to streaming services instead of renting or visiting a cinema.
But hotel and holiday-rental Wi-Fi is usually shared with every other guest, so a VPN is worth having before you log in to streaming platforms. Compare VPN costs carefully to find one that’s affordable and offers a good set of features. Shop around to find the best VPN deals in the UK — they cost less than a couple of coffees a month and help you keep your browsing and video calls private.
If you don’t have an account with any streaming service, look for free trials. You may get a week or more of free access, which would let you enjoy family entertainment without eating into your budget.
Balancing finances and fun
Planning in advance and searching for the best deals for travel, activities, food and entertainment will help you plan a fun and affordable family holiday.
Give yourself plenty of time to set money aside and do thorough research. Ask other parents in social media groups too, especially if you’re heading somewhere new.