For many people, family vacations are the most wonderful time of the year. But unfortunately for many parents and children the trip falls during the school holidays - it's no different for us. And during the holidays, many travel destinations are significantly more expensive. What can families do to save money? On my topic page about family vacations, I have listed my blog posts on the topic of family and, a little further down, I will give you helpful tips and recommendations on travel destinations and booking so that your next trip with your favorite people will be even more beautiful.
With us you will find lots of useful tips, information and personal experiences that will make your next family vacation unforgettable. Whether you're traveling with young children, looking for great deals or discovering family-friendly destinations, I've got some interesting posts and inspiration on this popular one Beach compiled to help you with the Planning and help organize your family vacation.
My current posts related to family vacations
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Family vacation – the most wonderful time of the year for young and old
Family vacation is the most wonderful time of the year for me. Unfortunately for many parents and children the trip falls during the school holidays - I'm no different. And during the holidays, many travel destinations are significantly more expensive. What can you do to still save a lot? And which travel destinations are suitable for families? I'll give you valuable tips and tricks about travel destinations and money-saving tips that might help you get on your family vacation a little cheaper.
Families are completely dependent on vacation when planning their vacation. Fortunately, there are quite a few of them: winter holidays, Easter holidays, summer holidays, autumn holidays and Christmas holidays. There are often only a few weeks in between. So there are plenty of opportunities for an unforgettable family vacation throughout the year. There are many relaxing holiday destinations on both short-haul and long-haul routes.
There's just one small catch: During the holidays, trips and flights are often significantly more expensive than during the rest of the year and the quotas are booked up much more quickly. What can parents do to ensure their kids have an unforgettable time? Which travel destinations are best for family vacations? And how can you save a lot of money, even if you rely on the holiday season?
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Family vacation tips – How to get to your destination quickly and cheaply
If you want to go on vacation with the whole family, you should prepare well. This particularly applies to the selection of the travel destination and the right timing for booking. Families who have to be careful about money will particularly benefit if they research extensively for cheap offers before booking. Because family vacations often become cheaper the earlier you book. Many tour operators give heavy discounts to early bookers and regularly entice them with additional voucher campaigns in which travelers receive money back after their vacation.
Early inquiries offer organizers planning security - and this is rewarded with a discount. So if you are dependent on the busy holiday season, you would do well to book your trip as early as possible. In the next step, you should definitely pay attention to which services are included in a package tour:
- Do you have breakfast only, half board or all inclusive?
- Is the room spacious and with sea view?
- Which flights (flight time, airline) are offered in the package?
- Are luggage and seat selection included on the flight?
- Are transfers and the train to the flight included?
Once you have clarified these important questions, you are already an important step further. Now you should clarify whether you still need travel cancellation insurance and international health insurance or whether you are already well insured. If you don't have one yet, you can find various price comparisons online and should book with a test winner. The insurance offered by the tour operator is sometimes significantly more expensive than a separate booking.
If your travel package does not include a train to the flight and you want to drive to the airport, you should secure a parking space at the airport a few weeks before departure, as prices often rise sharply shortly before departure. If you follow these family vacation tips, you can save a lot of money. But there is more!
On the go with a small budget – book cheap family holidays
If you want to save even more money on your well-deserved family vacation, you have additional options to reduce the price of your family trip. Parents with children can go on vacation even cheaper by booking a less popular travel destination. Mallorca, for example, is rather cheap during the Christmas holidays. Anyone who can accept a few compromises and can cope with temperatures of less than 20 degrees Celsius on their Christmas holiday will also have fun on the Balearic island in winter.
In summer, travel destinations in Eastern Europe are often relatively cheap. Anyone who spends their vacation in Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria or Poland during the big summer holidays can theoretically travel with their own car and save a lot on hotel and living costs. These countries have a lot to offer as a travel destination and you will have a fantastic holiday there. Instead of going to the Mediterranean, we go to the Black Sea - or to Balaton (Lake Balaton). Another way to save when booking a family holiday is to take advantage of very last minute offers.
If you agree to book the trip two days before departure, you can save up to 70 percent of the travel price. Most families wouldn't do this because the potential for disappointment is relatively high if a suitable trip isn't found. However, if you dare and are a little flexible, you may be rewarded greatly and get the best family vacation of your life at a bargain price.
Family vacation by the sea - the most beautiful way to relax
Probably the most popular option for parents and children is a family vacation by the sea. It is the best way for families to relax and offers numerous opportunities to spend the hot summer days relaxing on the beach and cool off in the sea every now and then. Across Europe there are countless opportunities to spend your family vacation by the sea, especially in summer.
Many parents with children travel to the Mediterranean and enjoy the warm to hot temperatures. However, this is just one of many options for taking the family to the sea in summer. Of course, you can also spend your holidays on the North Sea coast and Baltic Sea coast or head for the Atlantic coast. From France to northern Spain to Portugal, there are wonderful stretches of coastline that make a family holiday by the sea a very special experience.
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Practical: plan an all-inclusive family vacation and cap costs
The all-round, worry-free package is particularly suitable for travelers with children. On vacation, the costs for daily meals and various meals can quickly escalate and become a real cost factor that far exceeds the actual travel price. An all-inclusive family vacation can help here. If you book the all-inclusive meal package in advance, you will initially pay more for the travel price, but you can completely cover the costs at the holiday destination.
Food, drinks and snacks – as much as your heart desires – this is a true dream, especially for children. However, you should pay attention to what your all-inclusive offer includes when booking. Every hotel is different and offers different services. If you inform yourself in advance, you can prevent unpleasant surprises. Because only real all-inclusive offers the savings.
The best travel destinations for families
Of course there are different preferences and interests. But most families are looking for a travel destination, especially for their summer vacation, that is cheap, close, sunny and warm and at the same time child-friendly. The choice of such travel destinations is huge. These definitely include the typical Mediterranean destinations such as Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, Turkey, Greece with Crete, Cyprus, Italy with Sardinia and Sicily and also the Red Sea in Egypt. In addition, the Canary Islands and Madeira have a good tourist infrastructure that offers child-friendly holidays.
These travel destinations are only a few hours away from home, so you don't have to travel forever with kids, all luggage and all, until you get to the holiday destination and can enjoy your relaxation. Of course, it's no problem to go on a medium-haul or long-haul holiday with children. There are many great travel destinations around the world that are also suitable for children. These include Thailand and Indonesia, Sri Lanka and many islands in the Caribbean.
Overview – these vacation spots are family friendly
- Egypt
- Mallorca (Balearic Islands)
- Indonesia
- Canaries
- Sardinia
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Cyprus
Discovering the world on a family vacation with a toddler
Of course, you can also discover the world on a family vacation with babies and toddlers. Nobody has to stay at home just because the kids are still very small. Quite the opposite: As long as the little ones don't go to school yet and you are dependent on the holiday periods, you can discover the world on a family vacation with a small child and visit travel destinations that may later no longer be accessible with school-age children because you won't have any have more time for it.
A tour through the USA, a month in Thailand or an extensive trip to southern Africa are definitely conceivable with small children. Think carefully about which destinations you want to go to before the kids go to school - once you're dependent on the holidays, it's all too late (I know what I'm talking about).
Family vacation: Cruise as an attractive alternative
Opinions about cruises are quite rightly divided. While some people rave about it and book a tour on the ship three times a year, others don't like this form of travel at all and consider cruise ships to pollute the environment. But going on a cruise, especially on a family vacation, has many advantages. A trip by ship is a fairly carefree affair for holidaymakers. There is usually more of an all-inclusive culture on the ship and many restaurants with food and drinks are included.
So you don't have to worry too much about your food. Secondly, there is something like all-round care for the kids – if they want it. The little ones can really let off steam on the cruise ship during their family vacation and are guaranteed to have fun with the children's program on the ship. The big disadvantage of a family vacation on a cruise is the often small and cramped cabin. Even premium cabins are not really spacious.
And if you want an outside cabin or a balcony, you have to pay a lot more. Accordingly, a cruise is not for people who like to stay in their rooms on vacation or who suffer from claustrophobia. You don't have a real place to retreat on most ships. Nevertheless, family vacations on cruises offer an interesting price-performance ratio and can be considered as an alternative to a beach vacation.
Family vacation: costs for one to two weeks*
For me, as a holidaymaker with children, a family holiday is primarily a question of cost. Of course, the price varies depending on travel time and offer. But basically, a family of three or four can add up to a lot. If we assume the best case scenario, I pay 550 euros per person for flight and hotel with half board. The children each pay 300 euros because they receive a discount. There is also a rental car for 300 euros per week. Parking at the airport in Germany costs the family 120 euros.
At the destination, the family needs another 400 euros in pocket money to eat out during the week, pay entrance fees, fill up the rental car and for snacks in between. The price for a rather inexpensive family vacation is 2520 euros per week for a family of four. And this price example is really one of the cheapest options. The upward price scale is open. I recently looked up prices for a three-week trip to the USA for two adults and a child and quickly found the family vacation costs to be between 6000 and 7000 euros.
Please remember: This is just a price example. The real prices can of course vary completely and should be requested from the respective tour operator.
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Family vacation – the most wonderful time of the year?
My conclusion
For travelers with children, family vacations are the most wonderful time of the year - it can't be said often enough. Unforgettable experiences await parents and children. But the family trip needs to be well planned and anyone who depends on the holidays should follow my tips and make the best of the situation. Families in particular are often dependent on the budget as they have to multiply the travel price by three, four or five.
Although there are many discounts for children, the bottom line is that a family vacation can easily cost 3000 to 7000 euros. With a little skill and foresight, it can also be done cheaper. Ultimately, you want to repeat the wonderful experiences as often as possible - and ideally, of course, start your vacation every holiday.
What does your perfect family vacation look like? Where have you been and what have you experienced? Share your experiences and tips in the comments – I look forward to your contributions!
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