As a London-born England native and a frequent flier in Europe, I have spent years trying to find the perfect vacation hacks to make family travel easy and save money on family vacations.
There are pros and cons for every type of vacation: hotels vs vacation homes, car rental vs walkability, city breaks vs beach escapes – I’m still keen to try it all to find out which one makes me feel like I’ve truly experienced enrichment and relaxation. While I haven’t cracked it completely just yet, I’ve definitely learnt a few tricks along the way, especially when it comes to getting the best value for money.
Here are my go-to tips for how to save money on family vacations in Europe.
1. Flight Hack Your Travel Costs
Sign up for reward schemes with credit card companies who partner with airlines. A credit card from BA or Virgin will earn you reward points which you can transfer into flights. You can save money off bookings and even book flights for as little as $3. Here are some tips:
- The process isn’t always super simple or easy to work out. Invest some time reading the rules and terms on their websites to work out how you can spend the points. My biggest tip is to book specific reward seats rather that use your points for money off bookings – you’ll save way more that way.
- You can earn more points through their ‘spending stores’ online, as well as earning points from flights. Before you buy any large purchases online, check if they have affiliated with that retailer. Most of them will be listed on their e-store so by shopping through their link, you can earn even more points this way.
- Check alternative destinations for lesser-traveled airports or fly out of peak dates to make the most of your reward points. For example, you’ll find more reward flights to Rotterdam The Hague Airport (only 45 minutes by train from Amsterdam) than you will to Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport.
- Flights are usually released around a year in advance, and the keenest travelers will book it that early to find the best choice of reward flights.
2. Book in Advance
As well as the fact that last-minute trips are virtually impossible to plan with children, you’ll be losing out on the best properties to those families who book in advance. British families in particular will often book ahead for the long Summer holidays, so many family-friendly properties in Europe will be already fully booked by Spring.
Flights are nearly always more expensive closer to the flight date too, as is airport parking and car rental, which can be extortionate in Europe during the summer months.
3. Opt Out of Hotels
If you have more than one child, a hotel is rarely a cheaper option than a vacation home when you’re staying in cities, unless you’re savvy at finding large family-friendly hotel rooms. Find a family vacation rental in your chosen destination to save money on your family vacation accommodation and use your budget for activities and eating out instead.
4. Know your Seasons
It’s common knowledge that many destinations will have peak season pricing for their most popular months (usually when the weather is at its best).
- Can you travel a few weeks earlier or later, to save money on your family vacation and compromise a little on the seasonal weather?
- Get in touch with some local hosts in your preferred destination to find out when their school vacations are. If you travel during the school holidays, you’ll find more options to choose from (therefore more competitive pricing).
- Look at neighboring destinations which might have the same seasons but a lower profile for tourists. For example, Morocco has similar seasonal temperatures to southern Europe but is usually much cheaper at all times of the year.
5. Try a Home Exchange
How about a family vacation that doesn’t cost you anything? Make your property pay for your next vacation with a home exchange! The Kid & Coe exchange programme means you can swap houses with other families around the world for free. Browse all our Exchange Properties to get an idea of where you could be visiting next.
Book an Affordable Family Vacation in Europe
Browse our collection of affordable vacation homes and properties under $500 per night to get an idea of where you’ll get the best value for money.
Or for a completely different experience, discover more about the Kid & Coe Home Exchange program and try it for your next family vacation.
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