Cheap family holidays: How to save money on your family vacation

Family holidays can be expensive. Whether you plan to travel internationally or domestically, booking flights, hotels, car hire, and accommodation, and then planning a budget for activities and meals, can all add up. However, there is a way to plan a cheap family holiday. The key is understanding how to save money on a family vacation – and it all comes down to careful research, planning, and a little out-of-the-box thinking. These are our top tips for planning a family holiday on a budget.

1. Research cheap holiday destinations

Local destinations

Alternatively, why not venture out and discover new locations and environments closer to home, simply by opting for a camping trip in a nearby bushland or coastal location. Swimming, biking, hiking, roasting marshmallows, stargazing, and watersports such as kayaking, paddle boarding and other similar activities can always be done close to home.

Domestic destinations

Australia is blessed with an abundance of coastal, country and urban environments to suit every type of holidaymaker. Whether you plan to spend your days sunbathing on a beach in Queensland, learning about cultural heritage in the Northern Territory, camping in Tasmania, bushwalking in Victoria, biking in South Australia, experiencing wildlife encounters in Western Australia, or shopping in New South Wales, there’s absolutely something for everyone to be found in every state and territory of our own backyard.

International destinations

There are plenty of affordable international destinations perfect for cheap family holidays. Right now, locations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and India are all affordable, and with an exchange rate that favours Australian dollars. There are often deals to be found for other destinations such as Singapore and Hawaii, to name a few.

Top tip: While many holiday destinations are expensive to visit and heaving with people in peak season, they can be affordable and interesting places to visit in the off-season. Accommodation rates are cheaper, and often the local tourism industry will have cooked up something amazing to attract people back while it’s quiet. Be sure to visit tourism websites for the destination or locations you;re interested in visiting to check in on any seasonal offers that may save you cash.

Read more: The cheapest day to book flights and hotels

2. Choose a destination with more nature-based activities and less tourist attractions

Beach days

Never underestimate the power of a beach day. Splashing in the waves, building sandcastles, hunting for crabs or a little impromptu rock scrambling are the things kids’ dreams are made of. However, families can up the ante of a beach day by adding in some 4WD action. There are excellent beach tracks to be found in Australia, such as Stockton Beach Sand Dunes in New South Wales, Rainbow Beach in Queensland, Robe Beach in South Australia, Cloudy Corner on Bruny Island in Tasmania, and Cable Beach in Western Australia.

In the bush

Australia is full of beautiful natural landscapes and experiences that cost either very little, or nothing at all. All it takes is renting out a cabin in the bush, or a powered camping site. Be sure to check the national park websites in your local area to confirm where camping is permitted, or research local caravan and holiday parks nearby. This type of holiday is a great way to save money on family vacations, and often gives kids the opportunity to spot native wildlife such as possums, bats, wombats, wallabies, echidnas, koalas, kookaburras, and more.

Read more: Products you need to camp in comfort

3. Bargain hunt

Shop around for flight deals on Skyscanner, WebJet, Expedia, and I Know The Pilot where you can compare the prices of major airlines, as well as the budget airlines that might be more up your family’s economic alley. Don’t be afraid of mixing and matching outbound and inbound flights to different airlines and remember that midweek flights are usually cheaper than weekends.

Similarly, for those must-visit tourist hotspots, research and book tickets online ahead of time to save money with early bird or online-exclusive pricing or package deals that may not be available at the gate. Doing this usually has the happy side effect of allowing you to skip the ticket line and get on with the fun. Next up, find out what the local attractions are and which are most suitable for children. Be sure to check where the best playgrounds are, or things such as the best bush walks for little legs.

Top tip: Check to see if you’re able to get any discounts or deals in the areas you’ll be staying from, either organisations you’re affiliated with (such as NRMA membership deals and your credit card), or Groupon. Sites such as Shopback give you up to 20% cashback on select brands at select times.Sign up for our newsletter and check out our deals page for offers, especially for families.

Read more: The best value theme parks for kids

4. Cheap holiday packages

While getting on a plane can be quite the adventure for the kids, it may take a sizable chunk out of the travel budget. The best way to save on airfares is by bundling the flight with the accommodation. This will often work out cheaper than booking separately, and travel agents can have access to better deals with more inclusions, resulting in additional discounts, leaving more money for fun activities at the destination. Furthermore, if you’re opting for a resort-based holiday, be sure to enquire about packages or deals such as kids eat free, kids stay for free, kids clubs, access to on-site facilities, and included activities. Knowing how to save money on a family holidays is all about knowing which questions to ask and what inclusions to look for. 

Top tip: If you have fixed travel dates great savings can be made if you opt for the non-refundable lower-price deals when booking online yourself. If you need some flexibility with the dates of travel, you can compare room rates and conditions for the deals that suit you. 

Read: 6 secrets to earning Frequent Flyers without flying

5. Head to a holiday park

If you have small children and have not yet stayed in a holiday park, you’re really not living. Holiday parks have playgrounds and many now have that most wonderful invention: the jumping pillow. Children will often find their own friends in these environments, and it’s easy for parents to congregate around the playground for a drink and a chat, too. If you’re not a camper, caravan parks also have cabins that are affordable and comfortable.

Top tip: If you have a caravan or camping setup of your own, you can save a stack of money on camping grounds by using the WikiCamps app. Be sure to check the off-season deals at holiday parks, too, as these can save lots of money.

Read: The best family holiday parks in Australia

6. Plan snacks and meals

Booking accommodation with breakfast included not only saves lots of money, but it also saves time and provides some peace of mind – the coffee is already brewing, and the bread ready to toast. Just make sure you wake up in time! Alternatively, think about ways to bring your own food into your accommodation, rather than eating out every meal. When staying at a hotel milk and yogurt can be kept in the fridge for breakfast. If you bring Tupperware, beeswax wraps or reusable silicone bags with you, sandwiches can be made and brought along on day trips, or leftovers from restaurants can be taken home without using single-use plastics.

Top trip: Carry lots of snacks like muesli bars, nuts, carrots and celery sticks. Easy dinner ideas are Lebanese wraps with roast chicken or get grilling at a free beachside BBQ where you can cool while the kids play.

Read: Camp cooking recipes the kids can do

7. Try a house swap

If you happen to have friends or relative who live in a different city or state, and you wouldn’t mind investigating their neck of the woods, suggest a house swap for a quick, easy and affordable family holiday. If both parties have children, a house swap is the perfect solution as the home is already set up for small humans, and chances are it’ll have a car and car seats to match.

Top tip: If you don’t have any friends who live where you’d like to visit, there are a bunch of websites you can try, such as Aussie House Swap.

Read more: The best winter camping spots in Australia

8. Always ask the question

If you don’t ask, you won’t receive. Speak to the hotel directly and ask for a discount, or if they can include meals, a room upgrade, kids club, early check-in, late check-out, activities or spa treatments in the price. You can also ask to have an extra child in a room, the option for a rollaway bed isn’t always listed on their website even though it’s possible.

Read more: The best Australian islands to visit with kids

9. Stay smart

Finding the right place to stay is the first step to a great holiday. Airbnb rentals and apartment-hotels work brilliantly for families looking for an affordable option, especially for an extended stay. Not only do they allow the option of doing your own laundry, but you’ll also have access to a kitchen, which can save substantial amounts of holiday dollars. It’s a no-brainer. Buying groceries and cooking your own food will save big dollars. You can also consider renting out your own home on Airbnb to help subsidise your holiday.

Read more: The best Airbnb in Sydney

10. Take lots of little holidays

Long holidays tend to happen in peak season and can be financially crippling. Mini-breaks, such as a long weekend here and there, are a good way to disconnect from work and school, and reconnect with family. Taking a cheeky Friday off means you can create your own long weekend without the hiked-up costs. It also means you get to enjoy some downtime throughout the year, without eating up all your holiday leave.

Top tip:  Investigate the placement of public holidays for the next 12 months, and plan your annual leave days around these times, particularly if public holidays fall either side of a weekend. It can result in mini-breaks that won’t eat up your leave days, or magically transform four weeks of leave into five or six. However, doing this does require some in-advance planning to secure to cheapest flights and accommodation deals.

Read more: 2024 school holidays and Australian public holidays

11. Travel in the shoulder and off-peak seasons

Aim to travel in the shoulder season when possible to get the cheapest flights and accommodation, and discover your chosen destination without massive crowds, long queues or flustered hospitality staff. Shoulder seasons and off-peak can be substantially cheaper than travelling during peak season. If a top summer destination is equally as pretty in autumn, or a white wonderland in winter, you are in a great position to save money.

12. Book early and as far in advance as possible

Almost every tourism and travel provider runs some sort of early bird or online-exclusive deals throughout the year. Flights generally become more expensive the closer you book to your travel date, but are cheaper the further in advance you purchase them – six months in advance and no later than two months prior is the sweet spot. Another way to save money booking your summer holiday in January to March the year before you plan to travel. Cruises are bookable up to 18 months before departure and offer fantastic deals with itinerary announcements. It’s especially good to book early to secure a family cabin or interconnecting room. Most cruises offer sales during ‘wave season’ from January to March.

Top tip: Very early or very late flights are usually cheaper than those dpearting at more convenient times, and can save you lots of money. On the flip side, if you have a flexible schedule, keep an eye out for great last-minute deals.

13. Sign up for loyalty programs

Hotel chains, restaurants, theme parks, holiday parks, credit cards, and insurance companies offer loyalty programs, member discounts, redeemable points, or free upgrades to those in the know. Sign up for mailing lists for the key business at your destination and keep a close eye on any seasonal offers being rolled out.

Top tip: Online platforms such as Booking.com and Agoda have cashback and points systems that can be used to reduce thecost of a hotel booking, or added extra.

Cheap family holidays in Victoria

• Phillip Island has lots of free attractions like pelican feeding, Australia’s largest fur seal colony, museums and beaches. Read the things to do on Phillip Island with kids here.
• Take a road trip. It will be filled with nature and explore free and beautiful areas. Stopping in at orchards and farm gates to buy direct from suppliers is an experience in itself. Check out Victoria’s best road trips here.
• The Grampians offers an array of activities to suit adventures for any age. Don’t miss taking a family snap with the Giant Koala, one of Australia’s iconic ‘Big Things’. Discover the best things to do in the Grampians with kids here.
• Melbourne is a cool city with heaps of free and cheap things for families. We have found the 42 best things to do in Melbourne with kids here. 

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