Happy New Year to all my lovely friends, family, clients and followers.
I hope your festive period was a good one and you are now looking at booking your summer holiday!
We had one of the best Christmases we have had in a long time. Very peaceful and chilled.
My kids are now old enough to have learnt the art of relaxing and are happy spending time together.
One of the things they asked for this year was experience’s and days out together.
So, I have booked for us all to see the Strictly Come Dancing Tour next weekend in Birmingham.
We are off to the Fairy Festival in the New Forrest for a long weekend in August. Where I’m hoping I might get some fresh ideas for my fairy photo shoots.
I’m also hoping to take them on their first proper summer holiday on a plane…
The latter is causing the most stress out of the lot. I had no idea just how expensive it is to take kids on holiday these days.
However, I have 10 tips for a cheaper family summer holiday and will be looking at taking all these on board myself.
- Book your summer holiday when the sales are on.
- Book your holiday when no one else is thinking of it – Apparently Christmas day and Boxing day are good for this.
- Leave your booking until the last minute – Not always easy with kids, but you can get some cracking deals from top tour operators who are desperate to sell.
- DIY. Organise your hotel and flights yourself instead of going through a tour company. I’ve heard this can save a few hundred.
- Decide what sort of summer holiday is best for your children. If they are going to constantly want ice-creams, food and drinks, book an all-inclusive. If they are happy with a bottle of water and home cooked food, book self-catering.
- Always shop around, and remember the big companies cost more. As long as the holiday you book is ATOL protected, you will find the online comparison sites are much cheaper.
- Sign up to flash sale sites like Secret Escapes, who will drop their best deals into your inbox.
- Book well in advance so you can spread the cost. £100 pm is easier to swallow than £2500 in one go! You might even get some FREE child places
- The last week of the summer holiday is the cheapest. Most people don’t want to go away just before the kids go back!
- Go somewhere out of favour like Turkey. I know a few people who went last year and have recommended it.
Wherever you go this year, I hope the sun shines and the sky is blue!
