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If you haven’t got a summer holiday planned yet, you may be wondering what to do for this year’s big adventure. Kids break up from school soon and summer holidays provide the perfect opportunity to bring them away to experience new things, break out of the routine of day to day life and build some of the most lasting memories they’ll have. Think how many of us look back fondly on memories of our own childhood summer breaks! Of course, planning this getaway can feel complex. Demand is high during the school breaks and it’s best to start planning now to get the most out of your time away and the best deals you can get your hands on. Here are some key steps to take in the planning process that can help to make this holiday a success all round!
Create a Budget
The first step to take when planning any family activity is to come up with a budget. You need to make sure that you know what you have available to spend without experiencing debt or hardship. While family holidays may be desirable and while you may really want to take your little ones away, it’s also not worth getting yourself into debt over, as this can impact family finances going forward and be difficult to recuperate. So, make a proper budget and see what you genuinely have available to spend. If you don’t have enough to get away this year, now could be a good time to create a savings pot where you can put money away each month for a break next year!
Where Will You Go?
Budget friendly seaside holidays tend to be in the country you live in – that is, as long as you live in a country that has a coast and beaches to match. Take a look around different locations you could easily reach. There are likely a few coastal towns to choose from and it’s a good idea to take them all into consideration. Find one that has accommodation within your desired price range and also look into factors such as attractions and entertainment in the local area, or facilities that holiday goers may be interested in. Some towns are much more family and child friendly than others, offering amusement parks, kids clubs and more. You also need to consider how far you’re willing to travel and how you’re going to get there. If you’re choosing somewhere closer to home, you may be looking to travel by car or train. Make sure that your chosen location is accessible in the way that you need it to be, for example having roads directly to the place or good public transport links.
Where Will You Stay?
Where will you stay when you actually get to your chosen destination? There are all sorts of holiday accommodation options in most seaside resorts or countryside destinations. You just need to shop around and find one that appeals to you and your family. You may want to go to a family friendly entertainment venue that provides cabins or caravan options. You may want to choose a campsite where you and your family can camp on safe and secure ground with access to home comforts like showers, toilets and electric charging ports.Finding the best places to stay while make a huge difference to the quality of your trip and your time away.
Meals
Do you want to prepare your own meals while you’re away? Or would you like someone else to take care of that for you. If you’re staying in hotels, you can often choose from the options of all inclusive, half board or self catering. All inclusive will ensure that all of your meals are cooked and provided for you. You don’t have to worry about cleaning up after cooking either – that’s taken care of too! Half board includes some of your meals but not others. For example, you may be provided with breakfast and dinner, but not lunch. This means you only have to prepare your own meals at certain points of the day. Self catering means you have full control over making your meals yourself. Consider the cost of each package weighed up agains the cost of eating out each day as a family to determine the best budget option.
These are just a few starting points to work from when it comes to planning a seaside holiday with your little ones. Hopefully, some of the suggestions outlined above will get your planning process on track and will see you all get away on a happy, enjoyable break together!