Where will you go on a family vacation? The big question at the moment, as holiday prices for 2023 are skyrocketing. It seems unfair that even as coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, we have been hit by a cost of living crisis and skyrocketing airfares, with many of us barely able to take a holiday.
If you’re feeling strapped for this year, here are some ideas for budget family holiday destinations that will save you almost £1,800!
The days of ‘British Abroad’ family holidays on the Costa del Sol are long gone. Now’s the time to be adventurous, get off the beaten path and try new (and more affordable!) places!)
If you’ve dreamed of seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Colosseum in Rome, no other destination will satisfy your desire to experience these iconic landmarks.
But are you looking for an inexpensive family vacation with beaches, great views, and a cute little town? And, and that’s no exaggeration, maybe some sunshine too?
If finding a “cheap family vacation” seems impossible right now, here are some great ideas for swapping destinations. You may have vacationed in Greece or Spain during your childhood, but these days there are plenty of destinations that are just as beautiful and much more affordable!
Did you know that you can save around £675 by swapping Dubrovnik for Montenegro (which is right next door, less crowded and just as beautiful)? Swapping Santorini for Bulgaria can save you a whopping £1,791!
If you have a little flexibility with your destination, you may be able to save money by venturing off the beaten track. These suggestions have the same great weather, cobblestone streets, and flight time, but at a fraction of the cost.
And don’t forget that visiting a completely new place can be exciting. The internet has opened up a whole new world of travel, as you can research and pre-book every aspect of your vacation (of course, there’s a downside if you’re struggling with too many destinations!). There’s no need to be afraid of going somewhere new.
Be brave and book your family vacation for 2023!
The average cost of a holiday in post was provided by M&S Bank.
Travel Hack Tip: Personally, I am thinking of changing our annual family vacation from the Spanish islands to Montenegro. I’ve traveled solo before and loved it so much, I can’t wait to bring my family back!
Swap Santorini in Greece for Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast
Average saving: £1,791
You’ve probably seen the photo. On the edge of a rocky cliff, bright white Greek villas with blue domed roofs overlap one another. Santorini is amazing and who wouldn’t want to spend a family holiday there?
The problem is, other people have seen the photo too. They also dream of riding a boat in the Aegean Sea or playing on black sand beaches. Other Greek islands such as Mykonos and Naxos are similarly expensive.
So how about replacing Santorini with Bulgaria….?
Bulgaria is a great inexpensive family alternative to Santorini. Her week’s holiday costs for the average family on Santorini is around £3,449, while costs on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast are much cheaper at around £1,658.
replace the Aegean Sea with the Black Sea and visit a place that offers vacationers 5 kilometers of beautiful white sand beaches. There are many resorts within a 5-minute walk of the coastline. If you get tired of sunbathing and swimming, there are two water parks and two amusement parks on the waterfront.
Swap Majorca in Spain for Madeira in Portugal
Average saving: £498
Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, has long been established as a haven for British families seeking summer sun. However, it can be an expensive island to visit, and Madeira is a much more affordable option.
Madeira is a Portuguese island off the coast of Morocco. And if your flight time is extended by an hour for him, it’s worth the money you save by booking a family trip. On average, a week-long holiday to Mallorca costs around ¥2,168. However, Madeira costs around £500 less, with an average total spend of just £1,670.
It’s a great place for an inexpensive family trip if you have school-age children. Book a villa with a pool in a small town outside of Funchal. Hike the island’s easy, flat trails, rent a car and explore the coastal villages, and swim in the crystal-clear waters.
Swap Dubrovnik in Croatia for Tivat in Montenegro
Average saving: £765
It was only a decade ago when Dubrovnik was an underrated holiday destination and Croatia was a cheaper alternative to Italy. Whether it’s the influence of Game of Thrones or the increasing number of cruise ships sailing the Adriatic, that’s no longer the case!
Prices for flights to Dubrovnik are skyrocketing, and hotels in the Old Town are not cheap in the summer either. If you want to book a week-long family holiday, you’ll need to spend around £2,482. But if you’re serious about a Balkan holiday, the average cost of a comparable trip to Tivat in Montenegro is just £1,717.
Porto Montenegro in Tivat is a luxurious port town where you can dine by the sea and watch superyachts sail in and out of the harbor. There are also endless water play facilities for your kids to enjoy while pottering around the city.
Piazza Ponta and Berane Beach are small but quiet. In fact, Tivat is much quieter overall than Dubrovnik. Rent bikes or scooters for the whole family and you won’t have to worry about losing your kids in the crowd.
Another great option in Montenegro is Herceg Novi. I visited Herceg Novi in 2019 and loved it. I can’t wait to bring my family back!
Swap Tulum in Mexico for Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic
Average saving: £601
Want to travel to a faraway destination for your annual family vacation, but still want to save money?
If that’s the case, you might want to avoid popular resorts like Tulum on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Believe it or not, choosing a Caribbean vacation can actually save you money.
A week’s holiday to Tulum for the whole family costs on average £4,741. However, a similar holiday in the Dominican Republic resort of Punta Cana will cost around £4,113. Both are coastal towns with warm waters and white sandy beaches covered in palm trees.
Like Tulum, Punta Cana is also a great place for active families to enjoy water sports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking, and sailing. Punta Cana also rivals Tulum’s range of resorts to suit every budget, from luxury villas with private pools to children’s complexes with shared pools and clubs.
Swap Cairo in Egypt for Istanbul in Turkey
Average saving: £524
Families with older kids who have outgrown the kids club and are tired of spending every day by the pool may be looking for a more adventurous destination for their next family vacation. Cairo offers sunshine, camel rides, and of course the Pyramids of Giza.
However, don’t think that all Middle Eastern countries like Egypt can offer cheap family vacations. Hotels and resorts in this area are more expensive than you might think. His week’s holiday in Cairo will cost around £2,413 for a family. Meanwhile, places like Istanbul, Turkey are much cheaper at an average of £1,889.
Not only is Istanbul a generally safe city, but its location on the Eurasian border means there will be less culture shock. A visit to the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia can give older children a cultural and educational experience while letting them experience the charm of the bazaar.
Read more: 10 tips for an all-inclusive trip to Egypt
An active family’s dream holiday at Fokaia Beach Resort in Turkey