I have to be honest the thing I was most stressing about when our little boy started school was losing the freedom to book a cheap holiday. I know what I think represents value for money and an arbitrary price hike for 13 weeks of the year is *not it*, I want to feel like I’ve landed a great holiday deal.
I’m nothing if not stubborn and was determined not to be beaten by ‘The System’ and in our first year we have had a long weekend in Spain for £500 (when the same weekend at Centre Parcs cost £1200!!) and a holiday at a luxury resort in Cyprus for around half the price of the going rate. I should note that I am no financial expert but this is an honest account of what I have learned so far:
Capitalise on flight (and accomodation) sales
We utilise the January and flash flight sales for airlines to book flights and holiday packages. In February half term we got return tickets from London to Malaga for three people for under £200 and got a great deal on a holiday package that included flights to Cyprus at Easter. It takes a bit of front loading to buy a few flights at the same time, but with the British Airways Holiday sale we spread the cost by only paying the deposit and delaying paying for the whole trip until nearer the time.
Gather and use airline points
I admit, I have become a points freak. We use both Avios and Virgin Flying Club points for our flights. Virgin Rewards are generous with their air miles so if you are flying to any Virgin destinations they are worth looking at building up a loyalty with. We also have an Avios credit card and use the Avios points boosters for our things we would buy anyway (for example when we buy school uniform we boost our Avios points shopping with Marks and Spencer).
Utilise inset days
At February and May half terms we have used inset days that are tagged on to a school holiday to travel at a slightly cheaper price. That first Saturday of a school holiday is a killer for inflated costs, but the Thursday night or Friday tend to be more reasonable.
Take a risk on the weather (but choose destinations where that doesn’t need to matter!)
At the time of writing in 2025 we have travelled to the Costa Del Sol in February and Cyprus in April. Neither destinations were ‘guaranteed’ good weather, although both ended up being fabulous sunshine holidays. We always hire a small car and pick destinations where there are ‘emergency’ days out we can rely on that would still make it an amazing trip (in Marbella I had Ronda, Malaga and Mijas in my back pocket for a rainy non-beach day).
Choose unusual destinations
Later this year we are flying to destinations that are non-standard and more off-the-beaten path – this is a great way to still use reward flights and steer clear of destinations where there is a massive price hike at peak times (I’m looking at you, Greece in August…).
This is an ongoing project for us (until he’s 18!!) and so I will keep this blog updated as I go when I find new hacks. I would love to hear in the comments if any of these hacks work for you!
Happy bargain hunting my loves.
That Holiday Mum x