Travelling With Kids On A Budget-15 Tried and Tested Tips
Travelling with children doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Over the years we’ve travelled by car, plane, ferry and train, visited theme parks, explored cities and stayed in everything from hotels to self-catering accommodation. Along the way we’ve discovered plenty of simple ways to save money while making family holidays less stressful.
These are the tried and tested tips we still use today.
1. Start Planning Earlier Than You Think
One of the easiest ways to save money is simply to start planning early. Booking accommodation and attractions in advance usually gives you far more choice and often better prices too.
January is a brilliant time to begin looking at summer holidays. Keep an eye out for discount codes, supermarket promotions and early booking offers for attractions, as these can make a significant difference to your holiday budget.
Grab My FREE PDF Travel Checklist Download here to help you get ready in advance.
2. Give Every Child Their Own Backpack
Giving each child their own backpack doesn’t just reduce the amount you’re carrying, it gives them an important little job to do.
We often let the children carry their own plane snacks, colouring books, drinks bottle (empty if we’re flying), jumper and a few favourite activities. They’re usually excited to pack their own bag and it keeps everything they need within easy reach during the journey.
3. Pack an Activity Bag Just for the Journey
Ask your children to help create their own travel activity bag before you leave. Colouring books, sticker books, travel games, card games and puzzles are all great choices.
If you’re happy for them to use screens while travelling, decide your family rules before you leave. Long journeys are one of the few times when tablets or favourite films can give everyone a welcome break, and younger children often drift off to sleep while watching something familiar.
4. Take Your Own Snacks and Lunch
Food at airports, ferry terminals, motorway services and attractions can be surprisingly expensive.
Whenever possible, we bring our own sandwiches, fruit, cereal bars, crisps and a few treats. It saves money and means everyone has something they’ll actually enjoy eating.
If you’re flying, remember to carry refillable water bottles empty through security and fill them once you’re airside.
Mrs Hawkins House Tip
A few homemade sandwiches can easily save a family £20 to £40 before the holiday has even begun.
5. Dress Everyone for Comfort
Comfort always comes before fashion when we’re travelling.
Layers work best because temperatures can change throughout the day. For younger children, always keep a complete spare outfit in your hand luggage or day bag. Accidents happen, drinks get spilled and little ones sometimes just get too hot or uncomfortable.
A lightweight pair of pyjamas or shorts and a T-shirt can also make long journeys much more comfortable.
6. Pack One Family Essentials Bag
Instead of spreading important items between lots of different bags, keep one family essentials bag close by at all times.
Ours usually contains medicines, plasters, wipes, tissues, chargers, earphones, ear defenders, chewing gum, sweets, travel documents, a bank card, a little cash and anything else we might suddenly need without unpacking the whole car or suitcase.
It’s one of the simplest things we do, but it makes a huge difference.
7. Don’t Overpack
Most of us wear far fewer clothes than we expect while we’re away.
If you have access to laundry facilities, there’s no need to pack an outfit for every day. Choose clothes that mix and match easily and pack layers instead of bulky coats.
A raincoat, comfortable walking shoes, lighter shoes for warmer days and a cosy hoodie will usually cover almost every situation.
8. Choose Accommodation Carefully
Price is important, but convenience matters just as much.
We always look for accommodation that’s close to shops, public transport and somewhere to eat. A hotel with a good buffet breakfast can also be excellent value, especially with children.
Buffets allow everyone to choose what they actually want to eat rather than paying for meals that end up being left behind. If permitted, a piece of fruit or pastry for later can also be handy when you’re out exploring.
9. Build a Simple Holiday Food Plan
You don’t need a detailed meal plan, but it helps to have a rough idea.
Before we travel, we usually decide which days we’ll eat out, which meals we’ll make ourselves and when we’ll treat ourselves.
If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchenette, preparing a few breakfasts, lunches or picnic meals can save a surprising amount over the course of a week, while still leaving room for those special holiday meals.
10. Prepare the Car Before You Leave
If you’re travelling by car, spend ten minutes organising it before you set off.
Keep drinks, snacks, tissues, wipes, chargers, blankets and a small rubbish bag within easy reach.
A tidy car makes long journeys much more pleasant for everyone.
11. Take Breaks Before Anyone Asks
Children often become tired or hungry before they realise it themselves.
Regular stops give everyone a chance to stretch their legs, use the toilet and enjoy a change of scenery before anyone becomes overtired or frustrated.
Sometimes those unexpected picnic stops become some of the happiest memories of the whole holiday.
12. Plan Theme Park Days Well in Advance
Theme parks reward a little planning.
Book tickets early, look out for supermarket promotions and discount vouchers, and download the park map before you arrive.
If someone in your family has additional needs, check the park’s accessibility information before your visit. Many attractions offer queue assistance, quieter spaces or other helpful support that can make the day much more enjoyable.
13. Make Public Transport Part of the Adventure
Public transport isn’t just a way to get from A to B.
For children, riding on a London Underground train, climbing onto a big red bus or travelling by ferry can become part of the holiday itself.
It’s often far cheaper than taxis and lets children experience places in a completely different way.
14. Leave Room in Your Budget for Treats
One of the nicest parts of a family holiday is saying yes occasionally.
Rather than buying little extras every day, decide in advance when you’ll enjoy a special treat. It might be an ice cream after the beach, strawberries dipped in chocolate after a boat trip or a family dessert on your last evening.
This can build the excitement for those more expensive holiday treats, but’s often where the memories are made.
15. Remember That Holidays Don’t Have to Be Perfect
The holidays we remember most aren’t always the ones that went exactly to plan.
Sometimes it’s the rainy afternoon spent playing cards, the unexpected detour or the picnic in a lay-by that everyone still laughs about years later.
Travelling with kids isn’t about creating a perfect holiday. It’s about making happy family memories together, whatever your budget.
Final Thoughts
Travelling with kids on a budget isn’t about missing out. It’s about planning ahead, spending wisely and making the most of the experiences that matter to your family.
A little preparation before you leave home can save money, reduce stress and help everyone enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.
I think this is now much closer to your voice. It feels practical rather than “content written for the internet”. It also leaves plenty of breathing room for photographs, printable downloads and internal links to future articles like your packing checklist, holiday budget planner and road trip activity pack.
