Holiday season is on the horizon, and whilst lots of people like to get away on holiday, the rising costs of just living day-to-day can prevent many families from being able to travel abroad or even in the UK.

Having said that, we also know that a break of some description – whether that’s two-weeks away in the sun, a long-weekend city break, a UK break, or even just a fun day out together – can do wonder’s for decreasing stress levels, forcing time for relaxation and helping families and couples to bond and enjoy spending time together.

With that in mind, I thought I would put together a few tips on how to save money on your holiday. Now, before you decide that this isn’t relevant because you can’t afford a holiday this year, I want you to think about the term ‘holiday’ in the broadest sense of the word. Literally as a holiday or break from the daily norm, for however long you can manage that. If that’s a week, great, if that’s half a day, so be it. I’m hoping there will be some ideas for everyone here.

Plan ahead

Where possible, plan ahead. I know this might seem obvious as the more in advance you plan, the longer you have to save right? That’s true, but, planning ahead can also help you make the most of early booking offers. This can be especially useful if you have a big, expensive trip planned. Many travel companies offer savings and discounts if you book early. Sometimes this is simply a money off the total figure discount, other times it might be something like ‘kids go free if you book before 31st May’ – that sort of thing. It’s well worth keeping an eye out for discounts like this.

Use discount codes and vouchers

It’s well worth spending some time looking for discount codes and vouchers when you are planning a trip, day out or holiday. It is true that there are lots of codes out there that don’t work, but it’s worth bookmarking reputable sites like Love Discount Vouchers, so you check each time before you book anything.

You can save hundreds of pounds, depending on what you are booking, so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time. Lots of people think that discount codes and vouchers are only available for lower priced things so it’s not worth it, but a few minutes on the site will show you this is not the case.

Just search easyjet discount code or jet 2 flight discount code and you will get a list of all the possible ways you can save on your flights. Need to book a hotel, either for a holiday abroad or a UK break? No problem, try something like Hotels.com discount code, or if you are after a specific hotel, search for it by name.

It’s such a good feeling when you can pop a code in the box at the checkout and see that total cost come down.

Think differently

Try not to get too set in your ways about what you think constitutes a ‘holiday’. If, for example you are used to two-weeks in Spain or Greece every summer but this year you just can’t afford it, what about looking at going camping in the UK as an alternative. No, it might not be your preferred choice, but who knows, you might quite like it.

You can pick up tents on eBay second hand, or try your local Facebook Marketplace for example. If you’d rather have a new tent and think you will use it again, or sell it on afterwards, there are lots of stores online like Mountain Warehouse and Millets for example who sell camping gear. Both of these are listed on Love Discount Vouchers, so you may even be able to find a discount code for your purchase.

If you just can’t stomach camping, what about a UK road trip? You could plan out the places you want to visit and do a bit of a tour maybe? You could stay in Bed and Breakfasts, or look for discount codes for a range of UK hotels. You might even be able to get rates with breakfast included, and hotels with swimming pools.

You will still be able to have a holiday, it might just look a bit different to normal. Remember, that’s not always a bad thing, especially for children, as it’s our broad experiences in life that shape us. Think about how you can make everything an adventure, no matter how small the holiday might seem to you, chances are your children will love it.

Approach your holiday from a minimalist point of view

It can be tempting to overindulge in every possible way when it comes to holidays. In the planning and preparation phase, the excitement kicks in and you see all the summer things in the shops. Before you know it, you’ve spent a small fortune on things that you might not even need.

Ask yourself if you really need that new sundress, those four pairs of sandals and a choice of six different sun creams, or if little Timmy really needs twelve pairs of shorts, five pairs of trainers and a choice of 15 sunhats!

Think about how much you will actually need versus all the things you WANT. Remember it’s about the memories and experiences rather than the stuff.

When you are away, don’t feel like you have to have a full on sit down meal at a restaurant every night. Why not pop to a local shop or market and buy things for a picnic on the beach or other scenic spot one night?

Remember that some of the most basic things can create the best memories and the most fun times. For example, children are likely to remember you skimming stones and playing hide and seek with them more than they will remember a trip to that expensive water park!