Cheap Staycation Ideas For Families
Table of Contents
This post may contain Affiliate Links
With a global pandemic still ongoing, many families are choosing to stay in the U.K. for their summer holidays – not just for this year but looking ahead to 2021 too.
With the ever-changing list of countries that now we now need to quarantine on returning from, I can definitely see why keeping it U.K for the foreseeable future is a good, and thrifty, idea. Here are some cheap staycation ideas for families.
First of all, there does seem to be some confusion at times about what the term ‘staycation’ actually means. Some believe means holidaying in your home country.
Others think it means having a holiday at home by taking lots of day trips to local places and treating the time as a holiday but staying in your own home.
The Collins Dictionary defines a Staycation as below:
‘A staycation is a holiday that you spend in your own home or your own country, relaxing and enjoying leisure activities there. [informal] The great British staycation is back in fashion with more British holidaymakers choosing not to jet off to the sun but to stay at home instead.’ Source
So, essentially it can be either.
Is It Cheaper To Do A Staycation As A Family?
It is almost definitely cheaper to do a staycation rather than go abroad although as with everything it depends on where and when you go as to how much it costs.
The U.K. has some amazing beaches which can easily rival anywhere else in Europe or even further afield. Of course, the only thing that isn’t guaranteed here is the sunshine!
Generally speaking, if you travel by car or coach then it will likely be much cheaper than booking flights would have been for your family. Plus no need to get your passports updated, pay for parking or worry about the weight of your luggage.
Exploring your local area can also be very cheap. I feel extremely lucky to live a few miles from the Quantock Hills which is a Designated Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (it was actually the first one in the U.K!).
Even though I’ve lived here my whole life, there were still lots of areas I’d never been to before – when lockdown restrictions lifted we started taking one or two new walks each week and had an amazing time enjoying the views and meeting the local wildlife.
If you’re not able to get away this summer either because of finances, it’s definitely worth seeing what new things you can find right on your doorstep
It can be very easy to take our local areas for granted, but there are many things you might not even realise were there unless you get exploring.
Not everything has to be outdoorsy either – in my hometown there is an amazing retro gaming arcade which charges £12 per adult for around 4 hrs of free play on all their machines – including pool tables, air hockey, pinball and loads of arcade classics. It’s called Timewarp Arcade if you fancy checking it out!
Saving Money On A Family Staycation
My two essential tips for saving money on a family staycation would be planning and research. Planning ahead, more often than not means you’ll get the best prices when you book. It’s also worth doing plenty of research on the area you’d like to visit and asking yourself the following questions:
What can we do for free or cheap nearby?
Are there cheap rainy-day activities?
Are there cheap places to eat?
Cheap Family Staycation Ideas: Camping & Caravaning
Let’s Go Camping!
Camping is probably one of the cheapest ways to take a staycation. Of course, there is the initial outlay for the equipment needed but that will allow you to take super cheap holidays for years and years to come. It’s quite easy to come by second-hand camping equipment on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.
Camping pitches can vary wildly in price, so it’s probably worth doing some research before you get started. Usually, the more facilities offered, loos, showers, power, etc the more it will cost.
Fishing with your kids can also be a great outdoor activity. If you invest in a quality rod instead of renting one you can get your money’s worth and use it throughout the years.
‘Wild Camping’ also seems popular but from I’ve seen there can be issued with legalities and some private land camping can be more expensive than a normal campsite.
Glamping is another option although while researching this I often found prices to be the same if not more than booking a hotel room or renting a house on Air B&B which tells me it’s more about the experience of camping than anything else.
However, glamping is a good in-between option if you don’t want to buy your own camping equipment and are happy to pay a little more money for the experience.
Cheap Caravan Holidays
Of course, the next option for a cheap for a family staycation is a caravan holiday. As well as caravans lots of the big U.K holiday parks also offer chalets which could be a good alternative if you’re on a tight budget.
While the cost of hiring a caravan can vary greatly depending on where and when you go, there are few ways you can book a super cheap family break.
First up, you could consider sharing the cost of a caravan with friends or family. For example, a caravan that sleeps 8, often isn’t double the cost of one that sleeps four. So book a bigger caravan, split the cost and save money.
Well known holiday parks are the best to look for a very cheap holiday – so think Pontins, Butlins, Park, Parkdean and Haven.
The quality of accommodation at these places can be quite varied so it might be worth doing some research before you book – although do remember trip advisor reviews sometimes need to be taken with a pinch of salt!
You can read about our recent Butlins stay over on my travel blog: Butlins Half Term Halloween Stay. Butlins room-only accommodation can be as little as £49 off-peak Monday-Friday for a family of four so definitely worth looking at if you’re on a tight budget.
£9.50 Sun Holidays
One of the cheapest ways to get U.K holiday is to book through the Sun Newspapers £9.50 holiday scheme. The website opens up several times a year for booking and there are definitely some bargain getaways to be had.
However, the £9.50 price tag is a little misleading – this is the minimum cost person and the minimum you’ll need to pay for is four people. More often than not there are extras that need to be paid for such as bedding, entertainment passes and premium date fees.
The website does give you the option to search for the ‘Pay Only’ dates where holidays are only around the £40 mark but you won’t find these in school holidays and they are typically out of season dates.
Just as an example, I’ve recently booked a 3-night break in Dawlish Warren for the May Day bank holiday 2021. The total cost was £120 including all the extras such as entertainment passes (not included below) and linen. While not mega cheap I still think it was a bargain for a bank holiday getaway.
Pictured below is a breakdown of what we paid to give you an idea of how the different components add up.
Tips for bagging yourself a bargain Sun Holiday
- Join one of the many Sun Holiday Facebook groups. They share the codes you’ll need to book your break – so no need to buy the newspaper.
- For the best chance of getting the dates and location you want, book your holiday as soon the codes are released (some people actually stay up until 1 am when the last code becomes available!)
- Do your research on the parks beforehand – they are all available to view on the Sun holidays website
- When booking you’ll be asked for four parks and four dates – or you can search for parks in a general area. If none of your choices is available you’ll be offered alternative parks and dates. I found it took a few goes of playing around to get a break I was happy with.
- The cost of the holiday is usually split into two – you’ll need to pay part to the Sun on booking and the rest when the holiday park gets in touch to confirm your booking.
- Double-check the cost of the holiday against booking with the park directly as occasionally they are cheaper.
Cheap Staycation Ideas For Families: Homes & Lodges
If caravanning or camping isn’t your thing, then you may well be looking at booking a lodge or a holiday home. These are definitely more expensive than camping, but they do provide more home comforts if that’s what you’re looking for.
How To Keep The Cost Down When Booking A Lodge or Holiday Home
If you’re thinking of a more upmarket U.K holiday, then Center Parcs may be one of the first places that comes to mind. While Center Parcs is an amazing place to stay, it’s definitely not cheap. I have actually written a few posts on how to save money on a Center Parcs holiday which you can find below.
How To Save Money On A Center Parcs Holiday
Is a Center Parcs Spa Day Worth The Money?
Free Activities At Center Parcs Longleat
As mentioned before, joining up with another family could be a good way to save on the cost of a Center Parcs holiday as is going into low season – in Particular November and January.
If you like the feel of Center Parcs but think it’s just too expensive (and honestly if that’s your opinion I don’t blame you – I struggled to find a 3-night break under £500 for the three of us when I looked recently) there are a few places that offer a similar woodland lodge accommodation type of break that might be worth looking at such as
If a holiday home is more your thing, then the best place to look is Air B&B – I’ve found them to be much cheaper than looking on other sites such as holidaycottages.com.
Cheap Holiday Idea – Try A House Swap
For an even thriftier family holiday, you could arrange a house swap with friends that live in a different part of the country. Even if they don’t live near the seaside, there is usually plenty to explore, even if you only swap for a few days.
This is something we did when I was a kid – my Aunt and her husband would often be away for several weeks over the summer and we would housesit for them for a week but treat it as a holiday.
Cheap Family Days Out
While it’s nice to take day trips while on holiday or whilst staycationing in your local area, the cost of these can be quite significant and soon start to add up if you plan to do more than one or two days out.
If you can, always book ahead to get a discount on tickets. Often booking online will save you between 10% and 20%.
You could also try to find somewhere that allows free returns later in the week so you’ll be getting a freebie later during your holiday. Crealy in Devon has offered this in the past and this is something we took advantage of last year.
Annual passes are another great way to save on local attractions that you’re able to visit often.
I also think a National Trust Pass is a brilliant idea for those planning a staycation this summer. With hundreds of locations all over the country, you’ll get use of your pass while at home and while on holiday. You’ll also be helping to support the conservation of parks and historical buildings.
A family pass for two adults and all of their children costs just £10.50 a month.
Another of my recommendations would be to research some nice secluded beaches or woodlands to visit, that is away from the main touristy areas. Take a picnic or bbq. Being away from the shops and cafes means no kids constantly asking for money for ice creams or arcades making it overall a much cheaper day out and means you’ll get lots of quality family time too.
Blue Light Card holders can often get discounts on days out – for example, we recently got 30% off the cost of Longleat tickets as we were visiting with a family member who has one.
How To Get Cheap & Discounted Longleat Tickets (9 Ways!)
Finding Cheap Food & Drink On A Family Staycation
Food and drink can often end up being the most expensive part of any holiday, especially if you’re used to holidaying somewhere that offers all-inclusive.
For a self-catering holiday, take a look to see where the nearest discount supermarket is so you can stock up as and when needed. While you could take food with you, I often find there’s not enough room on top of the luggage and everything else needed for a holiday!
If you’re staying at a holiday cottage or Air B&B you could save time by booking a supermarket delivery for your accommodation on your arrival day – just check the owners are happy for you to do this.
If you have a slow cooker and accommodation with a kitchen then definitely take it away with you. Having dinner already made when you get back makes life much easier but also help resist the temptation of eating or getting a takeaway every night.
Researching the local restaurant scene before you – if you’re looking for cheap and cheerful most big towns have Wetherspoons or chain restaurants such as Prezzo that offer kids eat free or kids eat for £1.
Also, look out for restaurants where you can use 2-for-1 offers provided by Tastecard or Meerkat Meals.
Remember, while camping is super thrifty, you may end up spending more on eating out as cooking facilities are so limited and you may not have access to a fridge.
Paying a bit more for somewhere with a kitchen may save you more money overall – it’s all about figuring out what’s best for you and your family.
One thing we loved about out recent Butlins stay was being able to add a dining plan. It cost around £300 but included an all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner buffet and we though it was well worth the money – this was also a mid-range option so there is a cheaper offering from Butlins too.
Final Tips For A Cheap Family Staycation
For me travel time is important. With a two-year-old, I just don’t think we could be stuck in a car for hours and that’s without encountering any traffic or hold-ups. When searching for a holiday I do try to stick within an hour of home. This also keeps the cost of petrol down and means it’s not too far to go if we do decide to return early for any reason.
I’d also advise buying things the children might need beforehand such as buckets and spades, armbands, pool noodles, and footballs, as these can be very expensive on the seafront or if bought at a holiday park.
As always in Great Britain, the weather can be pretty changeable so it’s always covering yourself for every eventuality, including heatwaves and torrential rain. So pack wellies and raincoats as well as suncream and wellies – if even the weatherman says it’s going to be nice!
These cheap staycation ideas for families are absolutely fantastic! Fun, budget-friendly, and perfect for creating unforgettable memories right at home. A great reminder that joy doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. Thanks for sharing!