Wondering how to plan a holiday when your family doesn’t fit the “2 adults + 2 kids” formula? We love nothing more than hitting the road with our six little wildlings and finding new places to explore — it’s kind of our thing. As a family of eight, we have to be clever about how we spend our money to keep doing what we love best.
If you’re a “larger than average” family trying to get away for a night or a longer trip, here are our top tips on how to plan a holiday — and how to do it on a tighter budget.
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Top Tips: How to Plan a Holiday
Plan in Advance
Booking a holiday a few months, or even a year, ahead could save you a fortune. It also gives you more time to budget, plan and book extra activities at your chosen destination.
Look for Alternatives
When booking a family holiday, it’s tempting to look at hotel offers — but once you have more than two children, those advertised deals often don’t apply to you.
Not everyone wants to be stuck in a hotel room after the kids go to bed anyway, so it’s worth looking at alternative accommodation such as villas, apartments, camping, glamping or mobile homes.
Go Self-Catering
Eating out with a larger family isn’t always sustainable. Even the basics add up quickly for a big group, so it pays to be wise about where your money goes. It’s also unrealistic to expect a relaxing meal out while keeping younger children entertained.
When booking accommodation, a kitchen is a real asset if you want to stick to a budget. With a self-catering holiday home or apartment, you can make breakfast before you head out and pack a picnic for lunch — freeing up money for extra activities, day trips and treats.
Plan Activities
Wherever your holiday destination is, there are usually plenty of free things to see and do with kids, so make the most of them.
Research as much as you can before you travel — check for local events and festivals, and look at discount sites for reduced-price days out. It’s also worth sitting down as a family to talk through the activities on your list. If some of the children aren’t fussed about a particular day out, it could save you money to skip it.
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Travel Off-Season
We’re not necessarily suggesting you take the kids away during term time, but realistically, travelling outside peak season is one of the best ways to get value for a larger family.
Consider destinations where school holidays fall at different times to your own, and make the most of bank holidays and school in-service days.
Never Rule Out All-Inclusive
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If you’re considering a resort or hotel stay, it’s always worth checking the all-inclusive options. While it may look like a higher cost upfront, if you’re not paying separately for every drink, ice cream and half-eaten sandwich, it can work out better value overall.
Just check the restaurant opening times suit your family’s routine, and that the menu covers everyone’s tastes and dietary needs.
Add More Time
With extra mouths to feed and more hands to hold, build in additional time for delays of any kind — traffic, toilet breaks, meltdowns and general wrangling.
Whether you’re travelling by car, boat, plane or train, give yourself an extra 30–60 minutes so you’re not adding stress to the day.
Be Safe
When you have more children than hands to hold, it can be hard to keep an eye on everyone at once. Make sure each child understands their surroundings and knows what to do if they get separated from you. Older children should know your mobile number, and reusable wristbands with your contact details are a handy option for younger ones.
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Be Open to Separating
If a hotel has a great offer aimed at an average-sized family, it may still be worth booking two rooms rather than trying to squeeze everyone in. Just ask for the rooms to be next to each other, rather than on different floors or opposite sides of the hotel.
Don’t Be Shy
If you’ve found a good deal online, it’s always worth checking directly with the hotel. Many will add an extra person or two for a small surcharge per night.
Keep Everyone Happy
It’s worth accepting that you may need to split up for some days out or at theme parks, to get the most out of your time there. Older, thrill-seeking kids may want the bigger rides, which won’t suit younger ones. Little ones may need a break in the playground rather than trekking around all day. Trying to have everyone do every single activity together is often unrealistic, and just adds pressure to keep everyone happy at once.
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Don’t Over-Schedule
It’s tempting to pack in as many activities as possible, but try to stick to one big activity a day. Tired, worn-out kids acting up from exhaustion is the last thing anyone needs on holiday.
Leaving some time unplanned also means you can explore a local playground or park spontaneously, rather than rushing between fixed plans.
Pack Like a Pro
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You can never be too prepared when heading off as a larger family. If you travel often, put together a master packing list — from favourite teddies to chargers and any medicines your child usually needs — and keep it somewhere safe so you can pull it out for every trip.
We like to pack everyone’s swimwear, pyjamas and underwear together — it saves a frantic search when it’s time to hit the pool, or get everyone ready for bed.
Make a List — and Check it Twice
Give each family member their own packing list to make things easier — and remember, you can never have too many nappies, bibs or spare underwear for younger children.
We usually pack the kids’ clothes in one large suitcase, while the adults share another. Each child also gets their own backpack with travel entertainment and a spare change of clothes.
Expect the Unexpected
Plans change, so be prepared. Pack extra clothes, bring any medicines your family might need, and always have a backup plan in case the weather turns and your day’s activity needs a rethink.
Stock Up On Snacks
Wherever you’re travelling, bring plenty of snacks to save your sanity when the kids get peckish. If you’re flying, make up small snack packs of non-perishable food for the journey. Buying drinks and snacks for a large family adds up quickly, so a little advance prep goes a long way.
Entertainment Options
Our top tip for travelling as a larger family: bring plenty of entertainment. Whether you’re on the road or in the air, the journey feels endless if the kids have nothing to occupy them.
Our favourites include:
- a pack of cards (teach them some great card games in advance)
- a few movies or shows downloaded on a streaming service
- activity packs like colouring pages and word searches
- toddler busy books
- books, audiobooks and podcasts for kids
- lots of paper and pens for games and drawing
A great tip: don’t hand over all the entertainment options at once. Keep some back so there’s always something “new” to bring out when things get restless.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to self-cater than stay somewhere with hotel meals included?
For a bigger family, self-catering is usually more budget-friendly, since eating out for a large group adds up quickly. Having access to a kitchen lets you cover breakfast and lunch yourselves and save eating out for the odd treat.
What’s the best type of accommodation for a large family?
It depends on your family and budget, but villas, apartments, mobile homes, camping and glamping are all worth considering, since hotel rooms are often designed and priced around smaller families.
How can I save money on a family holiday with lots of children?
Booking in advance, travelling outside peak season, self-catering, planning free activities and being upfront with hotels about your family size are all practical ways to keep costs down.
How do I keep everyone entertained on a long journey?
Bring a mix of entertainment — cards, downloaded shows, activity packs, audiobooks and drawing supplies — and hold some items back so there’s always something fresh to bring out.
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Before You Go
Planning a family holiday takes a bit of extra thought when you’ve got a bigger crew — but with some planning, it’s absolutely doable on a budget. Save this article for when you’re planning your next trip, and browse more of our travel tips for plenty of fresh ideas.
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