Money saving tips for holiday park holidays
A holiday park getaway is a popular choice for many families. You can’t beat the tradition of packing up and setting off to enjoy a staycation full of fun activities, entertainment, and exploration in the UK. With domestic holidays being so popular there are even more options promising ‘the perfect British holiday’, which can be a little confusing to choose from. So, we’re here to help you make your holiday budget go further by giving you our money saving tips for holiday park holidays.
Be flexible with your dates
We start our recommendations with a well-known money saving tip for holidays. The more flexible you can be with your dates – the more scope you have to save money! If possible, try and avoid the peak times of summer and the half term breaks. Instead, opt to holiday in the shoulder season. Holiday parks are quieter so you’ll have more space around the park, and many holiday parks also run deals and offers to tempt you into a booking a holiday during their quieter periods.
We also urge you to research the change in price depending on what day you arrive for your holiday. In general, Saturdays are unsurprisingly the most popular day to arrive, and so holiday parks tend to put a premium on arriving for your week’s getaway on the weekend. If you can avoid their most popular changeover day, you’ll likely save some money!
We understand that it is especially difficult to be flexible with your dates when you have children, however don’t fret – we’ve got some great ideas for saving money on holidays with kids. If travelling during the school holidays is your only option, it is important to note that the cheapest time to book holidays with children is the last two weeks of the summer holidays.
Make the most of holiday park offers and deals
We understand that amongst the excitement, you might be tempted to book your holiday right away – however it can pay to be patient and wait for an offer to pop up. You’re might find a great deal on Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November. Also, the cheapest time to book a UK holiday is often the first few weeks of January, as holiday parks roll out various deals for the coming season.
If being spontaneous is more your style, then looking for last minute holiday park deals could be a viable option! Often, holiday parks will have short notice cancellations, and offer select dates at a reduced rate. You can make quite the saving, but do be mindful that you can also be limited to specific options with these types of deals – make sure the holiday is well suited to your family before booking based on the discount.
Book as early as possible
Another money saving tip is to book your holiday as early as possible. Whilst also true that booking in January is sure to save the pennies, you’ll also find that confirming your dates far in advance will often see you secure a good price for your holiday park getaway.
Make the most of FREE activities on your holiday park
A top tip for saving money on your UK holiday is to choose a holiday park that has a range of activities that are included in the total price. If you are travelling with children, make sure that your park has facilities like swimming pools, outdoor play areas and activity programmes to keep your little ones entertained for your stay.
Evening entertainment is an iconic feature of UK holidays. Good entertainment is certain to make your holiday, so check to see if entertainment passes are included in the price of your stay, and make sure that the evening fun is geared towards the needs of your family!
In contrast, if you are looking for a peaceful retreat in the UK, you should make sure that your park has relaxing facilities such as hot tubs and steam rooms on site.
Explore the local area
This goes hand in hand with the above point of choosing the perfect holiday park for your family. You might want to go out and explore the local area, so it is handy to know if there are free activities that will save you money nearby.
A lot of holiday parks are situated on coastlines in the UK. To really get the most out of your money, booking a family seaside holiday in the UK will give you the opportunity to spend time on the beach together – building sand castles, swimming in the sea and playing games on the sand: Ultimately – saving money whilst enjoying the beautiful British coast.
The same idea applies if you would prefer to book a walking holiday in the UK. You can still have a fantastic time making memories without spending extra money.
Consider sharing accommodation with friends and family
Depending on who is coming with you on your holiday, it might be worth sharing accommodation with more people in your group. This will depend on what accommodation options are available at the holiday park you’d like to book at, but for groups of five or more, you’re likely to save money by booking a larger caravan rather than separate ones.
Read the reviews
Finally, we recommend you do your due diligence. With so many options for holidays in the UK available, you need to be sure that you are choosing the right one for you! Read the reviews from people who have visited both on the holiday park’s website, as well as independent review sites such as TripAdvisor.
The last thing you want on your holiday is to arrive and find that there are hidden costs, or the facilities aren’t what you expected them to be.
How to choose a holiday park holiday in the UK
Planning and timing are key to getting the most for your money when booking a British holiday. We hope that we’ve given you enough tips to go out and snag some fantastic deals on your next holiday park getaway.
Don’t forget UK Parks has over 2,000 holiday parks across the UK, all of which are members of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association.
