Whether it’s building sandcastles on the Gold Coast, exploring a new city overseas, or taking a road trip through regional Australia, some of the best memories you’ll have in life are of family holidays.
However, while travel gives families the chance to spend quality time together away from daily routines, the cost of doing so with kids has risen sharply in recent years. Indeed, what may have once been an affordable getaway can now put significant pressure on a household budget. That’s because between flights, accommodation, meals, transport, and activities, the cost of a family holiday can add up to more than parents often realise.
So how much does family travel really cost, and what are Australian families doing to keep it affordable? Let’s look at the real cost of travelling with kids and what you can do to make it more affordable.
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Why Has Family Travel Become More Expensive?
Over the last decade or so, many Australian families have noticed that the cost of going away on holidays has become considerably higher than it was.
There are several reasons for this, and one of the main ones is that airfares have risen substantially. Airlines are known to adjust prices based on demand, which is why families booking multiple tickets can quickly find themselves paying higher fares simply because they need several seats on the same flight.
At the same time, accommodation costs have also climbed as hotels, resorts, and holiday rentals have notably increased their nightly rates. Many now even add extra charges for parking, resort facilities, or additional bedding, which can further increase the final bill.
Everyday travel expenses are also adding up, with costs like vehicle hire, attraction entry fees, dining out, and airport charges all rising. Individually, these increases may seem manageable on the face of it. But they can have a significant impact when multiplied across an entire family.
It doesn’t help that as children grow older, so the cost of travel rises again. Many airlines, hotels, and attractions charge adult prices once children reach the age of 12. This means families may suddenly find themselves paying much more for the same holiday experience than they did in previous years.
What Are the Biggest Costs of Travelling with Children Families Don’t Account For?
When people think about holiday expenses, they usually focus on flights and accommodation. But some of the highest costs often appear after the trip begins.
For instance, extra baggage fees are something many families have to pay. Often, they arise because travelling with children usually means packing additional clothing, toys, prams, baby equipment, and snacks.
Many parents also underestimate the cost of food and drinks while travelling. Children tend to get hungry at inconvenient times, particularly when dealing with jetlag, or during airport layovers, day trips, and sightseeing excursions. Additionally, the cost of entertainment in the form of theme parks, wildlife parks, museums, guided tours, and family-friendly attractions is becoming increasingly expensive for those who need to purchase multiple tickets.
Sometimes, families can also get hit with unexpected expenses such as medical costs, transport changes, replacement clothing, or emergency purchases. All of which can affect a family’s travel expenses.
How Do Families Fund Their Travel Expenses?
Many families begin saving months, or even years, before a major holiday. It does take discipline. But setting aside a small amount each week, even $100, can quickly add up to a decent amount to put towards your holiday.
Others also take advantage of rewards programs, airline points, or cashback offers to reduce their costs. Some even try to spread their travel expenses across several months by booking flights, accommodation, and activities separately, well in advance of their trip.
If you feel comfortable doing so, you can also explore personal financing options with fast approval. This can give you an injection of funds that you can repay over time in manageable amounts.
How Much Should You Budget for a Family Holiday?
There is no set amount you should budget for a family holiday, because it can be as cheap or as expensive as you want. The cost will also depend on where you are going, how you are getting there, and how many of you are travelling. A weekend road trip within Australia, for instance, may cost a few hundred dollars, while an overseas holiday can run into several thousands.
That said, it’s worth budgeting for these six main expenses:
- Transport (including fuel if driving)
- Accommodation
- Food and drinks
- Activities, tours, and attractions
- Miscellaneous costs
- Contingency fund
When creating your budget, it is better to overestimate. The last thing you’ll want is to run out of money with a couple of days of your holiday left because you underestimated the costs.
What Are The Best Ways To Reduce Your Travel Costs?
While the cost of travelling as a family can be expensive, there are some things you can do to make it more affordable.
Choosing the right destination is obvious, because, as mentioned, a driving holiday to Australia is likely to be cheaper than a flight to the UK. That said, the time of year you can will also influence the price. Increasingly, many Australian families are cottoning on to this by booking their trips during the school term rather than the holidays. Although this involves taking the kids out of school for a time, from a financial perspective, it makes sense because you can take advantage of low-season deals.
Regardless of where they go, many families are also choosing to self-cater more often rather than eat out for every meal. As a result, many are looking to book apartments, holiday homes, and serviced accommodation with kitchen facilities that are much less expensive than hotels.
Another way to reduce your travel costs is to be flexible with your dates. You should also fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday, rather than on the weekend, and use public transport rather than hiring a car.
Saving Money With Flexible Travel
One way families can make their travel budget stretch further is by staying flexible with their plans. If your dates and destination are not fixed, checking last minute holidays can sometimes reveal better-value options, helping families enjoy a much-needed break without paying more than necessary. Being open to different destinations or travel dates can make it easier to find affordable family getaways
Check out my post on how to travel with kids without blowing the budget for more cost-saving ideas.