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1:00 AM 11th January 2025
family

New School Fines Force Families To Rethink Holiday Plans

Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
As the New Year begins, families across the UK are eager to take advantage of January holiday sales to plan their next getaway. However, new fines introduced by British schools could make holiday budgeting more challenging for parents.

Traditionally, booking holidays during the school term has been a go-to strategy for families looking to avoid the extortionate costs of peak travel seasons.

But under updated regulations, parents now face significant fines for taking children out of school during term time, adding an extra layer of financial strain to an already expensive decision.

Parents who remove their children from school for just five days during term time can expect a penalty fine of £160 per child, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.

For larger families or households with two parents planning a trip, these penalties can quickly add up to thousands of pounds, making term-time travel far less tempting.

Nick Drewe, from Wethrift, weighed in:
“We're living in particularly tough times financially, so term-time holiday deals have often been a lifeline for families who want to get away without breaking the bank.

“These new fines, however, make that option much harder for many households."


To ensure struggling families don’t have to miss out on a much-needed break, Drewe offers tips for enjoying an affordable holiday within the school break.

Look for last-minute deals

Last-minute holidays are often cheaper as a result of travel and airline companies trying to fill their empty rooms and seats.

It is much more cost-effective for them to make some money than no money, so most of the time customers can take advantage of last-minute discounts.

When planning your next family break, consider booking it right before you plan on setting off. If you’re flexible with dates within the six-week holiday period, this can facilitate even better savings.

Consider all-inclusive or package holidays

With all-inclusive holidays or flight, hotel, and transfer package deals, the majority of your expenses are grouped together, making it easy for you to save.

It also means that, once you’ve paid it off, your expenses are little to none whilst you’re there.

Booking last-minute all-inclusive holidays can allow you to save even more.

Consider alternative accommodations

When most of us think of holidays, our minds instantly go to staying in a hotel. However, Nick suggests that thinking outside the box can help you cut costs.

Stay open-minded when it comes to accommodation. The likes of apartment hotels, bed and breakfasts, and Airbnb's can allow for a much cheaper holiday, while still offering a comfortable stay.

With Airbnb, you can even message the host to negotiate the overall price of your stay. While it doesn’t work every time, it’s certainly worth giving a go!

Take advantage of reward schemes

Many of us are accumulating points via reward schemes that we’re not even aware of!

For instance, Nectar points can be spent on a number of travel-related things, from flights to supermarket holiday essentials.

So, if you’re aiming to keep holiday costs low in the six-week holidays, take a look at your reward scheme balances, as there may be some unexpected help at hand.

Avoid tourist hotspots

The likes of Paris, Rome, and Barcelona are undoubtedly great places to visit, but their popularity amongst tourists means they typically have a higher price tag.

There is so much beauty waiting to be discovered in smaller destinations, and they make amazing holidays. Not only are many of them much more affordable, but they also make for an experience unique to you and your family!

Bologna, Granada, and Dubrovnik are just a few of the places that you can discover on a budget.

Get creative with your transport

Flights are often one of the most expensive parts of a holiday, but it’s not necessary to fly to enjoy a getaway.

Holidays can be more affordable when using other transportation methods, whilst not compromising on fun. Ferries, campervans, and coaches can get you to a whole host of destinations on a budget, from staycations to European getaways.

What’s more, the travel to and from your destination becomes part of the holiday experience! Looking out the window at your surroundings, taking pit stops, and making memories with your family all help to make your holiday memorable.

Choose affordable activities

Activities like amusement parks and expensive guided tours are undoubtedly an excellent part of any holiday, but they’re far from the only ways to have fun.

Take the time to look into the free parks, museums, and walking tours your destination has to offer.

Not only is this a great way to save on your travels, but it is also a great way to soak up the culture!