Affordable Family Trips on a Budget

Planning a family holiday doesn’t have to be a huge financial burden. While increases to the cost of living has impacted travel prices, there are thankfully still plenty of ways to plan an exciting and memorable trip without breaking the bank. And, there are lots of tools and options available to help you stay within your budget.

Smart planning, research, and a creative itinerary can ensure that your family spends quality time together and create lifelong memories without the financial strain. Below, we’ll explore some of the best tips and strategies for planning family trips on a budget.

Budget-Friendly Family Travel in 2026

Choosing to travel with your family on a budget has many more benefits than just saving money. For starters, it might make you look at options, places or activities you may not have considered otherwise. It allows for more frequent or longer trips away, it can mean there’s more money there for activities and experiences and can help your family stick to a wider financial goal.

Sticking to a budget can also help children to learn about the value of money and financial planning while still having fun. While simple travel plans can help reduce stress and allow more time to connect with family members.

Create a Realistic Budget for your Family Trip

Unavoidable costs are things that you have to spend money on. These include your flights, ferry, transport and accommodation. These should be booked as early as possible. 

Avoidable Costs are things that are nice but not necessary. These include eating out for every meal,  souvenirs and expensive activities or entertainment. Make a list of things you’d like to do and then decide where you want to splurge and where you are happy to save.

Planning Your Budget-Friendly Family Trip

Decide on Your Destination

Choosing a budget and family friendly destination is the start of planning a successful trip. Do a little research into locations and places that similar experiences or activities but where your money goes further. For example, look at destinations or options within driving distance to save on airfare or train tickets.

Research off-season travel opportunities, as prices are often lower during less popular travel times. Or consider budget-friendly accommodation options like holiday rentals, hostels or camping sites which lets you explore outdoors and can be exciting for kids.

Irish Staycations

Holidaying at home in Ireland gained a lot popularity after COVID and staycations remains a popular choice for famillies. While staying in major cities like Dublin or Cork can be expensive, heading to the North West or the Midlands offers better value. You save significantly on flights and transport, and you can pack your own food and supplies to reduce costs further. For affordable activities, many Irish families are now using the OPW Heritage Card, which provides free access to dozens of historical sites across the country for a single annual fee of €90 for 2 adults and up to 5 children aged 12 to 18 (kids under 12 have free admission).

Family Friendly Accommodation

Finding budget-friendly accommodation for a family might seem like a challenge but there are a lot of options available. Booking an apartment or a small holiday home through Airbnb or local rental agencies is often cheaper than booking multiple hotel rooms. Especially for larger families. While having a kitchen in your accommodation means you can make breakfast and lunch at home, which can easily save a family of four over fifty euros a day.

You can also look into budget hotel chains or customer loyalty programs that offer hotel discounts as a reward. Many hotels will also offer family breaks at reduced rates throughout the year. 

Alternative Stays

For families who enjoy the outdoors, camping and glamping sites across Europe and Ireland have seen a massive upgrade in facilities due to renewed popularity. Operators like Eurocamp have self-catering campsite locations across Europe with great facilities, a range of family activities and on-site kids clubs. Again, being smart and booking at off-peak times, booking early and opting for self-catering can stretch your budget even further. 

Transportation and Getting Around

Getting to your destination is often one of the most expensive parts of a trip, and getting around doesn’t end once you arrive. Transport costs can add up if you’re not careful so managing these costs is important for staying on budget. Here are some ways to save on transport:

Driving: Consider driving instead of flying or taking the train. Taking your own car can save you money and also give you more freedom and flexibility to explore or take day trips. 

Low Cost Flights: Check out discounts from airlines such as Ryanair or Aerlingus. Ryanair is known for having discounts at certain locations. 

Public Transport: Most European cities have excellent, child-friendly public transport.Look out for family passes or tourist cards that give you unlimited travel on buses, trams and trains for a small, set price.

Walking and Cycling: A lot of cities and towns in. Ireland and Europe are pedestrianised. Walking and cycling can be a great way to explore and see the sights, and can cut down your daily transport costs.

Car Rentals: If you need to rent a car, book it at the same time as your flights. Like flights, car rental prices can be volatile and last-minute rentals are almost always more expensive.

Plan Your Meals

Food costs can add up quickly while travelling, but it doesn’t have to. Dining out is a big part of the holiday experience, but it does not have to happen three times a day. A simple way to manage your food budget is to eat one meal at a restaurant, pub or cafe and prepare the others yourself. 

When booking, look for and choose accommodations with cooking facilities so you can prepare family meals instead of eating out all the time. You can also pack snacks and drinks for travel days or day trips. 

Find Free or Low-Cost Activities

The best parts of a family holiday is taking part in new activities and experiences. And you don’t need to spend a ton of money to give your family a memorable day out. There are lots of things that you can do for free or for very little money here in Ireland and abroad.

Museums, art galleries, visitor centres and historical sites offer free entry or free entry on specific days. It’s also common for children under a certain age to go free. Check the official websites before you go to align your visit with these dates.

Some of the best family memories are made on a beach, hiking a local trail or exploring a greemway. These activities cost nothing and allow you to enjoy them at a much more relaxed pace. If you do plan to visiting a zoo or theme park, book ahead. A lot of places offer discounts for booking online in advance compared to at the gate.

If you’re staycationing in Ireland, Discover Ireland has a list of free activities and attractions you can visit in Ireland without spending a penny.

Additional Tips and Considerations

Here are some additional tips and considerations to keep in mind when planning your budget-friendly family trip:

Be Flexible

Flexibility is key when it comes to planning a budget-friendly family trip. Be open to changing your travel dates, destination, or accommodation options if it means saving money.

Use Discount Websites and Apps

Many discount travel websites and apps can help you save money on everything from airfare to activities. Some popular options include Expedia, Kayak, Groupon, and LivingSocial.

Consider Traveling With Another Family

Travelling with another family can help split the cost of accommodation and transportation, making the trip more affordable for everyone involved.

Don’t Overschedule

While trying to fit in as many activities as possible during your trip can be tempting, remember to leave some downtime for relaxation and spontaneity. This can also help reduce expenses by avoiding the need for expensive activities or meals.

Pack Light

Avoid bringing excessive luggage, which can incur additional fees and expenses. If you’re not staying long, stick to carry-on luggage and pack only the essentials.

Family Travel Insurance

While it might seem like an extra cost, travel insurance should be an essential part of a budget-friendly trip. An unexpected medical issue or a cancelled flight can cost thousands if you are unprotected. KennCo offers great value family travel insurance policies that provide comprehensive cover for everyone in your group. Make sure that your family are fully protected with KennCo Family Travel Insurancer.