Travel hack could help you bag an 'affordable' summer family holiday this year

We all know that going away on holiday and travelling can cost a pretty penny.

But are you more of a beach getaway or city break kind of person?

Despite, this there are ways that you can beat the prices and we have spoken to one expert to find out just how.

Sarah-Jane Outten, a shopping expert at MyVoucherCodes, said: “Finding an affordable summer family holiday is a challenge but there are ways to cut costs, leaving you with more money for ice cream and a few cocktails.

“Here are my top money-saving tips to consider before you make your next booking."

Flexibility

We totally get that if you're limited to the school summer holidays and stuck to that time frame.

However, Outten said: "There’s money to be saved if you are willing to travel at different times and days of the week. Each holiday operator will have cheaper holiday start days and flights can be cheaper if you fly late at night or early in the morning."

Families with younger children may want to choose destinations that are on the same timeline as the UK.

So this means Portugal (excluding Azores) and the Canary Islands are both on UK time. Outten added: "This might be useful if you are choosing an early or late-night flight to save money."

All-inclusive holidays

Do you prefer to stay in one place when it comes to breakfast, lunch and dinner? Especially if your all-inclusive includes drinks and snacks.

The expert said: "Parents will understand the additional cost of regular drink and ice cream purchases. The initial cost of the holiday may seem more expensive, but the savings overall are worth it."

Work out how much you plan to spend on an all-inclusive trip compared to flights, hotel and eating out separately.

Free child places

Some tour operators offer free child places when you fly with them.

TUI, First Choice, Blue Bay Travel, Easy Jet and Hays Travel are some of the companies where free child places can be found.

Amenities and activities

If you and your family like to take part and get involved then you might want to consider a hotel that is exclusive to this.

Outten said: "Look for family resorts and hotels with amenities and activities included. Lots of all-inclusive resorts have bars and evening entertainment, but if you are a family take advantage of waterparks, pools, kids clubs, bowling and sports that don’t incur an additional charge.

How to bag a last-minute bargain?

According to the pro, last-minute bargain holidays can be found if you wait "until the last two weeks of August". She added: "Although prices are still higher than term time, the demand for these dates can dwindle."

Outten suggested checking holiday comparison sites such as Skyscanner to ensure you are getting the cheapest price for your chosen holiday.

And of course, let's not forget to take a look at MyVoucherCodes before booking.

She said: "There are plenty of discount codes available that can save you money on holidays, airport parking and holiday essentials.”