If you’ve been browsing the internet for your next family holiday and found that prices are much higher than you expected (or can afford) in the school holidays, we’re with you. Rising costs, inflation and much more all have an effect on the cost of holidays, and there’s a premium for it in the school holidays. So we’ve pulled together our 7 favourite ways to save on your next family holiday, even when you have to go during the Summer holidays.  
## 1. Free Child Places
Both TUI and Jet2holidays offer thousands of free child places on holidays throughout the year, even in the school holidays. However, it’s important to note that popular family friendly hotels like the TUI BLUE Tropical near Dalaman, or the Coral Sea Water World in Sharm El Sheikh can get booked up quickly and free child place holidays are subject to availability.  
Jet2 and TUI offer these because they can package the accommodation up with their own flights, but not all hotels offer this. In order to qualify for a free child place, the child (usually between 2 years and 15 years old) must travel and stay in the same room as two full paying adults. The return flights, airport transfers (if included) and the same board basis as the adults will be free. So if you’re going all inclusive, this could save you a fortune, even in August.  
[Find out more about free child place holidays](/holidays/free-child-place-holidays)  
	![Kids In The Swimming Pool](/img/holidays/2100x700-kids-in-pool.webp)  
## 2. Be Flexible With Destinations
Don’t be disheartened if you’ve got your sights set on a particular destination, as there are plenty more fish in the sea. Whether you love going back to Fuerteventura each year, or you’ve got a favourite hotel in Rhodes, when prices get too much, explore elsewhere. Budget friendly destinations include places like Turkey, Egypt and Morocco which can be a little further afield but offer much more value for money.  
And if you’re not sure, ask around. Speak to friends and family who have been to other places you are considering and ask questions on forums to make sure the destination and hotel you have in mind will be suitable for you and your family. Don’t forget that a hotel orientated for families with teenagers might not be so suitable for infants and babies.  
By being flexible, you can save £££s on your next holiday.  
## 3. Compare (Full) Prices  
Did you know that when you compare holiday prices, they might not be exactly the same packages? Brands like Jet2holidays and TUI will usually include things like airport transfers and check-in luggage when flying on their own flights. But on tour operator websites like easyJet Holidays, loveholidays and On The Beach, those little extras might not be included in the initial price you see, and they can really add up. So once you add them on, one could be cheaper than the other.  
When looking at multiple websites, always go through the booking page to see what is and isn’t included and find out the final price you’ll have to pay. This will also give you an opportunity to add in any discount codes that might be available for the holiday.    
So always compare the FULL and final prices, not just the initial ones you see on the page.      
## 4. Share Larger Rooms  
If you’ve got a family of four, you might be tempted to book two interconnecting rooms, but knowing which hotels have larger rooms can be a cost saver. For example, standard rooms at the family friendly GF Victoria Hotel in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, are 57m2 and have separate living areas which young children can sleep in very well, plus they have a second bathroom with a shower. These sorts of rooms can be cheaper than booking two connecting rooms, which although offer a lot of space, might not be worth it for the money you’ll pay.  
When self catering, apartments with multiple bedrooms can also be worth looking at for the space they provide. We’ve handpicked [our favourite two bedroom apartment holidays](/holidays/2-bedroom-apartments) for you so you don’t have to do so much research when trying to find a budget friendly holiday.  
## 5. Research The Local Area  
This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when trying to find a cheap school holiday but it can actually be really handy. Although some hotels might seem cheap, they might not have much going on around them, or be far from the beach, so during the course of your holiday, you’ll end up spending money on taxis to get around, or adding on lengthy airport transfers, adding on to the total cost of your escape.  
If you’ve found a great deal, jump onto Google and do a little search of the local area to see what’s around. Similarly, if you’ve found a hotel you love that’s close to the beach, you might end up saving money because you just have to walk a few steps to the beach instead of a taxi twice a day.  	![Cala Major, Majorca](/img/destinations/spain/majorca/1200x630-cala-major.jpg)  
## 6. Keep Looking  
Did you know that holiday prices go down as well as up? Whether there’s a seasonal promotion coming up like the January sales or Black Friday in November, or you just keep your eyes peeled each week, those holiday prices can actually go down. We’ve seen it ourselves. Saving hundreds of pounds.  
Now don’t get us wrong, prices can DEFINITELY go up, there’s no doubt about that. When you’re looking at peak dates like the summer, easter and half term holidays they will usually only get higher. So if you’re happy with a price and keen to book, then go for it. All we’re saying is that you can sometimes save money by just hanging around the websites over time and seeing what happens.  
## 7. Use Discount Codes  
Not all companies use them but finding a discount code for your holiday can help you save a heap of cash. Some travel agents and tour operators will have these hidden away for new customers, or repeat bookers. Others will have a standard promo code that is open to everyone and clearly visible on their website.  
Discounts usually have certain terms and conditions like a minimum spend, or only valid for a certain destination. Or they might only be available to certain people like students or NHS and emergency workers.  
If in doubt, try using the code ‘SALE’, you never know!  
[Take a look at the latest holiday discount codes](/holidays/tui/discount-codes)
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