 One of the questions we are most frequently asked at Holidays with Kids is where to holiday with a large family, and how best to cope with the experience. We threw the topic open to the experts, our readers…
Let’s face it, holidays are expensive even for small families – but what happens if you don’t fit the “two adults, two kids” mould? How do you get to your destination without breaking the bank, where do you stay, and how do you keep the whole tribe happy on a daily basis?
Apart from the obvious added expense of travelling with a large family, the biggest problem those with more than two kids face is finding special deals or packages to suit. According to the travel industry, a ‘family’ consists of two adults and two children - they don’t want to know about anyone who doesn’t fit the preordained model. Single parents? Forget it! Three kids – no way! Four children – what, are you crazy!
Like many problems associated with travel, research and preparation can smooth the path to a stress-free holiday. The internet is a great tool for finding cheap fares and packages, while websites like our own at Holidays with Kids are useful for ideas and specials. Last minute rates and ‘happy hour’ flight bargains are worth seeking out. Do your calculations – with specials like “buy one flight, get one free” those with an odd number in their group may find it cheaper to actually buy that extra flight, or perhaps bring along a friend to even the numbers up. Also, consider alternatives – train travel is relatively cheap and can be great fun, with the freedom to move around as you enjoy the passing parade.
Large families are often forced into booking an extra hotel room, which can double the price of a vacation. Self-contained apartments are a popular alternative; while some hotels offer family rooms, which typically offer beds for five people. Many of our readers favour cabins in resort-style caravan parks, while others say you can’t beat the experience of camping. Others pool their finances with another large family and rent a holiday house, the perfect solution if you love socialising.
While you may not be able to avoid the expense of flights and accommodation, it’s possible for everyone to limit expenditure on food. Where possible, cook your own meals – just having simple breakfast items on hand in your room will save you a bundle. If you’re staying in a hotel room, consider emptying the mini-bar and replacing it with snacks purchased from the supermarket. If you are heading to a city destination, search the internet beforehand and print off restaurant vouchers which give discounts.
On long car trips, pack snacks for growling tummies, while having a travel fridge or esky on hand avoids unnecessary pitstops. To keep restless passengers busy, buy or hire a DVD player – the trip will pass in no time if there are movies to watch. A travel pack with books, activities and puzzles are also recommended, whether you’re flying or travelling by car. And if you’re in no hurry, stop awhile and enjoy the scenery – stretching the legs is good for both the body and mind!
_Hamilton.jpg) Favourite destinations for large families:
“If you can avoid school holidays the rates are substantially lower, and because we live in a cold climate, the beach is always a good destination. I have often said the beach is the most fun you can have without spending!” Stephen Alton, Katoomba
“Favourite family friendly destination in Australia would be Boali Lodge Thredbo and the Hyatt Regency Coolum. The Hyatt has lots of space, bikes to ride on, plenty of pools and the beach to swim, babysitting if required for some adult R&R, restaurants within walking distance, plus activities for everyone to try a new challenge like tennis or archery or craft. Boali Lodge has a playroom for the kids, their rooms are a loft style so you can keep track of everyone and all meals are provided.” The Brookes Family
“My family did find it difficult to find accommodation to suit two adults and three children until we stumbled across Holiday Parks which have fully self-contained cabins which are like an apartment. My children love our holidays now as there is so much for them to do with a big resort pool and spa, and a massive jumping pillow (like a jumping castle). East’s Dolphin Beach at Moruya Heads even has a kids’ club that the kids love going to. Many families come back year after year so the kids have made some wonderful friendships.” Dana Creed
“We have stayed in youth hostels all over America and in Perth, Canberra, Melbourne and NSW and they have all been comfortable and very welcoming to the children. Some of the hostels have had en suites, and one in WA was a complete holiday unit with kitchen etc, and it was about a quarter of the cost of renting a similar type accommodation.” Jenny Booth
“Our favourite holiday spot for a large/extended family is Stradbroke Island, Queensland. There are oodles of holiday homes for rent from budget options to luxury with gorgeous views over Moreton Bay. And once you are there, it is so easy to entertain the kids on a budget. They will be happy with going to the beach, fishing, four-wheel driving, visiting fresh water lakes, see the dolphins – it can be as relaxing or active as you like.” Monika Gittens, Parkinson
“I went searching on the internet and found www.takeabreak.com.au and found just what we were looking for. We now have a beautiful five bedroom home at Mermaid Beach, right on the canal. It is enough to accommodate 12 people, so we decided to ask friends to come and join us. It is costing us the same as if we were a two adult, two children family… I recommend to other large families to look beyond travel agents and your normal accommodation sources.” Sue Cronin, Marayong
 Tips:
“In order to stretch our holiday dollars, use points accumulated on the Visa card to organise tickets for the whole family to one of the theme parks.” Bronwynn Elliot, Hervey Bay.
“Our best tip for being able to afford a holiday is to keep all your gold coins in a large tin at the back of the cupboard and save them save them save them, so when we want to holiday there is usually enough for at least three days away.” Cindy Sharp
“If travelling to visit family, perhaps purchase an airline ticket, or use frequent flyer points, to send the older children down whilst you drive with the younger children. This way the older children have some special time with the grandparents before you arrive.” Catherine Barker and family, East Toowoomba
“When we travel, all the kids are expected to eat the local cuisines so no McDonalds, no pizza, no pasta, nothing that is easily accessible at home. After everyone has tried some local food, all compare notes and have an unofficial competition to see who was the most adventurous in their culinary tastes. If the grownups are having it, then the kids are allowed to try it and we encourage them to do so.” The Brookes Family
“When staying in Sydney we generally stay somewhere from the Entertainment Book which is issued each year as we get 50 percent off rack rate of room and we get two adjoining rooms.” Cheryle Anderson
“Put an ID tag on the back of younger children with your mobile phone number on it saying “if lost call …” – for peace of mind.” The Inkley household
“My tip is to organize Coles or Woolworths online. We took only clothes with us and got all our food, nappies, wipes, drinks, fruit and washing powder delivered to the hotel – they even brought it up to our room. It definitely saved on excess baggage and having the food delivered saved us money when we went out to visit the sights.” Sue Williams
“We book for a week’s holidays, then we wait for a special deal to come through over the internet. We have signed up for Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Blue email specials. We scored $3 flights to Brisbane for this November. If you are not too fussy on where to go, this is the way to go.” Kasey Gilroy, Mount Pleasant
“Don’t even think about travelling in school holidays. If the trip is over one week ask the school for just enough worksheets to be done on the plane to and from the destination and a few quiet evenings in the hotel. Helps to alleviate flight boredom and saves missing out on education. The trip itself will be a valuable education. Add visits to temples and cultural places, go off the tourist track and shop in local villages – see how the people live. Travel not only provides cultural education but broadens the mind of kids to learn tolerance and acceptance for things that are done differently.” Dawn Boyd, Miranda
 Readers Letters:
“My family consists of two adults and four children and we like to go at least once a year for a family getaway.
How to plan: Open a savings passbook account at the bank that is linked to your other accounts but does not have a key card. I find this an easy way to save and put money away. I can transfer money from my paid accounts directly into this. If you don’t touch the money you can earn interest. When it’s time to dip into the money just transfer it back into your spending account.
Our favourite family destination would have to be the Whitsundays. You can stay in interconnecting rooms or even stay in a privately owned apartment on some islands like Hamilton Island which can save heaps. Kids can often stay, play and eat free too, which they love and saves a bucket load.
Kids’ clubs are not free at most places and can cost heaps. It cost us around $90 for three hours at Hamilton Island for my four. Also read the conditions on special offers such as kids stay, eat free as sometimes this might mean one child per adult free, the rest pay. It can be a shock if you are unprepared to pay a bigger bill than expected.
Keep an eye out on flight specials. Virgin has happy hour every day from 12-1pm. A good time to look is on long weekends and public holidays, there seems to always be specials published on these times. Having to buy six air tickets, I picked up my Hamilton Island tickets for $59 each instead of $129, bought on happy hour.
My biggest tip – don’t wait to start saving for your next holiday, even if you don’t know where or when you want to go. This helps make holiday planning easier as you have got the ball rolling and can pick up hot deals if you have the money ready!”
Anna Chilvers, Bli Bli, Queensland.
“The key is planning, organisation and setting up a secure self-catering holiday base with safe play space (even a boat!) Launch out from there.
Tire ‘em out so they sleep soundly, but don’t overtire kids. One morning activity is tiring enough for tiny tots. Two suffices for bigguns. Include a ‘vege-out day’ every three days.
Avoid excessive driving. Refuel on Tuesdays and Wednesday of off pay weeks. Play car games. Stop and revive every two hours at playgrounds so kids can burn off energy far from fast food temptation. Keep water bottles handy something to freshen up, changes of clothes for littlies and a container under the seat for sickies. Define whose space is what to avoid squabbles. Do a ‘teddy head count’ before driving away. It’s best to find Ted before you’ve driven hundreds of miles.
Sharing accommodation, costs and workloads with another friendly family means your kids entertain each other, freeing up adults to settle back for a wine and a laugh.
Don’t be ashamed to let people know that you’ve got lots of kids and a tight budget. Kids in big families aren’t bludgers. You may secure free accommodation in a holiday home if you’re prepared to paint it up or do the garden.
High school years are hectic. It’s costlier and harder to get away and cater for all tastes. Now is the time to switch to one on one, ‘coming of age’ trips to seal the bond between parent and child. Each of our children gets to choose an adventure experience with their Dad to celebrate their 15th birthday. My son and my ex trekked NZ in January and returned fit, feisty and joking together.”
Joan and the Hulmes Households, Canberra
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