The world economic crisis has meant that many of us are having to watch our bank balances more carefully than we used to. While looking for ways to cut back on costs, luxuries such as holidays abroad are often the first items to be cut out of the budget. However, this is not a very satisfactory solution, after all, everyone needs a break and a change of scenery from time to time!
The solution that my husband and I came up with, which would allow us to take our kids on holiday abroad without putting ourselves in the red, was to book a camping holiday instead of our traditional all-inclusive hotel break.
While all-inclusive hotel deals have been promoted as an excellent way to save money on family holidays, we often found that having food and drink available 24 hours a day meant that we felt tied to the hotel we were staying at, and as a result, didn’t experience the local ambience or cuisine. On the last all-inclusive break we went on, my hubby actually noted all the drinks and food we ordered at the hotel, and came to the conclusion that we’d get much more for our money on a self catering holiday. This was probably the main factor that convinced us that a camping holiday was the best option for our family.
We chose a camp-site which was close to several small villages, and hired a small, economical vehicles for the duration of our of stay. I think this is a important consideration if you want to take a family camping holiday abroad, as having transport means that you are self-reliant and can explore a greater area. Having thriving communities nearby also meant that we were able to shop around in the supermarkets and street markets. This was where we scoped out where the locals shop for bargains, and found excellent quality, low-priced produce, which gave us a genuine taste of the area. Getting out and about also allowed us to practice the speaking the lingo, something which is challenging, but we feel really adds value to a holiday.
With regards to entertainment costs, we found that we spent much less than we normally would do on a holiday, partly because the camp-site we stayed at had great facilities including play areas for the kids and a outdoor swimming pool. We also popped into the tourist information centre for the area, and got lots of brochures and guides, including some which detailed free to enter attractions. A combination of visiting the sights, taking long walks in the countryside and relaxing, we found plenty to do, and the kids never once complained of being bored!
If you are one of the many families who are finding that their pay-checks have to stretch further each and every month, but don’t want to abandon your annual holiday, why not take a leaf from our book and consider a camping trip abroad.? Considerably cheaper than booking into a hotel, camping is an experience that the whole family can enjoy.