Dad's six secrets to planning family holidays

6 steps to an easy family holiday. Holidays should be fun, not work. Follow these steps to plan the perfect getaways. 

top parks

6 steps to an easy family holiday. Holidays should be fun, not work. Follow these steps to plan the perfect getaways. 

reduces the chances of your holiday resembling a Chevy Chase film, it can save you tons of cash. Here are some top tips for planning your next dream family getaway.

Involve the squadYou’ve got two choices when it comes to choosing a destination:

1) Make the decision yourself (pro: it’s quicker this way). 2) Involve the kids in the planning process, asking them what they’d like to do.

The latter – factoring in, for example, Zack’s wish to pet a kangaroo and Indie’s non-negotiable theme park visit, as well as yours (hello, wineries) – gets the kids excited about the research phase, and you’re more likely to choose a destination everyone’s pumped on. This also lessens the chances of sulky back-seat episodes from the kids.

Plan ahead. Like, way aheadSchool holidays are coming – the perfect time to book! Too bad the Smiths, the Thompsons, and eight-zillion other families from your state are thinking the same. Yes, leave it too late and there’s the very real possibility your dream flights and/or accommodation in Byron Bay will sell out or you’ll be faced with exorbitantly-priced alternatives.

It pays to sign up to airlines’ email lists and, if you’ve picked your destination, sign up for flight price alerts (via airline or fare comparison websites). The spam can be annoying, but you can save hundreds-of-dollars by taking advantage of the deals in your inbox. Skyscanner, for example, offers an online Best Time To Book tool that uses data from fares paid by travellers on the site over two years and can offer invaluable cost-saving insights.

Another hack, on top of booking six months’ ahead, is choosing less popular times to travel. Compare prices for flights in the middle of school holidays compared to just before, and right at the end, and you’ll often save. Taking the kids away during school term is another saver, but the rules vary from state-to-state – with some cracking down on it in recently – and the kids will be playing catch-up once back in class.

Choosing your digsYou’ve picked your destination and (for those flying) booked some bargain flights. Great! But the planning doesn’t end here.

If you resist the temptation to splurge on a swanky resort, you’ll be surprised how rewarding a stay in a tourist park cabin or in a tent perched on a powered site can be – both in terms of family bonding and your hip pocket. Programs like G’DAY Rewards can be great to find out about things like early bird offers and kids stay free deals.

You’ll often have access to a communal kitchen and BBQ, and pairing these with the local supermarket means saving a heap of cash you would’ve spent at overpriced cafes – plus you’ll get to meet your neighbours.

Every family should pack themselves into a tent at least once, but if you’re after more comfort, a range of cabin options are often available – choose one with separate rooms if you want to enjoy a nightcap while the kids are zonked.

Remember the adage “the best things in life are free”. It’s great to be close to the theme park, sure, but when you’re staying near a beach, waterhole or forest track – it’s unlikely the kids will get bored. And they cost nothing! Zoom in on the map and see what’s within walking distance before you book. You can also often find great free school holiday activities by scoping the websites of local councils and libraries.

Other cost-saving measuresIf costs are really adding up, never fear. It may be time to bring in reinforcements.

Joining forces with another family can bring down food, petrol and/or accommodation costs, while many grandparents (aka babysitters) will jump at the chance to spend some quality time with their grandkids. Whether being at such close quarters with the in-laws is your idea of a holiday, however, may be debatable.

The best way to prepare your bank balance for a holiday, though, is ol’ fashioned belt-tightening. Save money in the lead-up by taking your lunch to work rather than buying it, cutting down on café-made coffees and buying pre-loved gear from op shops rather than new stuff, for example.

Pack like a proYou’re almost ready – all that’s left is to pack! There are tons of great packing checklists for every type of family holiday online, but there is one golden rule that governs all family holidays: DON’T LEAVE IT TO THE LAST MINUTE. You’re bound to forget something and it’s more than likely going to be your littlest one’s comforter or cherished blanket, you monster.

Other great packing hacks include bringing healthy meals for your plane and car rides (instead of buying expensive airplane and roadhouse food), and bringing sunscreen with you.

Be adaptableClearly planning is a must and can save you a mint, but don’t overdo it. Drive down that beckoning potholed back road or walk around the next headland, for variety’s the spice of life! Meticulously planning every millisecond of your itinerary is only going to rankle the kids and remove your trip’s sense of adventure.