HOLI-YAY
I’m a mum-of-5 and saved hundreds by ditching UK caravan trip for a holiday abroad – I don’t want to gatekeep bargain
By driving themselves, the family discovered an affordable hidden European getaway
A FAMILY of seven's week abroad in sunny Europe at a little-known gem ended up costing them less than a UK caravan trip.
Jemma Pinches, 37, and Lewis Pinches, 36, were looking to take their five kids down to Devon during the school holidays.
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They had assumed going abroad would cost a lot more than a staycation.
But with a week in a caravan costing upwards of £2,000, Jemma and her partner began looking for other options.
And while scrolling online to salvage their dream of taking the kids away, they stumbled across a fantastic opportunity.
For less than a week of caravanning in the UK, the family were able to travel to Kaatsheuvel, in the Netherlands, where temperatures reached a gorgeous 30 degrees.
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Jemma, Lewis and their five children - Jenson, 11, Ollie, nine, Reuben, three, Ada, two, and five-month-old Dottie - stayed at Marvilla Parks, a campsite near the city of Tilburg.
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On 2 August, the family set off from Worcester to Dover where they got a ferry to Calais, in France.
They then drove three and a half hours to their location in the Netherlands, where they spent a week soaking up the sun.
The site, around 30 miles south east of Rotterdam, contained plenty of activities for the family and is just a stone's throw away from Efteling, an enormous fantasy themed amusement par, which the family visited.
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Despite entry to the park costing around €50 per person, the fact that three of their children, aged three and under, could enter for free made the visit even more memorable.
On top of this, the family managed to squeeze in bonus day trips to a football stadium as well as a sand dune to round off their European adventure.
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But even with all these activities, the 800-mile round trip worked out to be incredibly affordable.
The entire week's holiday, including travel, accommodation, and food, cost them a total of just £1,800.
That works out to less than £300pp for a jam packed European holiday, including personal spending.
Jemma told Luxury Travel Daily: “We wouldn’t have had a holiday, especially abroad, if I hadn’t taken the plunge and done this.
“I almost wanted to ‘gatekeep’ it so it doesn’t go up in price.
Top Hacks for Holidaying with Kids
IF you've got plans to go on holiday with your little ones this summer, here's some advice to take on board.
Plan Ahead:
- Book accommodations with family-friendly amenities.
- Research kid-friendly attractions and activities.
- Make travel arrangements that accommodate your children’s schedules.
Pack Smart:
- Create a packing checklist to ensure you don't forget essentials.
- Pack a mix of familiar and new toys to keep kids entertained.
- Bring snacks, extra clothes, and emergency supplies in your carry-on.
Travel Comfort:
- Use neck pillows and blankets for a more comfortable journey.
- Download movies, games, and music on tablets or phones.
- Schedule travel during nap times or overnight to maximise sleep.
Stay Organized:
- Use packing cubes to keep clothes and items sorted.
- Keep important documents, like passports and tickets, in a dedicated folder.
- Utilise apps for itinerary management and navigation.
Engage and Entertain:
- Plan interactive activities like scavenger hunts or travel journals.
- Explore local parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly museums.
- Involve kids in trip planning to get them excited and engaged.
Maintain Routine:
- Stick to regular meal and sleep times as much as possible.
- Bring along comfort items, like favorite blankets or stuffed animals.
- Allow for downtime to avoid overstimulation.
Stay Flexible:
- Be prepared to adjust plans based on your children’s needs and moods.
- Embrace the unexpected and make the most of impromptu moments.
- Keep a positive attitude to set the tone for a fun and memorable trip.
These hacks can help make your holiday with kids smoother, more enjoyable, and will ensure that you return home with wonderful memories!
“It was amazing, I went in with low expectations with it being cheap and the travelling involved.
“But it was an adventure, the kids absolutely loved it including the travelling which surprised me.
“When we got to the site it was so much better than I could have thought, there was so much to do.
“After doing this I can’t believe how expensive it is to holiday in the UK.
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“We looked at Devon cliffs, Haven and loads more.
“It was £2,000 for seven days just for the accommodation, which was nowhere near as nice.”