How I booked FOUR family trips including a big holiday abroad and five-day break for under £1,000

AS the cost of living continues to climb, my travel budget is squeezed more than ever.

However, I'm taking four fabulous family holidays this year for just £1,000.

Poring over the household budget, I initially thought it impossible.

How could we enjoy a series of trips and a ‘big’ holiday for less than £1,000?

To make things even trickier, school-age children rule out off-peak deals, no matter how financially tempting they seem.

Looking at previous trips for inspiration, I know I need a holiday I can trim back – one where expensive hotel and restaurant meals won't blow the budget.

Like many families, I need a holiday, with my two children aged 17 and 22, that will keep my finances on track, not derail them, while delivering a family-sized feel-good factor.

I'm also in the lucky position of owning a caravan, so armed with that, the internet and a desire to make every penny count, here’s what I have booked on a budget…

A week in France

Towing a caravan that’s 25ft long with a 16ft car raised the first issue, as 41ft of cross-channel real estate can be expensive.

Advice from The Caravan & Motorhome Club’s travel team highlighted this:

1. Book a ‘Combined Deal': a trip where crossings and campsites are booked together can save money. On this occasion, almost £300.

2. Make a booking later in August: a month that strikes fear into the wallet of every holidaymaker can make further savings. For this trip, holidaying after 17 August saved more money.

My only requirements are sensible crossing times and a family-friendly campsite, so I let pricing guide the trip.

We booked seven nights in the Hauts-de-France region, including crossings, for £657.23.

That’s for two adults and two children, and includes Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) protection.

If you don't own a caravan, camping can be another great alternative to keep costs down.

An activity weekend in the Cotswolds

Since the kids were small, we’ve loved trips that revolve around an activity or experience.

If booking a campsite more than 21 days in advance, The Caravan and Motorhome Club offers an additional 10 per cent on certain spring holidays, which means we could save money for a new experience.

Online voucher codes are a part of daily life, and a quick search uncovered a 10 per cent discount at a nearby karting venue.

Two nights at the campsite: £46.

Karting for four: £147.56.

Five nights at the coast

Sometimes, we need to recharge.

Escaping the stress of daily life is key to our well-being, and studies suggest we are far more productive after a relaxing holiday.

Thankfully, decompressing on the coast just outside Plymouth, Devon, for five days is well within budget thanks to The Caravan & Motorhome Club deal called ‘Tour from £22’.

Granted, this is a per-night fee based on two people and did rise to
£24 per night with two children added to the booking.

However, having a non-electric camping pitch dropped the price to £19.10 per night for a family of four, which meant our roof-mounted solar panel would save money and give the trip green credentials.

Five nights booked for £95.50.

Small campsite, big value

The UK has thousands of small, privately owned campsites that offer outstanding value for money.

Padstow, a gem on the Cornish coastline, can be an expensive destination, but would you like to enjoy the area for just £10 per night?

Certified Locations – small, five-unit campsites often found on farmer’s fields – provide valuable income for rural communities,
with one farmer saying the camping field was a vital lifeline.

Two nights for just £20.

Money matters

While our £1,000 budget covered holiday and activity bookings, we must be prudent with associated costs such as food and fuel too.

Having a fridge/freezer and a kitchen in the caravan means eating out on holiday is as cheap as it is at home, which helps our modest budget.

Before leaving, we will transfer the contents of the fridge at home to the caravan.

You can also take along snacks and essentials from home to help with smaller expenses.

Fuel costs depend on the destinations visited, but free apps like Waze can help.

Although this phone-based sat nav isn’t necessarily designed for route plotting while towing a caravan, it does uncover huge savings en route.

For example, we saved 30 cents per litre during a previous trip to France.

Honey – a free app and browser plug-in – automatically uncovers voucher codes and applies them to online baskets. It’s a great money-saving tool.