Taking young children abroad often feels like an expensive and stressful undertaking, but one Nottinghamshire mother has cracked the code to affordable family adventures. Jen Carr, a 36-year-old former NHS doctor turned family travel expert, has organised more than 50 budget-friendly trips without ever paying the full price.
Mastering the Art of Affordable Travel
Since launching her platform, The Travel Mum, and transitioning into full-time travel content creation, Jen has become a trusted source for cost-effective family travel. With over 315,000 Instagram followers, this mum-of-two from Nottinghamshire shares her proven strategies to help other families explore the world without financial strain.
Essential Budget Travel Strategies
Jen's first crucial tip is to choose DIY holidays over package deals, beginning with flight flexibility. "I think flexibility is the biggest thing when it comes to getting the cheapest prices," advises Carr, mother to six-year-old Leo and one-year-old Luca. "We recently saved £1,000 flying to Sardinia from London rather than Manchester."
She consistently uses comparison websites to find the best deals. "I always rave about how fantastic Skyscanner is, it's unbeatable," the travel expert explains. Her website features a DIY trip-builder that utilises Skyscanner for flights and Hotels.com for accommodation comparisons.
Smart Packing and Accommodation Choices
Travelling light represents another significant money-saving opportunity. "Many people don't realise that if you add absolutely no luggage onto your flight, you can still bring a rucksack that fits under the seat in front," Carr reveals. "For a family of four, you've got four rucksacks at no additional cost."
She recommends packing strategically by having everyone wear their bulkiest items on the plane and utilising car seats for extra luggage allowance. "We usually place the car seat in a car seat bag and then within that bag we put another rucksack with extra items in, so it's almost like a free check-in item," she elaborates.
When it comes to accommodation, self-catering options can save families a fortune on dining costs. "We normally always have breakfast and dinner self-catered, and then we go out for lunch, because lunch menus tend to be much cheaper than dinner menus," Carr advises.
UK Alternatives and Free Entertainment
Jen also champions the value of UK holiday parks, citing her recent experience at Butlin's. "I think UK holiday parks are really underrated. We paid £89 for four nights for all of us, and when we got there we didn't have to spend an awful lot because it had a big playground, a swimming pool and all the fairground rides were included."
She prioritises free activities over paid attractions to keep costs down. "There are so many free things you can do as a family, such as going to the beach, museums, pool days, playgrounds, having picnics and going to local markets," she suggests.
Reward Points and Payment Plans
Collecting reward points forms another key part of her strategy. "Be smart with where you book and spend your money in everyday life, because you can do a lot with reward points," Carr recommends. "We collect Avios points with our credit card and they really build up. We also book a lot of hotels with Hotels.com and collect OneKeyCash."
For those struggling with upfront costs, she suggests exploring payment plans. "Work out how much you need to save and put aside each month for a holiday. A lot of package providers will let you pay in instalments, which makes it easier to budget."
Her final piece of advice involves being prepared with toys and games to avoid expensive impulse purchases during days out. "Make sure you take a cheap bubble wand with you and say you've already got one, because kids will just want everything," the experienced traveller concludes.
