| With summer drawing to a close for another | | | | expensive Spanish holiday – the sea may not |
| year, some people are already beginning to plan | | | | be as sparkling but British sand is still good enough |
| next year's holiday. Naturally, for those with a | | | | for sandcastles! Or, for older children, why not |
| family, the school holidays are the favourite time | | | | check out one of the many campsites in the UK, |
| of year for a week or two in the sun. The | | | | or even a cheap bed and breakfast or hotel in a |
| problem is, holiday companies take advantage of | | | | city close to lots of shops and attractions? If you |
| the fact that the months of July and August are | | | | look around, there's no shortage of places to go |
| the most sought-after and raise their prices | | | | and things to do in the UK. |
| accordingly. | | | | But if it's a holiday abroad that you long for, think |
| It seems the cheapest option is for parents to | | | | about looking into a house swap. This means |
| take their children on the family holiday during | | | | trading homes with a family from another country |
| term-time, but schools take a dim view of this, | | | | – you stay in their home and sample the |
| forcing parents to fill out endless forms to be | | | | delights of hot weather in a different country, |
| passed to the board of school governors, who | | | | they stay in your home and sample…well, rain. |
| decide whether to grant even a single day off | | | | But it's still a change from the norm, and |
| either side of a holiday. While it's debatable how | | | | house-swapping holidays are more and more |
| much difference a week will make to a child's | | | | popular in the days of increasing holiday prices. All |
| academic career, there's no doubt that it can | | | | it costs is the airfare and spending money, the |
| make the world of difference to the price of a | | | | accommodation is taken care of. |
| holiday. | | | | Some people, however, don't want to, or can't, |
| For example, a one-week self-catering holiday to | | | | offer their home up for a swap. If that's the |
| Fuengirola at the beginning of August costs in | | | | case, all is not lost. Youth hostels, once thought of |
| excess of £700 per person, yet the same | | | | as run-down, "10 strangers to a room" hovels, are |
| holiday, in the same resort, taken at the end of | | | | actually a clean, affordable way to have a holiday |
| September costs just over £400 per person. | | | | without compromising on privacy – most |
| That's a saving of almost 50% for just a matter | | | | hostels offer private or family rooms. Youth |
| of weeks. However, you need to weigh up if | | | | hostels are found throughout the world, so the |
| saving £300 is worth sacrificing your child's | | | | internet is invaluable if you think you might like this |
| education or risking trouble with the school board. | | | | option. |
| Fortunately, there are ways to have a cheap | | | | Cheap hotels such as Formule 1, Travelodge etc |
| holiday while sticking to school rules. | | | | have outlets all over Europe and these are much |
| If the children are very young, they won't care | | | | cheaper than most independent hotels. Spend |
| so much where they go as long as there's things | | | | some time online researching these hotel deals, |
| to play with. Try visiting one of the many | | | | and you could be surprised at the low prices. |
| beaches in Britain rather than opting for an | | | | |