When planning a family holiday, hotels aren’t the only form of accommodation you should consider. There are many alternative forms of accommodation that can be cheaper and just as fun! Below are just seven examples of alternatives to hotels.

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Camping

Camping is the cheapest accommodation option. In fact, in some cases, a week in a campsite could be cheaper than a night in a hotel.

A lot of people enjoy camping because it’s a chance to get away from technology and connect with the natural world. Kids are particularly likely to enjoy it as it could offer a sense of adventure. It’s also a great chance for family bonding.

Of course, camping isn’t everyone’s idea of a holiday – some people would rather stay at home than give up a bed and effectively sleep in a field. While camping certainly may not be as cosy as staying in a hotel, there are ways to make it much more comfortable. For instance, you could bring an inflatable mattress, long hot water bottles and some blankets to help create the sense of sleeping on a bed.

When choosing a campsite, look for family-friendly options – some sites have playgrounds, games arcades, swimming pools and other attractions that could help to keep kids occupied.

Glamping

As the name suggests, ‘Glamping’ is a more glamorous alternative to camping. Instead of staying in a traditional tent, glamping usually involves staying in a yurt, airstream, camping pod or glamping pod fitted with home comforts such as electric sockets, a raised bed and lighting. It’s a little more expensive than basic camping, but can be much cheaper and more fun than staying in a hotel (in most cases).

Opting to go glamping could take some of the stress out of camping, while still feeling like a retreat to nature. Look out for family-friendly campsites that offer these glamping facilities.

Caravanning

There’s then the option of staying in a caravan or a motorhome. Many caravans and motorhomes have beds, basic kitchen facilities and toilets making them a lot more luxurious than a tent.

Some campsites have their own fixed caravans that you can rent out. Alternatively, you may be able to rent out a caravan or motorhome from a hire company, allowing you to stay at different campsites. In both cases, it can work out cheaper than booking a hotel room.

Buying your own caravan or motorhome is much more of an investment, but often worth it if you enjoy getting away. It’s practically like having your own holiday home on wheels and you can explore anywhere.

Lodges

Holiday lodges tend to be found on campsites and are like mini bungalows. They usually come with beds, kitchen facilities and bathroom facilities. Some have multiple bedrooms, making them a great accommodation option when staying somewhere with kids.

This type of accommodation is particularly popular in scenic destinations, with many families choosing lodges scotland for countryside breaks, woodland escapes or coastal adventures.  

Lodges are fairly cheap to rent out and tend to be a lot more affordable than hotels. They’re self-catered, so you’ll be expected to do your own cooking and cleaning. At the same time, you’ll still be able to use the campsite facilities such as any on-site restaurants or entertainment.

Rental accommodation

You could also look into renting out a cottage or a villa. This type of accommodation tends to be self-catered, but you get a lot of private space to yourself as opposed to a small room in a hotel. Some holiday rentals even come with features such as private hot tubs or private pools.

Rental accommodation tends to be great for big families as you can keep everyone under one roof. If multiple people are paying towards the rental property, it may be possible to split the cost and save money, potentially making it a lot cheaper than a hotel in which you may have to book multiple rooms.

If you’ve ever dreamed of living somewhere exotic, you can look into rental accommodation when planning long stays as an alternative to having to buy property. You can find homes for rent online such as these properties in Singapore for rent. Make sure that the minimum tenancy isn’t longer than the amount of time you plan to spend there.

Family homestays

There’s also the option of staying with a local family in their home. This tends to be a lot cheaper than booking a hotel (the family may be willing to cook meals for you). Homestay accommodation can also give you the experience of living like a local, making it great for families wanting a truly cultural trip.

Not all homestay lodgings accept families, so make sure to do your research beforehand. There are homestays catered to families in which you kids may be able to meet and play with local kids. There are also homestays in which you can get involved in voluntary work, although these may not be as suitable when travelling with kids.

Family cruises

Another option to consider could be a cruise. A cruise ship can be very similar to a hotel in many regards. You get your own room with a bed and a bathroom and there are shared facilities that you can use alongside other guests. The big difference is that a cruise moves – it’s possible to explore multiple countries in one trip while only ever unpacking once.

Cruise ships are often more expensive than hotels, so this definitely isn’t an option for cutting costs. That said, there are ways to save money on cruise holidays. These include going all inclusive and booking your trip during non peak times of the year. Kids will no doubt enjoy a cruise, but you can guarantee their enjoyment by booking a family-oriented cruise. These ships tend to have more facilities aimed at kids such as soft play areas, kids play groups, climbing walls and games arcades. Your kids are also more likely to meet other kids when going on one of these cruises.