As the weather warms up and we head through spring and towards summer, plans are being made for a great family trip. While for some, things can be a little tight financially, there is no reason not to have the best holiday this year.
When booking your trip online, whether as a romantic weekend away, full family holiday or group break there are definitely savings to be had, whether in special offers, currency conversions or some great news about changes to Air Passenger Duty for the kids.
One immediate way to save some money is to view the specials on holiday villas and apartments along the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. With the euro declining so much against the UK pound at the moment, these savings can be fantastic, meaning the best accommodations are available for the whole family at an affordable price.
However, getting to your destination this year can also offer fantastic savings. As we have probably all experienced, the so-called “cheap flights” offered by certain airlines (especially those flying between the U.K. and southern Spain) end up costing a fortune with all the extras they sneak in or lump on top. The flight itself might be £29 per person, but by the time taxes, boarding passes, special “check in” policies, luggage charges etc. are added, it costs so much more.
The really good news for families is that, as reported by Simply Holiday Deals, Air Passenger Duty (APD) has been scrapped for kids under 12 flying in economy class from the U.K. This can potentially save hundreds of pounds, especially on the long-haul flights to places like Thailand, New Zealand or Australia. But even flying, for instance, to sunny Spain can make a substantial saving in your holiday costs.
Spain comes under what are termed the Band A destinations, which include several European countries as well as Morocco and Turkey; in other words countries under 2,000 miles away. In this case the saving per child will be £13. If flying further afield to destinations that are more than 2,000 miles away (the Band B destinations), including places like the sunny Caribbean, the U.S.A., Canada or Thailand, you’ll be saving a whopping £71 per child.
This fantastic saving on APD started from the 1st May this year and plans are already afoot to extend the savings from 1 March, 2016 to include all U.K. children under the age of 16. As you can imagine, for a family with two or three children, a substantial saving is to be had which can be better spent enjoying your holiday in the sun.
Even better, if you have already booked your flights leaving after 1st May, 2015, depending on the airline there is the possibility of getting a refund on APD for your family members under 12, so contact your airline or travel agent to find out if this applies to you.
So there is no excuse this year not to have the best family holiday in the sun, with more cash available for all the fun theme parks, dining, shopping and other attractions available at your destination. Have a great holiday and make loads of wonderful memories.
