10 ways to save money on Haven Holidays

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If you’re looking to book a Haven holiday, and want to save some money, then check out my tips on how to plan a budget-friendly staycation and hunt out the best discounts. Haven breaks can be brilliant for family fun, especially when you grab them at the right price, though it can all add up quickly if you’re not careful. The good news is there are lots of simple, realistic ways to cut the cost without spoiling the fun. In this guide I’m sharing my tried and tested tips, discounts and booking tricks to help you save money on UK Haven holidays.

1. Find early or last minute deals

As someone who spends a lot of time hunting for budget travel deals, I’ve noticed that booking your Haven getaway as early, or late, as possible is often beneficial. You can save a significant amount of money on your holidays with the Haven early bird discounts, as well as having your pick of the best accommodation before prices go up closer to the date too. Equally, if you’re flexible on the destination, waiting until the last minute to book your trip can be a brilliant way to save money as they have some excellent last minute deals. (Check out Haven last minute deals here.) Being flexible is definitely one of the best ways to find the biggest discounts, you can save money on your Haven holidays simply by going where the bargains are! Haven often advertise breaks starting from just £49!

2. Avoid premium dates

I know it’s not always possible (and it’s become even harder recently with the school fines increasing) but, if you’ve got younger children or your schedule allows, try to avoid the school holidays. Off-peak travel prices can be drastically lower, and the holiday parks are less crowded, so you’ll likely enjoy your getaway more too. Late spring or early autumn are great times to go but – if you need to travel in the school holidays – May half-term, Easter and the October breaks are usually a lot cheaper than the summer holidays. For August breaks, I think waiting for a last-minute Haven holiday deal is your best bet!

3. Make the most of discounts

Sign up to Kids Pass to access discounts on Haven holidays – it’s also a great way to save money on family days out, restaurants, and other activities that you can enjoy during your staycation. A £1 trial will get you 30 days of discounts and, you can use it to get save money instantly on your Haven holidays – I signed up for the trial and got £30 off on our trip to Hafan y Mor Haven in North Wales! You can also save money through schemes like the Blue Light Card which offers discounted travel and days out for those working in roles within the NHS and emergency services. For the easiest way to save money on your holidays, make sure you sign up to the Haven newsletter too – you’ll be the first to know about any discounts and sales.

4. Bring your own food

On-site dining can be expensive, so save money by cooking your own food – the self-catering accommodation that Haven offer make it really easy to keep costs down. Pack snacks, drinks, and easy-to-prepare meals, or do a ‘click and collect’ shop at a nearby supermarket which you can grab quickly when you arrive. Invest in a decent cool bag rucksack for picnics on days out, and make sure you bring refillable drinks bottles too, to really keep your food costs down. If you do want a day off from food prep, make use of the cheaper fast food options (like fish and chips or a pizza takeaway), or head out into the surrounding area to somewhere kids eat free.

5. Book a Haven Hideaway holiday

When you book a family holiday with Haven you have two options – full access to the site or you can opt for a cheaper holiday price if you’re not planning on using the entertainment facilities. Obviously, if you want to make use of the pool, and everything else on offer, then you’ll want to book the full package but it’s certainly worth a look if that’s not your cup of tea and you’re simply looking for a base to explore from. The Haven Hideaway breaks are cheaper than the standard Haven holidays so if you won’t use the entertainment passes then it’s worth considering.

6. Enjoy free activities and days out

Haven Holiday Parks are packed with free activities like nature trails, playgrounds, woodland walks and beach access. Before splurging on paid activities, make the most of what’s already included. The resorts can be really well-located for cheap days out exploring local towns too and – with great swimming pools and waterslides at most sites – you’ll be surprised at how much there is to do without spending a penny. We climbed Mount Snowdon when we stayed at Hafan y Mor Haven and it was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever done. Sometimes the best things in life are actually free!

7. Travel With Friends or Family

Sharing a larger caravan or lodge with another family, or going away with grandparents, can be a great way to significantly reduce the cost per person. Splitting accommodation costs makes Haven holidays much more affordable, especially during peak times like the school holidays. Plus, you can save even more money by combining your funds for food shopping, days out and travelling too. Travelling with friends and family can be great fun for the kids too – mine love going away with their cousins – so if you can opt for a slightly bigger holiday home and share the costs it’s definitely worth doing.

8. Consider shorter breaks

If a full week is out of your budget, consider a shorter break. Haven offers 3 or 4 night stays that can be much more affordable, especially if you book midweek. You’ll still get a refreshing break without the full cost of a week’s stay. We usually book Monday-Friday stays for UK holidays but, if it’s a long drive from home, we’ll also book a cheap hotel deal nearby (something like a Travelodge) so that we can drive there the day before to make sure that we get to enjoy our full five days. The price difference between 4 and 7 night stays can be quite significant, and typically Monday-Friday stays are cheaper than weekend breaks too. The more flexible you can be the more you’ll save.

9. Opt for cheaper accommodation options

Haven’s Saver caravans are the most budget-friendly of their accommodation options. They might be more basic than the luxury models, but they can be a great way to travel cheaply in the UK. Think of your accommodation as a cheap and cheerful base for eating and sleeping, and try to avoid splurging a lot of money on the higher ranges of accommodation if you’re on a tight budget – as the savings can be put towards having fun on your trip instead! We booked the cheapest option we could find (a comfort apartment) for our stay at Haven’s Hafan y Mor Holiday Park and it was a fab little apartment.

10. Pre-plan your holiday itinerary

Before you go on your Haven holiday, plan your activities to avoid overspending on spur-of-the-moment decisions. Look into cheap or free local attractions and events, hunt out country parks, pack some buckets and spades and a picnic for beach days, and set a daily budget to keep spending in check. Being organised is the best way to travel on a budget – and even a flexible itinerary (with some options for wet weather too) will help you to work out how much spending money you’ll need to save before your staycation. Check out my article on how to save money on days out with the kids to get started – things like Blue Peter Badges (where kids go free to loads of UK attractions!) can be a great way to cut costs. And, if you’re travelling over the summer months, you can usually find free events like fireworks displays, air shows, summer fairs and food festivals.

I hope that this article has given you lots of ideas on how to save money on your Haven family holidays – with a few tips, tricks and discounts it’s definitely possible to get away without it costing a small fortune! Click here to head to the Haven website to start planning your UK staycation. Happy holiday planning and, if you’re still on the hunt for the best Haven resort for your family, make sure you take a look at these articles too: