Tips for Finding Inexpensive Family Friendly Accommodations in Great Britain

Kelly Herdrich
Considering a trip to Great Britain with children, but not sure if you'll be able to find family friendly accommodations at a reasonable price? Thankfully, by preparing ahead and researching your trip and destination adequately, it is possible to locate inexpensive family friendly accommodation throughout Great Britain. Keep these simple tips in mind as you begin your planning in order to save money and find the perfect place for your family to stay while traveling overseas.

Book accommodations outside of major cities.
This tip is helpful whether or not you are traveling with children, because accommodations outside of major cities tend to be cheaper overall. In addition, for families, accommodations outside of the city will more likely have places to walk, green grass for children to play on, and a slower pace, which is a definite plus when you have young children. Even if travelers choose to forgo renting a car while in Great Britain, they can take advantage of the wonderful public transportation system and needn't miss out on nearby attractions.

Consider staying at a bed and breakfast or renting a self catering accommodation.
In the states many people simply head to Expedia or Travelocity and start looking for hotels. However, Great Britain is full of bed and breakfasts and self-catering accommodations which are not only more cost-effective, but are often better for families with children. Many bed and breakfasts won't charge for young children, and some will offer a discount if you rent two rooms. By choosing a self catering accommodation, not only can children and adults each have their own bedrooms, but you will have a kitchen which will allow you to save money on meals. While hotels may have on-site gyms or pools, these frills will add exponentially to the cost of your stay. Nearby parks and exploring castle ruins can be just as entertaining for children.

Contact properties directly.
No matter what a website might say, get in touch with a property directly before booking to confirm that they are child friendly and what additional rates might apply. While many accommodations offer travel cots and highchairs, you may need to reserve them in advance. Travelers can avoid a lot of unnecessary hassle by being prepared in this regard.

With a little planning and research, a trip to Great Britain with children can be just as successful as a trip without them. By finding inexpensive family friendly accommodations, parents can reduce their stress and focus on enjoying the holiday with their families.

Published by Kelly Herdrich - Featured Contributor in Travel

Kelly has a bachelor's degree in elementary education, raises three young daughters, and recently returned from three years living and traveling overseas. Since beginning her freelance writing career, Kelly...   View profile

  • Stay outside of major cities!
  • Consider a B&B or an apartment.
  • Contact properties directly in advance of booking.

5 Comments

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  • Eclectic Muse 9/25/2007

    B&B's are awesome! Usually when we go on vacation we stay in condos. It's more convenient for us as well as being cost effective. Great tips Kelly!

  • EMohrman 9/25/2007

    Call me old fashioned, but I just sleep in a quiet alley.

  • Lenora Murdock 9/24/2007

    Ditto, Sophie, regarding contacting properties directly. It always works for the best.

  • islandermom 9/24/2007

    How I would love to go there, those are great tips!

  • Sophie 9/24/2007

    Great article, Kelly. You're right that contacting properties directly is often a good way to go and to avoid the big cities. People always seem to want to head straight for London, but there is so much more to the UK than this one city and it's often cheaper elsewhere too, as you have discovered for yourself.
    Sophie

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