Already Saving For Your Next Trip? Turn It Into A Family Getaway At Almost Half The Budget
You've been setting money aside each month for that family holiday. Good. But here's what most families miss: they're not stretching those savings nearly far enough.
You're juggling demanding careers, limited vacation days, and the nagging feeling that a proper family getaway needs to cost a fortune. It doesn't. With the right strategy, those same trips cost half that.
A partner travels free. Two kids under 8 go on holiday with zero extra cost. Hotels and experiences are covered. You're left wondering why you didn't know this sooner.
Why families like yours are rethinking the holiday budget
Time is your scarcest resource, not money.
The average family planning an international holiday spends 40+ hours researching, comparing prices, contacting hotels separately, booking attractions piecemeal, and then realising halfway through that something isn't connecting properly. That's not planning. That's suffering.
Customised family holiday packages eliminate the friction. You're not booking flights here, accommodation there, activities somewhere else. Everything is together. Everything works.
For those who value time over trinkets. This matters deeply.
The Double Up Holidays game-changer
Here's where budget family holidays become genuinely transformative.
Alike's Double Up Holidays offer runs until 31 January 2026 for travel by 28 February 2026. The mechanics are simple:
| Traveller type | Benefit | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Couples without kids | Partner goes FREE | Land Package (Hotels + experiences on us) |
| Families with kids under 8 | Up to 2 kids (below 8) go FREE | Land Package (Hotels + experiences on us) |
| Unmarried couples | Partner goes FREE | Land Package (Hotels + experiences on us) |
Three strategies to cut your family vacation costs
You can further optimise your vacation budget by following these three strategies.
1. Plan your trip 2-4 months in advance
Families who book last-minute pay 40-60% premiums on flights and accommodation. This isn't a coincidence. It's scarcity pricing.
When you plan ahead:
- Flight prices drop 20-35% compared to last-minute bookings
- Hotel availability increases, reducing per-night costs
- Attraction tickets sold online are cheaper than gate prices
- You catch early-bird promotions on family trip packages
Start planning your international holiday the moment you know when you want to travel.
2. Choose destinations strategically
Not all destinations cost equally. Southeast Asia and the UAE offer exceptional value for Indian families without sacrificing experience quality.
Destination comparison for families:
Bali and Thailand deliver authentic cultural experiences, family-friendly activities, and reasonable costs. Dubai provides year-round weather certainty and curated family experiences.
3. Bundle your bookings
The single largest money-waster in family travel? Booking separately. Bundle your bookings to optimise savings.
The practical money-saving tactics
Beyond strategy, families who spend less tend to do these things:
Food and dining
- Stay in an accommodation with kitchens. Cook one meal daily. You'll save Rs. 3,000-5,000 (£30-50) per person daily.
- Visit local markets for breakfast and lunch. Tourist restaurants cost 3-4x more.
- Pack snacks from your hotel. Airport and attraction pricing is criminal.
Activities and attractions
- Buy tickets online beforehand. Gate prices are almost always higher.
- Look for tourist passes bundled with multiple attractions. The
- Schedule one activity daily, maximum. Rest allows kids to recharge and saves on impulse spending.
Transportation
- Use public transport in well-connected cities.
- Hire rental cars only when necessary, not as a default transport.
- Look for multi-day passes for public transit rather than per-journey tickets.
Accommodation
- Off-season travel cuts costs 30-40%.
- Mid-range 3-4 star hotels deliver the experience families want without luxury pricing.
- Skip beachfront properties. A neighbourhood property 15-minute walk away costs half as much.
How to actually book your customised family holiday packages
The mechanics matter because they determine whether you save Rs. 50,000 or Rs. 2,00,000.
Step 1: Know your timeline
- Decide destination and travel dates
- Check for school holidays aligned with off-season travel
- Decide if you're travelling as a single family or sharing accommodation with friends
Step 2: Choose your package
Look for:
- Clear inclusions (which meals, which activities, which accommodation nights)
- Flexible customisation options
- Real human support, not just automated responses
- Cancellation policies that protect you
Step 3: Calculate your true cost
Most families underestimate what they'll actually spend:
- Flights: booked
- Accommodation: included in package
- Meals: budget Rs. 2,000-3,000 (£20-30) daily per person for dining out
- Activities: some included, budget Rs. 5,000-8,000 (£50-80) for unplanned experiences
- Transport locally: included or minimal cost
- Travel insurance: Rs. 3,000-5,000 (£30-50) per person
Step 4: Maximise your savings
- Book before 31 January 2026 for travel by 28 February 2026 to access partner-free or kids-free offers
- Link your rewards credit cards during booking
- Ask about group bookings if travelling with another family (additional discounts available)
- Confirm what's truly free before committing
The technology that makes Double-Up Holidays work
You don't need seventeen apps and websites anymore.
Our platform now lets you:
- Plan collaboratively: Share itineraries with family, gather input, and make decisions together
- Book everything from one place: Flights, hotels, experiences, transport passes, eSIM cards
- Access offline: Download your complete itinerary for use without internet
- Get real human help: Chat support when something needs adjusting, not automated responses
This saves time (your scarcest resource) and money (by preventing duplicate bookings and gaps).
Book your holiday now!
Here's what separates families that travel consistently from those that dream about it:
They stop researching and start booking.
You've been saving money. You've been imagining the trip. You've watched your kids grow another year older. At some point, those savings need to become aeroplane tickets, hotel keys, and memories.
Your partner could travel for free. Your children could explore temples in Bali, beaches in Thailand, attractions in Dubai, or gardens in Singapore without adding to your costs.
You've saved the money. Now turn it into something that actually matters.
Important offer details for Double Up Holidays
Double Up Holidays promotion
- Includes: Free land packages (hotels & experiences)
- Who can use it: Couples (married or unmarried), families with kids under 8. Upto two kids (below 8) go free.
- Destinations: Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi), Indonesia (Bali)
Check availability and book your family holiday today. Limited slots exist across destinations, and these promotions don't last forever.
Contact Alike today to start planning your family's next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should we book an international family holiday to get the best prices?
When should we book an international family holiday to get the best prices?
What's the real cost per person for a week-long family holiday in Southeast Asia?
What's the real cost per person for a week-long family holiday in Southeast Asia?
How do we travel with kids without it costing three times more?
How do we travel with kids without it costing three times more?
Is it really possible for a partner to travel for free?
Is it really possible for a partner to travel for free?
How do credit card rewards actually work for travel?
How do credit card rewards actually work for travel?
