When it comes to budget-friendly family trips, a walking holiday is up there with the top options. Not only is there no need to rent an expensive car or book overpriced tourist activities, but it’s also a super way to spend quality time together, away from screens or busy hotposts.
However, there are still mistakes families often make that can introduce unexpected costs – here’s how to avoid them.
Underestimating children’s capabilities
It can be difficult to know how well your child will be able to manage walking long distances each day, and so many parents misjudge their capabilities.
Overambitious families book challenging treks with no rest days, only to discover that their seven-year-old can only walk two miles before having a meltdown. This will then lead to expensive emergency accommodation bookings, taxi rides or even losses due to cutting the holiday short.
Conversely, underestimating children can be equally problematic. Booking overly simple routes may leave older children bored and restless, resulting in additional expenses for alternative activities or entertainment.
Neither situation is the kids’ fault, though. It’s up to the parents to assess their abilities before booking the holiday. For instance, doing long walks on the weekends will help you gauge how far your children are happy to walk in a day.
Choosing an inappropriate route
Location matters enormously when walking with children. Booking accommodation miles from your intended walking routes means expensive daily transfers and wasted time. Similarly, choosing routes that don’t have enough services (e.g. cafes and shops) along the way will leave you trapped miles from civilization.
Therefore, research the most family-friendly routes that are not just interesting for the whole family, but are also well-established. Alternatively, Orbis Ways, a specialist walking holiday agency, will be happy to recommend the most suitable options for you across Europe. They will arrange a personalised itinerary and book appropriate accommodation as well as luggage transfers, if required.
Skimping on proper gear
Resist the temptation to make do with existing trainers and clothing just because it might get ruined on the holiday anyways. This will quickly prove to be false economy: inappropriate footwear will lead to painful blisters, which will ruin the trip for both you and your kids. So, make sure that the whole family wears proper walking boots with good ankle support. Not just that, wearing the shoes in before the holiday is key to avoid blisters.
The same goes for clothing that is not waterproof in rain or, equally, too hot and sweaty during the summer. More often than not, parents end up spending a pretty penny on new items in tourist-focused shops. Don’t forget to bring sun protection either, as painful sunburn can easily ruin the day.
Set off on the right foot
Travelling with children requires a lot more planning and preparation, especially if you want to keep your holiday budget-friendly. Remember, no one knows your children better than you! Don’t let other people’s experiences or suggestions cloud your judgement – instead, being realistic will lead to a much happier experience for everyone!
