Term-Time Holidays Could Save Parents £1,205 On Average, So Would You Pay The Fine? | HuffPost Life

A trip to Disney World in Florida cost £1,900 less in term-time.

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Life editor at HuffPost UK

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British parents could save an average of £1,205 on the cost of a family holiday by taking their children out of school, new research has revealed.

International Currency Exchange (ICE) analysed holiday prices from several travel agents, after their Freedom of Information requests revealed parents paid more than £4 million in fines over the last academic year for taking their children on term-time holidays without school permission.

ICE compared holiday prices for June and August at three and four-star hotels for a family of four across a number of destinations in Europe and Florida. They found that parents who go away during school holidays pay an average of 59% more than they would during term time, costing an extra £1,205.

One example showed a trip to Disney World Florida outside of school holidays was £1,900 cheaper, while holidays to the Algarve, Majorca and Gran Canaria all offering term-time savings of over £1,000.

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“It is interesting to see how much parents are willing to risk in order to go on holiday with their children during term time but, with tour operators and airlines charging high prices for families to go abroad during the school holidays, many will see a £60 fine as a price worth paying for a cheaper getaway,” said Louis Bridger, general manager at ICE.

Bridger did acknowledge that prosecution is a “real risk” for parents who do decide to take their children on holiday during term time. “We recommend that parents instead look to shop around when looking for a summer break, and look to make savings in other areas, such as their travel money, to make up the extra cost of going away during the school holidays,” he said.

Term-time price differences for popular holiday destinations:
1. Florida, US - £1,902.
2. Algarve, Portugal - £1,493.
3. Gran Canaria, Canary Islands - £1,279.
4. Majorca, Spain - £1,039.
5. Cosa del Sol, Spain - £843.
*Source: ICE, based on a family of four.

Councils issued almost 85,000 fines during the 2016-17 academic year, totalling £4.1 million, according to Freedom of Information responses obtained by ICE last week [March 2018].

The figures revealed that parents in Lancashire received the highest number of fines (5,768), followed by Bradford (5,256) and then Leeds (4,735).

The research also revealed just how profitable these fines can be for councils, with Bradford council receiving £284,830 in fines during the 2016/17 academic year – up 18% year on year from £240,560. Lancashire Council received the second highest amount in fines – bringing in £271,380.

The news follows statistics from the Department of Education, released last month, showing that 3.65 million school days were lost in 2015/16 to holidays that were not authorised by a headteacher in England.

When HuffPost UK asked a Department for Education spokesperson to respond to ICE’s findings, they said: “Children only get one chance at an education and evidence shows that every extra day of school missed can affect a pupil’s chances of achieving good GCSEs,” they said. “Therefore we believe that no child should be taken out of school without good reason – and the Supreme Court agrees with us. The rules on term-time absences are clear and we have put schools back in control by supporting them – and local authorities – to use their powers to deal with unauthorised absence.”

How to slash holiday costs:
MoneySavingExpert (MSE) has a list of 14 tips to ensure you get the best deal for your family holiday, whenever and wherever you end up going.
1. Double and triple check your hotel stays. Before you book any hotel, check who is selling it cheapest out of Trivago, Booking.com, TravelSup or TripAdvisor. Always then call the hotel itself to see if it’ll beat the price.
2. Try getting school holiday flights at term-time prices. MSE revealed the Easyjet Flexifare trick means you could switch the date by a few weeks and bag cheaper holiday flights. Read the full step-by-step here.
3. Booking early wins, The Flight Insight tab on comparison site Momondo shows the perfect time to book for each destination is 53 days ahead.
Read the rest of the tips here.

What do you think of the term-time holiday fines? Would you pay the fine in order to get a cheaper holiday? Let us know what you think in the comments below, or drop us an email at ukparents@huffpost.com.

Before You Go

10 Ways To Take The Stress Out Of Family Holidays

Get Off The Beaten Track(01 of10)

“We’re seeing a trend in families seeking out more authentic travel experiences that will inspire rather than distract their children,” says Tom. “There are plenty of unexpected destinations that are kid-friendly without being completely kid-focused that offer incredible experiences that will excite kids and grown-ups of all ages. Follow in the footsteps of Darwin himself and visit the Galapagos Islands—perfect for any budding zoologist. Heading to Australia? Try going walkabout with Aboriginal tribes in Australia. Or if you fancy a safari then why not meet the young Massai and learn of their ‘rites of passage’— even in our well-travelled world, there are still opportunities to find truly unique experiences, as long as you know where to look.” (credit:Alamy)

Find A Helping Hand(02 of10)

“Sometimes just getting your family out of the door can feel like an impossible task, let alone planning an entire holiday. This is where travel specialists come in,” says Tom. “For example we make sure that every single visa, airport transfer, flight and hotel is booked and ready to go so that all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.” (credit:Alamy)

Be Prepared – And Do Your Research(03 of10)

“The new generation of family traveller is not boxed in by perceived limitations, but even the most intrepid traveller needs to do their research”, warns Tom. “Life is full of unexpected twists and turns and you don’t want to arrive in your destination to find yourself stuck in the monsoon season or in the middle of an unwanted national holiday.” (credit:Alamy)

Get Physical(04 of10)

“Nothing brings a family closer than a thrilling physical challenge and in our internet age we’re seeing an increasing number of parents eager to get to get their children to ditch the computer games and explore the great outdoors. From jungle trekking in Borneo to hiking the cracks and boulders of Yosemite National Park, there are plenty of exhilarating trips to choose from these days.” (credit:Alamy)

Learn Something New(05 of10)

“For a trip that your children will truly cherish forever, why not try giving them a new perspective or introduce them to a new sport?” suggests Tom. “Experiences that can ignite new passions and hobbies.” (credit:Alamy)

Go Wild(06 of10)

“A safari is a classic option for that big family adventure but if you truly want to capture their imagination then give them a safari holiday with a twist. Swap your traditional 4x4 for a quad bike and skid across the plains of South Africa or grab a canoe and see the Big Five in action from the water in the magnificent Selinda Spillway in Botswana—there’s nothing better than ending the day hotly debating your favourite wildlife encounters of the day.” (credit:Alamy)

Find A Good Crèche(07 of10)

“There’s no need to wait until children are walking and talking to take that trip of a lifetime—there are plenty of resorts and hotels that offer spectacular kids club facilities to keep the younger travellers entertained and give you a well-deserved rest.” (credit:Alamy)

On The Road(08 of10)

“One of my favourite choices of holiday for 2013 is the quintessential road trip. For kids that are happy in a car, America’s West Coast offers the ideal combination of adventure and incredible scenery. From behind the bars of San Francisco’s Alcatraz to the majesty of Big Sur, the constant change in scenery is sure to keep the whole family entertained. You can even make the obligatory day trip to Disneyland and be back sipping cocktails in Santa Monica by sundown.” (credit:Alamy)

Something For The Weekend(09 of10)

“You don’t have to travel half way across the world to create a family holiday that will stick in the memory bank—a quick trip or city break can offer just as many rare and memorable experiences for even the most discerning (and tiny) travellers”, suggests Tom. “ For something more exotic, a quick flight to Marrakech gives kids a chance to revel in the chaos of the souk, ride camels, and try their first tagines. “ (credit:Alamy)

Time To Yourself(10 of10)

“As parents look to enrich and inspire their children’s lives with travel, they too often forget to include time to themselves in their busy schedule. A holiday should be just that and it’s important to give yourself some downtime while the kids are entertaining themselves. Indulge in a spa treatment or try an evening of wining and dining in a gourmet restaurant.” (credit:Alamy)

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