This savvy mum managed to go on a budget holiday to Lapland for cheaper than a family day out in the UK.
Sadie Farren, from Leeds, UK, planned a Christmas getaway with her family to Lapland in Rovaniemi, Finland.
The hospitality manager managed to get the winter wonderland retreat for just £890 for a family of five – including flights, accommodation, transfers, activities, winter wear and food.
After comparing travel agents and separate prices, Sadie found that the family trip abroad was cheaper than the UK’s version of Lapland, saving her a whopping £3.5K by going overseas.
The mum-of-three even managed to find the holiday for cheaper if you travelled in January – with return flights from the UK for just £30 per person and snow guaranteed.
Sharing her budget travelling tips on her TikTok channel, also known as @wheresadiegoes, the mum praised second hand clothing sites such as Vinted for finding cheap skiing gear and keeping the costs of the chilly trip down.
Sadie praised the Finnish town as the perfect winter destination for all ages and that the Christmas magic is felt by the adults too.
She said: “Lapland was always a dream holiday for me and my mum when growing up but it was something she could never afford as a single mum.
“I always promised I’d take her and my kids one day.
“Last year, my son was only 5 years old and started questioning if Santa was actually real.
“I looked into Lapland UK and other Christmas experiences to try to keep the magic alive and was stunned by the price.
“I quickly did some research on how much it would be to book the real thing.”
The festive family trip included a trip to Santa’s Village, ice skating, a snowmobile ride, sleighing and a visit to the reindeers and huskies.
Sadie added: “We played with the elves, joined their elf academy, baked and decorated gingerbread in Mrs Claus’ bakery, enjoyed the shows put on by the elfs and of course saw Santa himself.
“Santa Park was truly magical and Santa was lovely, he knew our names, interests and what we wanted for Christmas without needing to tell him.
“We enjoyed every second of this trip and really want to go back to try out more of the activities we didn’t get time to do.”
Sadie’s money-saving skills were met with shock as many couldn’t believe that she took her family of 5 away for the same price travel companies charged per person for the trip.
She explained: “I think it’s really important to get experiences that don’t cost the earth, especially in these times people are working to survive instead of live.
“I think it’s becoming more difficult for families to book holidays, especially package ones within their budget without needing to go into debt or work overtime to afford to do so.
“I think it’s even harder for those who can only travel during school holidays when prices are extortionate, which is unfair.
“Everyone deserves a holiday and it shouldn’t have to cost thousands.”
Sadie revealed her top tips for travelling on a budget and saving money on family holidays:
- Book separate where possible
- Skyscanner website is the best for cheap flights
- Travel off peak – if you can be flexible on when you can go on holiday that helps when getting the best deals.
- Embrace public transport over private transfers
- Try to stick to hand luggage to keep costs low
- Booking 6-8 weeks before going away will get you some of the best deals.
- Work out if all inclusive is worth it, as many countries have supermarkets and restaurants that are extremely cheap to buy from.
- Be open with accommodation – Airbnbs can be cheaper for bigger groups and hotels just on the outskirts of city centers with good transport links can save you money. You can even get a free stay by pet sitting at someone’s house using the app “trustedhousesitters”