Making Your Holiday Budgets Go Further With Keycamp

With a new survey from self catering holiday specialist Keycamp revealing that 70% of British workers feel stressed and almost half feel compelled to work more than nine to five, the question perhaps should not be 'can I afford a holiday this summer?' but 'can I not afford to take a holiday?'.

The poll, of over 1,300 adults, shows that 1 in 10 feel like they're constantly in work mode and are spending more hours than ever before cooped up behind their desks and seeing less of their families. And little wonder, almost half now work more than the average nine to five, with some clocking up over 56 hours on a regular basis. Worse still, 1 in 20 parents even admit to not seeing their children at all during the working week because the kids are in bed when they're leaving and arriving home.

Dave McKenna, head of sales and marketing at Keycamp, comments: "Never has the phrase 'work hard, play hard' had more resonance. But despite the fact that holidays are undoubtedly the best way of recharging the batteries, many people are tempted to forgo their breaks this year.

"While we are all being more careful at the moment, there are some great deals around and if families can be flexible about where and when they travel, they can enjoy a seven night mobile home break in France for as little as £268* for the whole family, including travel. A self-catering holiday also means that there can be more 'give' in your budget while you're away."

*This holiday includes a seven night stay from 25 May at Palmyre Loisirs in Gascony for a family of two adults and up to four children, staying in a Classic Midi mobile home, plus return Dover to Calais ferry crossings.


Keycamp's Ten Top Tips for a Great-Value Getaway

1. Travel mid-week – Look for a company like Keycamp that doesn't have set arrival or departure dates as this allows you to take advantage of cheaper flights or ferries.

2. Self drive – Travelling by ferry is generally better value than flights and car hire and means there's no restriction on how much luggage you can take with you.

3. Go on holiday with friends or family – Choose one of Keycamp's larger mobile homes and you could share with family or friends, and split the costs. Extra adults and grandparents can even stay free on selected dates.*

4. Pre-book your ferry crossing and theme park tickets -You can often find some great deals by pre-booking tickets before you go. For instance, you can save up to 15% off Disneyland Resort Paris tickets if you book ahead with Keycamp.

5. Pay for your holiday by debit card rather than credit card – Assuming you book with a company such as Keycamp that is covered by ATOL and ABTA, you don't necessarily need the monetary protection a credit card gives you. So pay by debit and waive the credit card handling charge.

6. Look for free activities – Keeping everyone entertained can often be one of the biggest costs while away. Look for somewhere that throws in added extras such as free kids' clubs and fabulous pool complexes, right through to canoe and cycle hire. Keycamp offers these and more, including a range of free self-guided walking, cycling, wine and chateau notes on selected parcs.

7. Opt for self-catering – Having a barbecue or taking advantage of the kitchen in your mobile home is a great alternative to going out to a restaurant or using a snack bar, and it also means you get the chance to have a go at actually cooking the local delicacies.

8. Use a large supermarket to buy your essentials – Do a one-off 'big shop' at the start of your holiday. Buying your food and drink in larger quantities tends to be cheaper, plus you can pick up boxes of ice lollies and ice cream to save you paying the snack bar prices each time the kids (or you!) fancy a treat.

9. Visit the town and village markets to buy your local specialties - it can be cheaper than the supermarkets and quite often you can taste before you buy. Plus it's a great way to experience the local culture and put your foreign language skills to the test!

10. Cut down on the use of your car while on holiday and use a bike instead - it saves petrol and helps you discover the local area from a different perspective. Most parcs offer bike hire or, if you're travelling via ferry, strap your own bikes to your car and take them on holiday with you


If you're ready to put these into practice, how about a trip to St Avit Loisirs, Keycamp's award winning parc in Le Bugue, at the heart of the Dordogne countryside? Seven nights from 25 May will cost just £410 for a family of two adults and up to four children staying in a Supernova mobile home, including return Dover-Calais ferry crossings.

With a fabulous swimming pool complex and activities such as quad biking, mini golf and cycle hire, Fun Station children's club, plus Keycamp's Action Station tower** with zip wiring, trapeze, climbing wall, abseiling and archery, there's loads of free stuff to keep the family occupied. Out and about, visit nearby Sarlat with its colourful markets or the some of the impressive local museums.

For further information or to book, call Keycamp on 0844 406 0319 or visit www.keycamp.co.uk