How to have a great family holiday… when you're broke

The arrival of a baby is an expensive time and the credit crunch is affecting us all. And, although your bank balance doesn't look healthy enough to pay for a holiday, the chances are that a holiday is exactly what you need.

But, if you're too broke to contemplate shelling out well over a thousand pounds for a holiday, don't despair. We've got some bright ideas on how to spend very little cash and still get away from it all.

• How to have a great family holiday on …£290
• How to have a great family holiday on …£350
• How to have a great family holiday on …£600

Jump in the car and drive down to Mullion Holiday Park in Cornwall, where you can rent a Chough caravan for £287 for seven days. The Chough caravan sleeps four in one double and one twin room. Self-catering accommodation means that you can also keep your costs down by cooking rather than eating out.

Facilities in the caravan include:

• Gas fire in lounge
• Gas cooker with oven and grill
• Bathroom with shower
• Fridge
• Colour TV
• Free gas & electric
• Free bed linen
• Cots or cot-sides and high chairs available to hire at £10 per week or part week
• Pets are welcome in specific accommodation at a charge of £25 per week or part week.

Mullion is a leisurely holiday park, situated on the stunning Lizard peninsula - an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty.

Discover glorious Blue Flag sandy beaches, hidden coves and spectacular coastal walks. On the park, you'll find everything you need for a superb family holiday from indoor and outdoor pools to live entertainment and restaurants. Plus, you're never far away a picturesque Cornish village complete with tea shops selling naughty-but-nice cream teas.

The park has a range of sporting and leisure facilities, including a heated indoor pool, children's club, crazy golf and tennis courts. There are also free children's clubs - Tree Tops for the under 4's and Tree tops Grove for 4-10 years-olds.

If you'd rather travel in a more northerly direction, Grannie's Heilin' Home Holiday Park in Scotland is ideal. Perched on the edge of Loch Dornoch, there's plenty for families to do here.

Prices based on a seven night stay in a Chough caravan at Mullion Holiday Park for August 2008 but prices are lower out of school holidays.

For more information on these and other caravan holiday parks, visit www.parkdean.com.

Amazingly, you can enjoy a seven night holiday abroad for around £350. Eurocamp owns a host of parcs throughout Europe, which offer chalet or tent accomadation, although you won't be required to bring your own canvas. Eurocamp's own tents are the closest you can get to luxury camping, with electricity, spacious rooms, a hob and fridge.

You can stay at the Ferme de la Fee Parc , near Paris for seven nights and the good news is that prices includes a mid-week return Dover to Calais ferry crossing for a car and up to five people!

Although this is a marvellous rural base Disneyland Resort Paris is just 45 minutes away and the excellent Parc Asterix is also within easy reach.

There is no swimming pool at this site but there is plenty of green space and a children's playground plus football and volleyball facilities.

Prices are vased on a seven night stay at Ferme de la Fee in high season.

Visit www.eurocamp.co.uk for more information.

Tuscany has got something of a reputation as a pricey place to take a break, thanks to the likes of Sting and Tony Blair, whose no expense spared holidays have turned the area into a fashionable destination. But, venture off the beaten track and discover one of the many campsites in this beautiful part of the world.

The BluCamp camping site in Tuscany won't provide you with a tent, although there are a couple of small-but-perfectly-formed bungalows on the site, complete with kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

The site is just 8 km from the sea and Florence or Pisa are one hour's drive away, but BluCamp's charm comes from being a small, rural, family-run site - a million miles from the huge parks elsewhere in Europe.

Chill out here in the Tuscan countryside, surrounded by great views and enjoy some quality time with your kids. Local markets, the nearby thermal lake and a Water Park just 20 minutes drive away are all great for keeping the kids entertained and the restaurant will even provide you with a packed picnic basket for a lazy afternoon in the sunshine.

Prices based on renting a two room bungalow for one week - from £395 (May, June, September), to £563 (July and August).

Visit BluCamp's website for more information.

Where to next?

• Passports and immunisations - what you need to know.
• Get the lowdown on travelling with your baby
• Going abroad? Find out which baby products are available from Alaska to Zanzibar
• Great summer baby buys.
• Chat and get tips on the Travel discussion forum

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