Free Child Places on Family Holidays: How They Really Work (and Why You Keep Missing Them)

By Rav · 2026-07-06 · Travel Smarter with Rav

Every year, thousands of UK families pay full price for children on holidays where free child places existed — because by the time they searched, the places were gone. Free child places are one of the most misunderstood savings in family travel, so let's fix that.

Yes, they're real

Tour operators genuinely release free child places — a child travels free (or flies-only price) when sharing a room with two adults. On a typical family package that's worth £300–£600 per child. They are not a myth, and not a bait-and-switch.

The catch: allocation, not discount

Here's what most families don't realise: free child places are allocated when holidays go on sale, in limited numbers, on specific hotels and departure dates. They're not a sale that comes later — they're inventory that runs out. For summer school holidays, the free places on popular family hotels are often gone 9–12 months before departure.

Why the sales don't help you

January sales and "late deals" work on what's left. If you have school-age kids and fixed dates, waiting for a sale usually means the free child places — and the best family rooms — went to the families who booked at launch. Booking early isn't cautious; for school-holiday travellers, it's how you win.

How to actually get one

• Book when the season launches — summer programmes typically go on sale a year or more ahead
• Be hotel-flexible — free places exist on specific properties; a shortlist of three beats a fixation on one
• Check the operator, not just the comparison site — free child place inventory often doesn't surface clearly on public comparison sites
• Ask someone with trade access — agents can see live free child place availability across operators in one search

The bottom line

If your children are in school, your two most powerful money-saving moves are booking at programme launch and knowing which hotels have free child allocation. Both are easier with someone who can see the trade side of the inventory.

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