A familymoon costs more than a couple trip mainly because of four things: the extra seats, the extra room space, the extra meals and the activities. The nightly rate is only the start. The way to compare is to build a total for the whole family, line by line.
This guide sits in our occasions topic. If you are on a tight budget, read our budget honeymoon overview alongside it.
Where does a child change the price?
Six places matter most. The first is flights, because a child may need a seat, baggage and sometimes a different fare. The second is the room, because an extra bed, a family room or a second room all price differently.
The other four are meals, transfers, activities and insurance. Each can be small alone and large when added together.
What changes in each place?
| Cost line | What changes with children | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Child fare, seat, baggage | What is the rule for my child’s age? |
| Room | Extra bed, family room or second room | What is the total including taxes? |
| Meals | Child meal rate, kids menu, plan | Is breakfast free for children? |
| Transfers | Larger vehicle, child seat | Is a child seat available? |
| Activities | Child tickets, age limits | Do children pay, and from what age? |
| Insurance | Family cover | Are children covered by the same policy? |
Do not assume children are free. Ask each supplier for the child rule in writing. See hidden honeymoon costs couples miss and resort fees and taxes for the lines that surprise people.
How do we fill in the family worksheet?
Copy these lines into a note and fill them one by one:
- Flights for all travellers, with baggage.
- Room or rooms, with taxes and fees.
- Meals: breakfast, plan or pay-as-you-go.
- Transfers, both ways.
- Activities and tickets.
- Insurance for the whole family.
- A small buffer for the unexpected.
Total these lines and divide by nights to see the daily family cost. The honeymoon budget calculator helps you check the arithmetic.
Should we buy a meal plan with children?
It depends on how the children eat. A half-board plan makes sense on a remote island with few options. It can waste money if the children snack and skip dinner.
Compare the plan price per adult and per child with what you would spend eating à la carte. Our guide on all-inclusive versus half-board walks through the comparison.
How do we compare a family trip with a couple trip fairly?
Compare on the same basis: same nights, same meals, same flight type, same room standard. Then add the extra lines for children one at a time. You will see which line adds the most.
If one line stands out, such as the room, change that first. Moving a night from a villa to a family room, or travelling off-peak, may save more than cutting activities.
What should we do next?
- Collect your children’s ages and the child rule for each flight and hotel.
- Fill in the worksheet for two options.
- Send us the numbers or your dates. We will ask the suppliers for the child rates and give you a clear total for the whole family before you decide.