Sun Holidays: What They Are, Why They’re Brilliant for Budgets + How to Book the Right Park for Your Family
If you’ve ever looked at UK staycations and thought, how is a weekend away this expensive?! — Sun Holidays can be a bit of a game-changer. They’re one of the easiest ways for UK families to grab a short break for a fraction of the usual price, especially if you’re flexible and ready to move fast when the best dates drop.
This guide covers what Sun Holidays actually are, why they’re so good for budget family travel, how to avoid the common “hidden cost” surprises, and how to choose a park that genuinely works for your family (not just the cheapest option on the list). I’ll also share my favourite “Disney-on-a-budget” Sun Holidays pick near Paris.
What are Sun Holidays?
Sun Holidays (often called “Sun £9.50 holidays”) are a promo scheme that offers heavily discounted short breaks at holiday parks and selected resorts in the UK and Europe. You collect the required codes, then book through the Sun Holidays portal and pay a reduced accommodation price.
The key thing to know: it’s mainly the accommodation that’s discounted. Travel isn’t included, and there are often extras you’ll want to factor in before you hit “book”.
Why Sun Holidays are so good for families on a budget
1) They make short breaks realistic again
Most families aren’t looking for a two-week blowout every time — we want those little pockets of adventure: a beachy weekend, a half-term reset, a few nights somewhere with a pool and a playground. Sun Holidays make those mini breaks far more affordable.
2) They’re ideal for “testing” destinations
Not sure if your kids will love a certain style of holiday park? Want to try a different part of the UK without spending a fortune? A discounted 3–4 night break is a great way to experiment.
3) Perfect for off-peak and shoulder-season travel
If you can travel outside the busiest weeks, you’ll often find better availability and better value (and you’re not battling the crowds).
Domaine des Ormes, Brittany
The golden rule: The best parks and best dates go FAST
If you’re aiming for:
weekends
February half term
Easter
May half term
summer dates
…you need to be ready to book quickly.
The parks that families actually want (great pools, good entertainment, strong reviews, beach nearby, loads to do) tend to disappear first — and the same goes for school-holiday dates. If you see something that fits your family, don’t overthink it for too long.
How to pick the right park for your family
Sun Holidays are amazing… when you pick the right park. Here’s how to choose one that won’t leave you thinking “we should have researched this more”.
1) Know your trip length and travel limit
Most Sun Holidays breaks are 3–4 nights maximum, so be realistic about how far you want to travel.
Ask yourself:
Do we want a quick, easy UK drive?
Are we happy with a longer drive if it’s only 3 nights?
If we’re going abroad, have we checked flight times and total travel days?
A shorter break + a long journey can eat into the fun (especially with little ones).
2) Check the facilities before you book
Don’t assume every park is the same. Before booking, open the park website and look at:
pool setup (indoor/outdoor, toddler splash area, slides, booking needed?)
playgrounds and soft play
on-site supermarket
restaurants/takeaway options (the “late return from a day out” lifesaver)
evening entertainment (and whether it’s included or paid)
nearby attractions (beach, walks, towns, castles, farms)
If it doesn’t have what you need, it won’t feel like a bargain — it’ll feel like a compromise.
3) Travelling with teenagers? Check activities and costs
If you’re travelling with teens or older kids, it’s worth checking:
what activities are actually available for their age group
whether there’s a teen club / sports courts / watersports / arcades
how much the activities cost
Some parks look amazing on paper, then you realise the things your teens want to do add up quickly.
4) Travelling with a pram? Check accessibility
If you’ve got a pram (or anyone who needs accessible routes), look for:
step-free access
how spread out the park is
paths (some parks have long gravel routes)
distance from accommodation to clubhouse/pool
Which leads to a really important point…
5) Your accommodation may be one of the cheaper options on-site
With Sun Holidays, you’re usually allocated entry-level accommodation. That doesn’t mean it’s bad — but it often means you might be:
further from the clubhouse
further from the pool/activities
further from the beach (if the park has one)
So before you book, check the park map (if available) and consider how much walking you’re happy with each day.
The hidden costs to check before you book
This is where Sun Holidays can catch people out. Always check what’s included and what isn’t.
Some parks charge extra for:
bed linen
towels
baby equipment (cot/highchair)
entertainment passes (varies by park) This one is important to check!
WiFi (sometimes included, sometimes paid)
If you’re doing a super budget break, these little extras can change the total quickly — so it’s worth doing a rough “all in” estimate before booking.
Tourist tax when travelling abroad
If you book a park abroad, there may be a local tourist tax payable on arrival (common in many European destinations). Always read the booking details so you’re not surprised at check-in.
Travel is not included (especially important for European parks)
If you choose a park abroad, remember:
flights are on top
transfers/car hire are on top
or if you’re driving, fuel + tolls may apply
Before you book abroad, do a quick flight check first. A “cheap accommodation” deal is only a bargain if the flights are sensible.
Upgrades: sometimes worth it, sometimes not
Many parks offer paid upgrades (better location, newer caravan, bigger unit, closer to facilities). My advice:
If you’re staying on a large park with little kids, a location upgrade can be worth it purely for convenience.
If you’re barely going to be in the accommodation and you’re out all day, upgrades might not matter.
It really does vary park to park — so check what the upgrade actually gets you and compare it to the total cost.
The Disney-on-a-budget park: La Croix du Vieux Pont (near Paris)
If you’ve ever looked at Disney prices and thought “how are families doing this?!” — this is one of my favourite budget-friendly ways to make a Disney trip more realistic.
La Croix du Vieux Pont Northern Paris, France
To read a more in - depth guide to how we did Disney on a budget read the guide here
La Croix du Vieux Pont (Northern France) is a brilliant Sun Holidays option for families who want:
a holiday-park base with loads for kids
the option to do Disney as a day trip (or two)
an easier route from the UK
Easy access to Paris and Versailles also
Why it works
It’s around 1 hour-ish from Disney (driving), so it’s doable without paying Disney-area hotel prices.
In peak times, the park often run shuttle buses (usually at an additional cost) — check their website for times and pricing.
The park itself has plenty to keep kids happy, so it’s not “Disney and nothing else”.
What we loved about the park
A man-made lagoon with a beach area — perfect for kids who love sand + water play.
A great swimming setup with indoor and outdoor pools.
Food options on-site (including a takeaway pizza — genuinely ideal after a long Disney day).
It’s super accessible by car from the UK: roughly 2.5 hours from Calais, which makes it feel much less intimidating than going deeper into France.
Our Disney transport tip (money saver!)
Instead of paying for Disney parking, we parked at a local hotel ( Le Grande Magic) for 15 Euro a day and used their free shuttle to Disney. It made the day so much easier (and felt less stressful than navigating Disney parking with kids in tow).
Getting there from the UK
We took LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) because it’s quick and low stress with kids — around 35 minutes from Kent, and no ferry faff. We covered the cost using Clubcard points, which made the whole trip feel even more budget-friendly.
(Always check current Eurotunnel and parking/shuttle arrangements before you go, as these details can change.)
Quick checklist before you book any Sun Holidays park
Before you hit “confirm”, make sure you’ve checked:
trip length (3–4 nights) vs how far you’re travelling
total extras: linen/towels/passes/WiFi
if abroad: tourist tax + flights/Eurotunnel costs
park facilities match your family (especially for teens)
accessibility/pram-friendliness
where budget accommodation tends to be located on-site
whether upgrades are actually worth it for your needs
Sun Holidays are one of the best ways to do UK family staycations on a budget, and they can even make Europe-with-kids feel possible without spending a fortune — as long as you book smart, move quickly on the best dates, and do a quick reality-check on the extras.
How to book a Sun Holiday (step-by-step)
Before you start
✓ Decide how you’re unlocking the deal:
Collect codewords (usually 5) via The Sun / Sun Savers, or
Join Sun Club (paid membership) to book without collecting codes.
Step 1: Get ready (this saves you missing the best dates)
✓ Write down your non-negotiables:
Max drive time (remember most breaks are 3–4 nights)
Must-haves: indoor pool / beach nearby / soft play / dog-friendly
Accessibility needs (pram-friendly, step-free, short walks to facilities)
Teen needs (activities + cost)
Step 2: Go to the official Sun Holidays booking page
✓ Enter your codewords (or log in via Sun Club) and continue to the booking site.
Step 3: Choose parks + dates (be flexible!)
✓ You’ll typically be able to pick:
Up to 4 parks
Up to 4 date options
Tip: Weekends + half term go fast — add a couple of backup parks and backup dates.
Step 4: Search availability
✓ If your first choices aren’t available:
swap your park choices
try different dates
consider nearby regions
Flexibility is what lands the bargains.
Step 5: Check total cost before you pay
✓ You’ll pay the discounted accommodation price, and there may also be:
an online booking/admin fee
optional extras (linen, towels, passes, WiFi, upgrades — varies by park)
Step 6: If you’re booking abroad, check travel costs first
✓ Travel isn’t included — so check flights/Eurotunnel/fuel before confirming.
✓ Some destinations may charge local tourist tax on arrival (varies by country/park).
Step 7: Confirm, screenshot, and plan
✓ Screenshot your booking confirmation and note:
check-in/check-out times
what’s included vs extras
park address + parking info
any passes you need to pre-book
Domaine des Ormes, Brittany
