Cheap holidays

Famous hits from Steps, Bucks Fizz, JLS, the Celebrity Weekender breaks are perfect for those who miss the anthems of the eighties, nineties and noughties

Holidaymakers seeking inspiration on where to book their next break can enjoy an autumn getaway with a twist at a series of star-studded weekends at holiday parks across England and Wales. Parkdean Resorts has announced Celebrity Weekenders, mini-breaks filled with the music of the eighties, nineties and noughties with some famous faces joining the party.

Priced from £179, these themed weekends are taking place at five parks across North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Dorset and Wales, with celebrity guests including Chesney Hawkes, The Cheeky Girls, and Claire and H from Steps, plus members of Bucks Fizz, Atomic Kitten, JLS and loads more.

Music lovers can step back to the eighties at Cayton Bay Holiday Park this November, or enjoy nineties nostalgia at Ty Mawr Holiday Park. Elsewhere, Vauxhall Holiday Park will play host to a 90s vs 00s Weekend, as well as a Boybands vs Girlbands celebration and a Celebrity Tribute line-up, while Trecco Bay holiday park is the place for classic disco and retro dance music with its Disco for Grown-Ups weekend.

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These Celebrity Weekenders also offer plenty of activities to keep the celebrations going between music acts, from silent discos and bottomless brunches to bingo and fancy dress competitions, with the line-up varying by holiday park. Sites are also home to everything from amusement arcades and arts and crafts to high ropes courses, adventure golf and bungee trampolines.

However, Parkdean Resorts notes that while children are welcome to join a Celebrity Weekender, there will be limited entertainment and activities running for children, so these breaks are best suited to grown-ups. Those seeking a family-friendly staycation this autumn can check out Parkdean’s standard offering, as well as the likes of Haven, who are running Halloween-themed breaks throughout October, and Butlin’s, who have The Masked Singer Live shows on offer during October half term plus up to 20% off all 2026 and 2027 breaks.

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From £178 for three nights

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There are eight weekends to choose from across five Parkdean Resorts holiday parks.

Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth

Boybands vs Girlbands: Kerry Katona, JLS star Oritsé Williams, East 17, Liberty X, and Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton are among the celebrity guests joining the festivities at this weekend for music lovers. Starting on November 6, prices start from £164 for three nights.

90s vs 00s: Nineties icon Chesney Hawkes will be bringing his best hits to this weekend, while D:Ream and Betty Boo will also be flying the flag for the nineties, and DJ sets from Marvin Humes, Chris Moyles, Toby Anstis will ramp up the party atmosphere. Taking place from November 20, a three-night break over this weekend starts from £179.

Celebrity Tribute: This jam-packed weekend features tribute shows to legends like Elvis, Michael Jackson, Cher, Freddie Mercury, Elton John and Tina Turner, as well as sets celebrating modern icons including Take That, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars and more. From November 13, this weekend is priced from £178 for three nights.

Sandford Holiday Park, Dorset

Hitman: The Hitman himself Pete Waterman will be joined by 911, Sybil and Brother Beyond’s Nathan Moore at this weekender, which is also a true treat for classic Neighbours fans with activities including a Kylie vs Jason fancy dress competition, Kylie karaoke, and a big-screen showing of Scott and Charlene’s wedding, as well as a dance class, lip sync battle, a Grease sing-a-long, and a retro-themed brunch. Taking place from November 13, prices start from £194 for three nights.

Celebrity Christmas: East 17, The Cheeky Girls, Marvin Humes, Pat Sharp, Kerry Katona and Black Lace will all be in attendance to end November with a bang and begin the countdown to Christmas with DJ sets and dance floor hits. Starting on November 27, this weekend is priced from £224 for three nights.

Trecco Bay Holiday Park, Porthcawl

Disco for Grown-Ups: Steps legends Claire Richards and Ian ‘H’ Watkins will be joined by Gareth Gates and Bucks Fizz stars Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston for non-stop famous hits, while In Da Bungalow legends Dick & Dom will host a DJ set. From November 13, prices start from £194 for three nights.

Ty Mawr Holiday Park, Conwy

90s Weekender: Vernon Kay will host a DJ set in this weekend enjoying the anthems of the nineties, joined by the likes of Big Brovaz & Booty Luv, Honeyz and A1. Re-Take That will also be bringing all the hits from the beloved pop group, while a live rock show will celebrate the female artists who defined the alternative music scene of the nineties. From November 20, prices start from £193 for three nights.

Cayton Bay Holiday Park, North Yorkshire

80s Weekender: The Real Thing, Black Lace, Thereza Bazar’s Dollar and Deniece Pearson Five Star are among the celebrity guests in attendance at this weekend celebrating all things eighties. Taking place from November 20, prices start from £238 for three nights.

The Grown-Up Getaways offer the chance to try jewellery making, pottery or painting, as well as explore some of the UK’s most beautiful beaches and countryside

There’s no time like the changing colours of autumn to explore what the rest of the UK has to offer before the biting winter weather sets in. And for those seeking a fuss-free getaway, one holiday park group is offering breaks from £99 for four nights with more than 40 picturesque locations to choose from.

Parkdean Resorts operates sites across Britain’s coast and countryside, from the beaches of Devon and Cornwall to quiet escapes in Northumberland and Scotland via the likes of the ever-popular Lake District and the Welsh seaside. While many may think of a holiday park break as being one for families with little ones in tow, Parkdean Resorts also offers Grown-Up Getaways – designed specifically for adults looking to enjoy a holiday at their own pace.

These breaks tailored to grown-ups offer a packed programme of activities outside of school holidays, so holidaymakers can start their day with yoga or swimming, while away the afternoon with board games, pool, darts or archery, and spend evenings enjoying a whodunnit murder mystery, karaoke, poker, bingo or a quiz. Other new activities at these Grown-Up Getaways include creative pursuits such as jewellery making, pottery, painting and mosaic art, while entertainment ranges from country nights to rock ‘n’ roll shows and performances full of hits from iconic musicals.

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There are various accommodation options to choose from too, from lodges and caravans to glamping pods, safari tents and cottages with hot tubs, while restaurants, bars, takeaway options and on-site supermarkets at each park provide plenty of places to eat and drink. Holidaymakers seeking a stress-free break can book all-inclusive packages at the majority of Parkdean Resorts sites across the UK too.

All-inclusive holidays are available on selected four-night Monday arrival stays at 45 parks, as well as on selected three-night weekend breaks at 14 parks across the UK, with packages starting from £100 per adult and £40 per child. These breaks include three restaurant meals a day, unlimited soft drinks and Costa Coffee, plus plenty of choice on dedicated kids’ menus.

Book a stay at Parkdean Resorts

From £99 for four nights

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Grown-Up Getaways offer activities for adults outside of school holidays, while all-inclusive packages are also available.

Another choice for UK holiday parks is Haven, which is inviting visitors to its Haunted Haven season this Halloween when its holiday parks will be offering activities and entertainment with a spooky twist. With more than 30 locations to choose from, prices for a Halloween-themed break start from £65 for four nights.

A different option is Forest Holidays, which can be found in 13 UK forests stretching from Deerpark in Cornwall right up to Strathyre in Stirling. Each lodge at these sites comes with a hot tub, with one to five-bedroom options available for couples’ retreats or family holidays.

Back at Parkdean Resorts, for holidaymakers seeking inspiration on where to go this autumn, the top-rated choice of the group’s destinations on TripAdvisor based on nearly 2,000 reviews is Falbarrow Holiday Park in the Lake District. Situated on Lake Windermere with direct access to the water’s edge, this site offers ample opportunity for water sports such as sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding on England’s largest lake, although it is also not one of the sites where the all-inclusive offer is available.

Meanwhile, one Parkdean Resorts regular wrote in a five-star review on Trustpilot: “Great holiday park, friendly staff especially in the bar and restaurant. Being pet-friendly made it for us.”

Another customer said: “This place was superb, caravan was lovely and the lakes are great. I have already booked for next year. Been coming to Cornwall now for the last 10 years and been all over in caravan parks for holidays, but this place was best by far.”

And a third praised: “Lovely site. Swimming pool absolutely brilliant as were the child aqua jets and water skis. Very good value for money and the site is very nicely maintained. We got a late deal and it was an absolute bargain!”

One holidaymaker thought their accommodation could have been improved, feeding back: “I booked a three-bedroom lodge but was up graded to a four-bedroom. I feel I should have been given the choice of upgrade because I found it very big for two of us.”

A different reviewer commented: “Parkdean is a great option holiday for relaxing and doing your own thing. Has all the facilities you require to make it a great holiday.”

Finding cheap holidays during the school holidays may feel like an impossible task for parents but according to one travel pro there are some easy tricks that could help

When it comes to cheap holidays, most parents have already resigned themselves to the fact that prices surge during school holiday dates – but according to one travel expert, there are some minor tweaks that could actually help families save money on their next getway.

Mum-of-two and avid traveller Jen Carr has built up a following of over 349,000 on Instagram where she shares her top tips for finding cheap family travel deals.

While the peak holiday season comes with inevitably higher prices, according to Jen just changing the dates of travel by a few days could mean you save hundreds of pounds, without having to take the kids out of school during term time.

“Booking at the end of summer,” she told the Mirror exclusively. “It’s so much cheaper to go the last week of August compared to the first week of August. I guess that’s just because demand’s probably a lot less. Nobody really wants to get back off holiday the day before the kids go back to school, but if you’re willing to do that, it is a lot cheaper.”

It’s not a hack that’s specific to summer holidays either, as Jen recommended considering dates for the upcoming October half term. She added: “If, for example, in the October half term you fly three days before half term starts, you’re going to save literally hundreds of pounds. So I mean, it’s just how much you want/appreciate that attendance!”

Of course it’s worth noting that parents who do consider taking their kids out of a school for a few extra days may need to check their school’s policy on absences of this nature, or they could risk being fined per child. Currently the fine for school absences around the UK are £80 if paid within 21 days, but this can go up to £160 if paid within 28 days. This is for unauthorised absences; if you can get permission from the school for the absence, then you won’t be fined.

As for the best destinations where families can get more bang for their buck? Jen suggested that while the major hotspots are popular for a reason, there are some alternatives that deliver the same levels of experience but without the hefty price tags.

She explained: “There are destinations that are a lot cheaper than others and it seems to kind of go on a bit of a cycle with what’s popular. But places like Menorca and Majorca and Ibiza are always going to be a lot more expensive than somewhere like Agadir in Morocco, but you’re still getting the beach, the pool, holiday vibes and the sunshine. Go where the destinations are cheaper, and that does seem to change year-on-year. I’m sure next year Agadir will be really expensive, but this year it’s been really good value, all-inclusive.”

Speaking about further alternatives, Jen urged parents not to discount the likes of a city break; in fact, she herself enjoyed a family trip to Paris earlier this year, and said that both the kids and grown-ups had a brilliant time. She added: “I think it’s about knowing where to look. It’s, a like-for-like holiday is going to be more expensive in the school holidays. I guess it’s just being a bit more flexible and thinking, ‘Okay, well, it’s the August summer holidays. Do we need to go to Menorca for a week all-inclusive or could we maybe go for a road trip around Austria?’ Because it’s going to be a lot cheaper to do something a bit more off-piste.”

• Jen Carr, family travel expert and founder of The Travel Mum, shares the best affordable holiday deals for families throughout the week. Jen’s new book ‘Yes You Can Travel With Kids’ is available now.