Dog holidays don't have to be expensive. With smart planning, you can enjoy wonderful adventures with your dog without breaking the bank. This guide covers finding affordable accommodation, choosing budget-friendly destinations, and saving money without sacrificing experience.
Island Alternatives: Ferries to Isle of Wight or Anglesey (bridge) cost money. Factor into budget. Sometimes mainland destinations better value overall.
Term Time: If no school-age children, term time offers significant savings.
Shoulder Season Sweet Spot
April-May, September-October:
Better weather than deep winter
Lower prices than peak summer
Often ideal for dogs (not too hot)
Good value overall
Budget Planning
Setting a Budget
Consider:
Accommodation (biggest cost usually)
Travel/fuel
Food (self-catering much cheaper)
Activities (mostly free with dogs)
Dog fees/extras
Emergency fund
Sample Budget
Affordable Week Away (2 adults, 1 dog):
Camping:
Pitch: £25 x 7 = £175
Fuel: £60
Food (self-catering mostly): £150
Pet fee: £0-20
Activities: £20-50
Total: ~£400-450
Off-Season Cottage:
Cottage: £400-500 (off-peak week)
Fuel: £60
Food: £150
Pet fee: £25-40
Activities: £30
Total: ~£650-750
Weekend Break (camping):
Pitch: £25 x 2 = £50
Fuel: £30
Food: £60
Total: ~£150
Dog and owners enjoying simple picnic in countryside demonstrating affordable self-catering budget holiday approach
Money-Saving Mindset
What Dogs Actually Need
Free Things Dogs Love:
Your company
New smells
Beach walks
Countryside exploring
Swimming in lakes
Sniffing interesting places
Expensive Things Dogs Don't Need:
Fancy attractions
Designer accommodation
Restaurant meals
Tourist experiences
The Best Things Are Free
Remember: A beach walk costs nothing. A fell hike costs nothing. Exploring a forest costs nothing. The best dog holiday experiences are often completely free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have a good dog holiday on a budget?
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Absolutely. Dogs enjoy simple, free activities, and with smart planning, affordable breaks are very achievable.
What's the cheapest dog-friendly accommodation?
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Camping. Typically £15–35 per night, and dogs are usually welcome.
Best cheap destination for dogs?
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The Lincolnshire coast, Northumberland, and the Scottish Borders offer good value and excellent dog-friendly spaces.
How can I save on cottage holidays?
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Travel off-peak, choose midweek stays, book early or last minute, look at less fashionable areas, and pick smaller properties.
Are dog holidays more expensive than non-dog holidays?
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Pet fees add some cost, but dogs enjoy free activities and you avoid overseas travel expenses, which often balances things out.
What's the biggest way to save?
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Travelling off-peak. Accommodation savings of 30–50 percent are common and make a huge difference.
Affordable Adventures Await
Budget dog holidays are absolutely achievable. Focus on free activities, smart accommodation choices, and off-peak travel. Your dog doesn't care about luxury - they care about adventure with you.
The best dog holiday is time together. That's free.
Luke manages budget considerations when travelling with six dogs. With Charlie, Buster, Ember, Simba, Max, and Molly, affordable options matter - and the pack proves great adventures don't require great expense.
With three dogs, holidays are expensive. This budget guide had brilliant ideas - camping instead of cottages, self-catering to save on meals, travelling off-peak. The bit about dogs enjoying free things like beach walks and countryside really resonated. Managed a week in Northumberland for half what we'd usually spend.
Helpful
Seller Response
Three dogs - you've got your hands full! You're so right - dogs don't need luxury, just adventure with their people. Glad you made it work!
MT
Michelle Taylor
★★★★★5.0
Dogs don't care about luxury
Reviewed on 2025-12-15)
Verified Purchase
This guide's central message - dogs don't care about luxury, they care about time with you - was so freeing. We stopped worrying about fancy cottages and just booked a simple campsite in Devon. Our spaniel Molly was the happiest she's ever been. Running, swimming, sleeping in the tent with us. Best holiday ever, lowest cost ever.
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Seller Response
That mindset shift is everything! Molly proving that simple can be perfect is wonderful. Camping adventures for the win!
GW
Gary Williams
★★★★★5.0
Off-peak savings were huge
Reviewed on 2025-12-12)
Verified Purchase
The emphasis on off-peak travel made a massive difference. Same cottage that was £1200 in August was £500 in November. Our retriever Barney didn't know it was off-season - the beaches were emptier which he preferred! Better experience AND saved £700. This guide changed how we plan holidays.
Helpful
Seller Response
November prices are a revelation! And emptier beaches are better for dogs anyway. Barney and your wallet both win.
TB
Tracey Bennett
★★★★★5.0
Free activities are the best activities
Reviewed on 2025-12-08)
Verified Purchase
The section listing all the free dog activities was eye-opening. Beach walks, countryside hikes, forest exploring, swimming in lakes - all free! We spent almost nothing on activities in Wales because the best things for dogs cost nothing. Saved that money for a nicer cottage. Smart budgeting.
Helpful
Seller Response
Dogs live for those free experiences! Smart to reallocate the activity budget elsewhere. Wales has so many free adventures.
NC
Neil Cooper
★★★★★5.0
Self-catering tips saved loads
Reviewed on 2025-12-05)
Verified Purchase
The self-catering advice saved us loads of money. Batch cooking before the trip, bringing store cupboard basics, picnic lunches on walks instead of cafes. Fed a family of four plus two dogs for a week on what we'd usually spend in three restaurant meals. The dogs got their usual food too - no expensive holiday pet food.
Helpful
Seller Response
Picnic lunches on walks with the dogs is the dream anyway! Smart preparation kept costs down without sacrificing enjoyment.
SM
Sandra Morrison
★★★★★5.0
Camping was the answer
Reviewed on 2025-12-01)
Verified Purchase
We'd never considered camping with our dog until this guide suggested it as a budget option. Tried it in the Peak District and our collie Skye absolutely loved it. £25 a night instead of £150! She was so happy being outside constantly, sleeping in the tent with us. Budget holiday became our best holiday.
Helpful
Seller Response
Collies and camping are a perfect match! Skye's happiness at £25 a night proves expensive doesn't mean better.
KS
Kevin Shaw
★★★★★5.0
Less fashionable destinations are great
Reviewed on 2025-11-28)
Verified Purchase
The advice about choosing less fashionable destinations was smart. Lincolnshire coast instead of Cornwall, Scottish Borders instead of Highlands. Our dog Jake had just as good a time at a fraction of the cost. Empty beaches, friendly locals, affordable cottages. Why did we ever chase the trendy spots?
Helpful
Seller Response
Those underrated destinations are often better for dogs anyway - less crowded, more space. Jake discovering Lincolnshire is brilliant!
DF
Diane Foster
★★★★☆4.0
Helpful budget strategies
Reviewed on 2025-11-25)
Verified Purchase
Really helpful guide with practical budget strategies. The off-peak timing, self-catering tips, and free activity focus were all useful. Four stars because I'd love specific budget accommodation recommendations rather than general advice, but the principles throughout are sound and helped us save money.
Helpful
Seller Response
Good feedback on specific recommendations! Budget gems vary so much by area. Glad the strategies helped you save though.
SR
Stuart Robinson
★★★★★5.0
Multiple short breaks work out cheaper
Reviewed on 2025-11-22)
Verified Purchase
The suggestion about multiple shorter breaks instead of one long holiday was financially smart. Two long weekends at different campsites cost less than a week's cottage rental. Our staffie Bruno got two adventures, we had less time off work to arrange, and spent less overall. Win-win-win.
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Seller Response
Two adventures for less money is brilliant maths! Bruno getting variety and you getting better value. Smart approach.
CP
Carol Phillips
★★★★★5.0
Fuel saving tips were practical
Reviewed on 2025-11-18)
Verified Purchase
The practical tips about saving on travel costs were helpful. Choosing destinations closer to home, combining nearby attractions instead of driving miles, efficient route planning. Our West Midlands to Snowdonia trip cost half the fuel of previous Cornwall trips. Less driving, more doing.
Helpful
Seller Response
Closer destinations mean less fuel AND more holiday time! Snowdonia from the Midlands is a smart choice. More walks, less motorway.
BE
Brian Edwards
★★★★★5.0
Pet fee comparison advice helped
Reviewed on 2025-11-15)
Verified Purchase
The advice about comparing total costs including pet fees was really helpful. Some cheap cottages have massive pet fees. We found a slightly pricier cottage with no pet fee that worked out cheaper for our two dogs. That comparison thinking saved us £100. Would have fallen into that trap otherwise.
Helpful
Seller Response
Pet fees can be sneaky! Running the full numbers including extras is smart. £100 saved for your two is worth the comparison time.
WH
Wendy Hughes
★★★★★5.0
First budget holiday was a success
Reviewed on 2025-11-10)
Verified Purchase
Usually spend a fortune on holidays but tried the budget approach from this guide. Campsite, self-catering, off-peak, free activities. Our family of three plus our lab had an amazing week in Norfolk for under £400. The kids and dog didn't notice the budget - they just had fun. Why were we overspending before?
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Seller Response
Under £400 for a family week in Norfolk is incredible! Kids and dogs measure holidays in fun, not cost. You've cracked it!
AW
Adrian Wright
★★★★★5.0
Last minute deals section useful
Reviewed on 2025-11-05)
Verified Purchase
The section on last minute deals was useful. We found a cottage in the Lake District for 40% off because someone cancelled with two weeks' notice. Had to be flexible on dates but our retriever Max didn't mind! Saved enough for an extra long weekend later in the year.
Helpful
Seller Response
Last minute flexibility pays off! Max getting two holidays because of that deal is perfect. Flexibility is a budget superpower.
JC
Janet Clark
★★★★★5.0
Midweek breaks are so much cheaper
Reviewed on 2025-10-30)
Verified Purchase
The midweek break advice was a revelation. Monday to Friday instead of Friday to Monday was literally half the price at the same cottage. Our border terrier Angus doesn't know what day it is! Quieter attractions midweek too. Why does everyone insist on weekends?
Helpful
Seller Response
Angus is right - days don't matter to dogs! Midweek is cheaper AND quieter. You've discovered the secret.
MF
Malcolm Foster
★★★★★5.0
Glamping middle ground worked
Reviewed on 2025-10-25)
Verified Purchase
The glamping suggestion as a middle ground between camping and cottages worked well for us. More comfortable than a tent, cheaper than a cottage, and our spaniel Tilly loved the outdoor feel. Found a shepherd's hut in Yorkshire for £70 a night. Perfect budget compromise.
Helpful
Seller Response
Glamping is the sweet spot for many! Tilly getting that outdoor adventure with a bit more comfort is the best of both worlds.
LT
Linda Thompson
★★★★★5.0
National Trust membership advice
Reviewed on 2025-10-20)
Verified Purchase
The tip about National Trust membership paying for itself was useful. Free parking at coastal car parks alone saved loads over our week in Cornwall. Our two dogs got access to beautiful walks without £10 parking fees each time. Membership cost covered in one trip.
Helpful
Seller Response
NT membership is brilliant value for dog owners! Those coastal car parks add up fast. Covered in one trip is great ROI.
RM
Raymond Morris
★★★★★5.0
Helped us holiday on a pension
Reviewed on 2025-10-15)
Verified Purchase
We're retired and on a fixed income. This guide helped us realise we could still holiday with our old beagle Henry. Simple camping, home-cooked food, free walks. Had a lovely week in Dorset for what we'd usually spend in a weekend. Henry doesn't need luxury - he needs beaches and sniffs. Budget holidays are for everyone.
Helpful
Seller Response
Retirement should include adventures! Henry getting beaches and sniffs affordably is perfect. Budget travel is absolutely for everyone.
PR
Pauline Roberts
★★★★★5.0
Borrowing camping gear tip helped
Reviewed on 2025-10-10)
Verified Purchase
The suggestion about borrowing or renting camping gear before buying was helpful. Tried camping with our springer using borrowed equipment. Loved it! Now we know we'll use it, we're investing in proper kit. Would have wasted money if we'd bought first and hated it. Smart trial approach.
Helpful
Seller Response
Try before you buy is so sensible! Springers usually love camping. Now you can invest with confidence knowing it works for you.
DS
Deborah Shaw
★★★★★5.0
Single parent budget tips helped
Reviewed on 2025-10-05)
Verified Purchase
As a single parent, holidays felt impossible budget-wise. This guide showed me it could work. Camping with my daughter and our collie Max was affordable and actually more fun than expensive holidays we'd struggled to pay for before. Max was the happiest camper of all. Made memories without debt.
Helpful
Seller Response
Making it work as a single parent takes creativity. Max, your daughter and you having adventures without financial stress is wonderful. Memories over money.
DW
Derek Williams
★★★★★5.0
Changed our whole approach
Reviewed on 2025-09-28)
Verified Purchase
This guide changed our whole approach to dog holidays. We used to stress about affording expensive cottages. Now we embrace budget options and have MORE holidays for LESS money. Our terrier Alfie gets three weekends away instead of one expensive week. More adventures, happier dog, healthier bank balance.
Helpful
Seller Response
Three weekends instead of one week is brilliant thinking! Alfie getting more adventures for less money is the perfect outcome.
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Luke Jackson
Author & Dog Travel Expert
Travelling the UK with six dogs: Charlie, Bella, Lucy, Molly, Bailey, and Max. Sharing our adventures, tips, and honest reviews.
Discover how we travel across the UK with Charlie, Bella, Lucy, Molly, Bailey, and Max, and why we're passionate about making dog-friendly travel easier for everyone.
⚠️ Comments Currently Disabled
We've had to temporarily disable our comment section due to a high volume of spam. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our lovely readers!
If you'd like to share your thoughts, experiences, or feedback, please send us an email directly at info@thedogholiday.co.uk and we'll be happy to add your comment manually.
Thank you for your understanding! 🐾
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