Holiday packages during school breaks can cost an extra £804 on average for a family of four, according to a new study. The research finds that this rises even more during the summer holidays when travel costs increase by an average of 23% – equivalent to an additional £276pp (per person).

By comparing holiday package prices for the upcoming year, Go.Compare reveals just how much extra it’s costing parents to travel during school breaks due to the rules around unauthorised absences.

It’s no secret that travelling during term time is much cheaper than during the school holidays, but the comparison site unveils just how much parents have to fork out to take their little ones abroad.

Term time packages to popular destinations like Spain, Italy and France have average prices starting as low as £289pp. Meanwhile, the lowest average package price during school breaks sits at £398pp – over £100 more per person.

Trips to Greece saw the largest increase in package prices with an additional 28% per person being charged for travel during school breaks. However, the most expensive destination for school break getaways is France with a median price of £1,208pp.

This increase in costs forces families to choose between paying high holiday prices or taking their kids out of school to travel, which could result in a hefty fine. A fifth (20%) of Brits said that they would consider or have taken their children out of school for travel and 38% of these stated that they did this to cut down on expenses.

With fines costing as much as £480 for families of four depending on your local council, parents put a lot at risk by taking their children out of school without authorisation. Only around a tenth of parents who took their children on holiday without permission said they avoided a fine, showing that this might be a more common occurrence than many realise.

Manon Jones, travel insurance expert for Go.Compare, said: “Family travel choices become increasingly daunting during the holiday price surges. The financial contrasts are stark, particularly during the summer holidays.

“It’s no surprise that travel during term time proves to be much cheaper. However, these insights provide a way for families to make the most of the school breaks without breaking the bank. It’s also worth considering the costs that come with travelling outside of just accommodation and flight prices alone.

“Travel insurance is something else to consider, especially as premium prices can vary depending on when you’re travelling as well as with who and the kind of cover you require. Additionally, there will be extra costs added once you arrive at your destination, so consider how much you’ll need to spend on amenities as well as food and local travel.

These considerations can help travellers to prepare and weigh out their options in full before booking.”

Find out how to make the most of travel this year as well as more information about the research on Go.Compare’s website.