Free Child Place Holidays – How They Work and Best Deals for 2026

Free child place holidays are one of the most popular ways for families in the UK to cut the cost of a package holiday. The basic promise is simple: bring one child along for no extra charge when two adults book together. But the reality, as any seasoned traveller will tell you, comes with conditions, age limits, and fine print that can make or break the saving. This guide covers everything you need to know about free child place holidays for 2026 and 2027, including how the offers work, which operators provide them, and what you still have to pay for.

The term covers a range of promotions from major tour operators such as TUI, Jet2 Holidays, First Choice, and easyJet holidays. While each company sets its own rules, the core mechanism remains consistent: a child travels for free (covering flights, hotel, transfers, and luggage) when booked with at least two full‑paying adults. The catch is that availability is limited, dates and destinations are restricted, and the offer is generally tied to specific hotels or room types.

What Are Free Child Place Holidays and How Do They Work?

Key Insights

• Free child place holidays can save families hundreds of pounds, but the “free” label often excludes taxes, resort fees or specific room supplements.
• Every major operator uses a similar model: one free child per two paying adults, with some allowing up to two free children (e.g., Jet2 under certain offers).
• The best deals typically appear during early booking windows (January to March) and on off‑peak dates.
• Single parents or families with one adult usually cannot benefit unless they pay a single supplement – a major gap in the offer.
• Many travellers are unaware that children do not get their own luggage allowance on some free‑child‑place deals.

Fast Facts: Free Child Place Holidays

Which Tour Operators Offer Free Child Place Holidays?

Four major UK travel companies dominate the free child place market, each with slightly different terms. Understanding the differences can help you choose the offer that best fits your family.

TUI

TUI’s free kids’ places for 2026/2027 apply to selected hotels, apartments, and villas. The rule is one free place for every two full‑paying adults, and the child can be the youngest if more than one child books. TUI states the offer includes accommodation, flights, food and drink, and transfers. Importantly, TUI says its free kids’ places can apply to older children as well as younger ones on eligible deals. The minimum booking requires at least two full‑paying passengers and at least one child on the same booking.

First Choice

First Choice offers one child free for every two full‑paying adults on selected holidays. The promotion is seasonal, and typical age guidance is under 12, though some packages accept children up to 15. If you change the package during the booking process, the free child place may no longer apply – a detail worth noting before finalising your trip.

easyJet holidays

easyJet holidays provides free child places on selected package holidays. The deal includes flights, transfers, luggage, and hotel costs; on all‑inclusive holidays, meals and drinks are also covered. Like its competitors, the offer is limited to specific holidays and subject to full terms and conditions.

Jet2holidays

Jet2holidays operates a “free child place finder” tool that lets you search for deals where “one child can holiday for no extra cost – they can fly, pack their favourite toys, enjoy return hotel transfers, stay and play for free!” The promotion is tied to selected holidays and has limited availability.

Who Qualifies for a Free Child Place?

Eligibility depends on several factors: the number of adults, the child’s age, and whether the booking meets the operator’s minimum requirements.

Age restrictions

Age limits vary by operator and destination. Some deals target children under 12; others allow up to 15 or 16. TUI notes that its free kids’ places can apply to older children as well as younger ones on eligible deals. Age is usually assessed on departure and sometimes on return – if a child turns the age limit during the trip, eligibility may be affected. Always confirm the precise age cut‑off before booking.

Single parent and one‑adult bookings

Most free child place offers are structured around two full‑paying adults. Single parents or solo travellers with one child generally cannot access the free place unless the deal explicitly allows a single adult plus child. Some bookings may also attract a single occupancy supplement, which can wipe out the saving. TUI’s wording indicates a minimum of two full‑paying passengers, but its examples include one adult with two children – still, the broad rule centres on two full‑paying passengers on the booking. Always check the exact terms.

Multiple children

Typically, one free child place is available per booking. Additional children usually have to pay full price. Some operators occasionally extend a second free place, but this is not the norm. If more than one child is on the booking, the free place is often assigned to the youngest child.

Infants

Infants under two years of age are rarely covered by free child place offers. They generally have their own fare (often a reduced infant fare) and are not considered a “free child” under the promotion.

What Destinations and Travel Options Are Available?

Common destinations

Free child place holidays are most frequently offered in classic family destinations. Spain (Tenerife, Costa del Sol, Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza), Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Portugal, Egypt, Tunisia, and Cape Verde are all regularly featured. Longer‑haul options include Florida, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.

2026/2027 expansion

TUI has announced free kids’ places for Mexico and the Dominican Republic for the first time for Summer 2027, alongside continuing offers in Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt. This marks a notable geographic expansion of the promotion.

All‑inclusive and board basis

Yes, free child places can apply to all‑inclusive holidays. When the adults book an all‑inclusive package, the child’s meals and drinks are usually included as part of the deal. However, the offer may only be valid on certain board bases – half‑board or self‑catering may not always qualify. Check each operator’s terms for the specific holiday you are considering.

What Are the Hidden Costs and Savings?

What’s usually included

For the free child, the package typically includes return flights, hotel accommodation, airport transfers, and baggage. On all‑inclusive holidays, food and drink are also covered. Some resorts include kids’ clubs or hotel entertainment as part of the deal, but this varies.

What you still pay

Despite the word “free”, several costs remain. Common extras include single supplements (if only one adult travels), airport parking, seat selection, extra baggage beyond the allowance, holiday insurance, destination taxes, visa fees, upgraded room types, private transfers, and meal plan upgrades if the package is not all‑inclusive. Also, if the free child place is based on splitting the room rate across adults, the “free” place may still be subsidised by the overall package pricing. Compare the total family package cost against booking adults and child separately to see the real saving.

Comparing offers

It pays to compare across operators. A holiday that appears cheaper with a free child place from one provider might actually cost less overall from a competitor when you factor in board basis, baggage, and departure airport. Use the Jet2 free child place finder to quickly see which destinations and dates qualify. For more information on how to get these, check out our Coin Master free spins links. Coin Master free spins links

The History of Free Child Place Holidays

1. Early 2000s – Major tour operators begin offering free child places as a seasonal promotion to boost family bookings.
2. 2010s – The promotion becomes standard across TUI, Thomas Cook (pre‑collapse), First Choice, and Jet2.
3. 2019 – Thomas Cook collapses, removing one major provider; others continue offering free child places.
4. 2020‑2021 – COVID‑19 pandemic disrupts travel; free child place offers are paused or limited to future bookings.
5. 2022‑2024 – Recovery of travel demand; free child places return aggressively as a marketing tool.
6. 2025 – All major operators (TUI, Jet2, First Choice, easyJet) offer free child places for 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 seasons.

What We Know vs. What Is Unclear

Why Free Child Place Holidays Are a Popular Marketing Strategy

Free child place holidays are a targeted promotion designed to attract families with young children. By offering one free place per two paying adults, operators incentivise larger bookings without significantly cutting margins – children generally cost less in flight taxes and hotel supplements. The promotion also helps fill off‑peak capacity. For consumers, the value is real but requires careful reading of terms to avoid surprises like single supplements or non‑included extras. The competitive landscape means shoppers can often find similar deals across multiple providers, making comparison worthwhile.

Authoritative Sources and Official Quotes

“For every two full‑paying adults, you can take one child on holiday for free.”

First Choice free child places page

“One child can holiday for no extra cost – they can fly, pack their favourite toys, enjoy return hotel transfers, stay and play for free!”

Jet2 Holidays free child place finder

“Including everything from flight tickets and transfers to luggage and hotel costs.”

Hays Travel free child place page

For official policy details, visit the TUI free kids’ places page, First Choice free child places, easyJet holidays free child places, and the ABTA website for consumer rights and holiday protection.

What to Expect in 2026 and Beyond

Free child place offers are likely to remain a staple of package holiday marketing. More operators may introduce “free child place finder” tools similar to Jet2’s. There is potential for dynamic pricing where free child places are limited to low‑demand dates, and possibly an expansion to include one‑adult families as a competitive differentiator. For now, the best strategy is to book early, compare operator terms, and always read the small print. For more on how these offers work, see How free child place holidays work and Free kids’ place holidays explained.

Frequently Asked Questions