Free holidays for poor families: How to secure your holiday!

Free holidays for poor families: How to secure your holiday!

In summer, families move far away, but not everyone can afford a relaxing vacation. In Germany, the issue of financial pressure when planning vacations is becoming more and more present. The dream of a summer trip is often unattainable, especially for low-income families. SWR Current informed that some federal states, including Rhineland-Palatinate, offer targeted assistance to enable these families to have an inexpensive vacation.

The “Family Holiday Summer Campaign” project in Rhineland-Palatinate aims to give low-income families a free week of holiday in youth hostels or family holiday resorts. As Rhineland-Palatinate Family Minister Katharina Binz (Greens) explains, this could be the first vacation ever for some families. These families often lack not only a destination, but even simple travel items such as bags or suitcases.

An important step

The current inflation situation has further increased the need for recovery for many. However, across Germany it is clear that vacation often remains unaffordable for low-income households. Current statistics from the EU Statistical Office show alarming figures: 50 percent of low-income households cannot afford a one-week vacation, and for single parents the figure is over 60 percent. This shows how important government funding is. Explosive highlights that around 80 non-profit family holiday resorts in Germany offer a wide range of accommodation: from the sea to the mountains.

The funding of family vacations is regulated differently in many federal states. The programs are particularly aimed at families who live in stressful situations, such as families with large children or single parents. To date, eleven out of sixteen federal states offer subsidies for family recreation. An overview shows how different the conditions are. In Rhineland-Palatinate, for example, grants can be applied for for various family members if the applications are submitted in the federal state of residence.

Who can benefit?

In Rhineland-Palatinate, in addition to the “Family Vacation Summer Campaign” project, there is also a “Vacation with the Family” catalog published by the Federal Association for Family Recreation. In this catalog you will find an overview of all non-profit family holiday resorts in Germany as well as information about family-friendly wineries and farms in the region. The Rhineland-Palatinate service specifies that low-income families and family members with disabilities are part of the target group and therefore also promotes subsidized vacations.

The offer is more friendly, as many establishments do not raise prices in high season and offer child-friendly programs. Grandparents can also often travel with you at reduced prices, which makes family vacations even more attractive. Applications are typically processed by charities or youth welfare offices to make the process easier.

In summary, it shows that thanks to government support, vacations do not have to remain just a dream for many families in Germany, especially for the lower-income groups. It is up to the families themselves to find out about the offers and to take advantage of the possible subsidies. So a good holiday for everyone could be closer than it seems!