If you have school-age kids there are some good arguments for booking your holidays well in advance. For a start, it's rare to find late deals during the school holidays - and who wants the stress of waiting until the last minute and hoping that something suitable and affordable shows up?
What's more, part of the joy of a family holiday is in planning and looking forward to it. So the longer the lead-in time, the more enjoyment you'll all get.
And parents tend to enjoy holidays more if the bills are paid well in advance. The pain and anguish of parting with the money is long forgotten by the time the suitcases are packed.
What about costs? Most people will tell you not to expect discounts during the peak periods, but there are - in fact - some juicy deals in 2015. All the following holidays are available during the school holidays and most are based on two adults and two children under 12 travelling for a week.
Seychelles at Easter
Treat the family to a week's half-board at the five-star Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa and pay a total of £6,956 (saving £1,200) based on two adults and two children sharing a garden villa and flying from London on 28 March 2015. Book by 30 January 2015 with Just Seychelles.
Jersey
The Merton Hotel ticks all the boxes for families. As well as boasting an outdoor pool complex with Flowrider surfing machine, it has an indoor Aquadome with slides, fountains, pools, sauna and steam room. Book 30 days in advance and stay for seven nights or more anytime in 2015 for a 20% discount.
Disney cruise
Join your favourite Disney characters on a cruise to Barcelona on board Disney Magic. Seven nights for a family of four sailing from Dover on 3 August 2015 costs a total of £4,329 (saving £1,720) including flights back to the UK. Book by 31 December 2014 with Iglu Cruise.
Ibiza for half-term
Kids of all ages will love the funky five-star Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza where seven nights half-board costs a total of £4,099 (saving £900) over May or October half-term week. The price includes flights from London and private transfers and must be booked by 31 December 2014 with Classic Collection.
Antigua
Spend February half-term in the Caribbean. Seven nights B&B at Blue Waters in Antigua costs £5,995 (saving £3,045) for two adults and two children including flights departing 13 February 2015. Book by 20 December 2014 with Caribtours.
Cyprus
The Almyra in Paphos, Cyprus, is a stylish beach hotel that caters especially well to young children. Stay a minimum of five nights in August 2015 and get 20% off two interconnecting rooms (sleeping up to five), down to £248 per night for both rooms with breakfast. Book by 30 April 2015 with i-escape.
Mauritius
Head south for May half-term week to Le Victoria, a luxury beach hotel in Mauritius. A week's half-board for two adults and two children under 12 costs a total of £3,525 (saving £360) including flights with Emirates and transfers. Book by 30 November 2014 with Beachcomber Tours.
Cornwall
Gwel an Mor Resort on the Cornish coast at Portreath is an outstanding place for families, with wood-built lodges, an indoor pool and its own wildlife centre. Stay seven nights between 24 July and 5 September 2015 and pay £1,605 for four (saving £100). Book by 31 December 2014.
All-inclusive Turkey
Seven nights all-inclusive in a family suite at the Gloria Golf Resort in Antalya, Turkey, costs a total of £4,683 (saving £600) including flights departing London on 15 August 2015. Book by 31 January 2015 with Tots Too.
Madagascar
Splash out on a fabulous 11-night holiday in Madagascar including a week at Tsarabanjina, a private island resort, and two nights in the capital, Antananarivo. It costs from £12,847 for a family of four (saving £1,413) during Easter or summer. Book within 30 days of travel with Aardvark Safaris.
Crete
A family of four sharing two sea view rooms at the stylish Porto Elounda Hotel in Crete will pay £3,795 (saving 30%) for a week in July or August. Book by 30 November 2014 with Powder Byrne.
France
Save up to £1,000 on the rental of Chateau Le Brun, a 17th-century former hunting lodge that sleeps eight in the Loire Valley, with its own 52 acre-park, lake and swimming pool. May half-term week rental costs £1,611 rising to £3,200 in August. Book by 31 December 2014 with Oliver's Travels.
Norfolk
Save 20% on the rental of Apple Tree Cottage in Little Walsingham, Norfolk, between 3 January and 31 March 2015. The house sleeps four and costs from £364.65 for three nights. Book by 31 December 2014 with Rural Retreats.
Five-star Crete
A week's B&B at the luxury five-star St Nicolas Bay Resort in Crete during August 2015 costs a total of £5,980 (saving £1,240) for two adults and two children, including flights, private transfers and concierge service. Book by 28 February 2015 with Kirker Holidays.
Luxury villa in Turkey
Eight people sharing a stylish four-bedroom seafront villa at Ipsili on the beautiful Kas Peninsula each pay £1,125 (saving 20%) including flights departing London on 8 August 2015, car hire, welcome hamper and one evening meal. Book by 31 March 2015 with Exclusive Escapes.
Bavarian Alps
Spend a week kayaking, canyoning, abseiling, zip-wiring and building rope bridges in the Allgäu region of Southern Germany. A Bavarian Alps Activity Week costs from £745 for adults and £575 for children aged 8-11 (each saving £50) including most meals, all activities, tuition and equipment. Book by 30 December 2014 with Activities Abroad.
Find more family holiday ideas at 101 Holidays including trips tailored for families with babies, toddlers and teenagers.