Despite the special offers for early bookings, lower aviation fuel prices and the weak euro, the cost of taking a holiday within school holiday time remains at a premium, with mark-ups at 50 or 60%.

Just look at ski holidays in February half-term, for instance. Esprit Ski (espritski.com 01483 791900) is currently offering the Chalet Valentine in La Rosiere for a snip at £1,099 (down from £3,122) for a family of five (two adults three children under 12), travelling on February 1, including catered accommodation, flights and transfers.

But come half-term week, that package (which is now fully booked) would have set you back an eye-watering £7,273.

So you can understand why some parents flout the rules, just paying the fine on their return home in the knowledge that the saving on their holiday will be greater than the fine they have to pay and treating it more like a tax.

Up until September 2013, headteachers were allowed to grant 10 days holiday a year during term time, but the regulations have been changed so that leave can only be granted in "exceptional circumstances", with local authorities obliged to fine parents.

Parents can be issued with a £60 fine per pupil for each unauthorised absence, which rises to £120 if not paid within 21 days. After 28 days, the local authority is required to begin legal proceedings in a magistrates' court, which can result in a fine of up to £2,500, a jail term of up to three months or a community sentence.

After a series of high-profile cases in which parents were taken to court and fined last year, new guidance allows exemptions for family weddings or funerals, recovering from a personal or family crisis, attending a religious event or visiting a relative who is seriously ill.

The need to stagger school holidays is paramount if budget-conscious parents are going to be able to afford a holiday during the official school break.

An ABTA spokesman says: "There already exists a good working example, in Germany they stagger their holiday dates by region which means that they do not have the extremes in price we have in the UK during school holiday periods compared to term time.

"We also recommend booking early for the best price and choice and encourage families to look at excellent package tour operator deals which offer free child places for early bookers and lower or free fares for children.

"Those that can be flexible about their booking arrangements, for example selecting a holiday with different departure or destination airports or a different departure date, should also able to access a range of deals."

Cheaper accommodation may be available through booking direct with smaller owner-operated businesses, or opting for house swaps at sites like homeexchange.com or lovehomeswap.com. Just remember that the more exotic the location, the more expensive the flights are likely to be.

Try to be flexible with travel dates. Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly, according to a survey by Which? Travel, the Consumers' Association magazine.

Also, don't be afraid to haggle, says Which? Travel editor Jill Starley-Grainger.

"We found that most people do not haggle over the price of holidays, yet it can save hundreds of pounds off your trip and be surprisingly easy. But always check the small print on travel deals to be sure you won't be landed with extra charges, and remember the golden rule - if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

PRAGUE BEST VALUE

Czech capital Prague has come out top for value for money in the ninth Post Office Travel Money holiday money report.

Prague recorded the lowest price for the cost of eight tourist staples including meals and drinks (£35.29), and registered the survey's lowest price for a three-course evening meal for two with wine (£21).

Exchange rates are likely to prove game-changers when it comes to holiday choice in the year ahead, the report predicts. Lower prices in European cities and resorts have helped them fill eight of the top 10 best value places in the report's worldwide holiday costs barometer.

In a close-run race, Portugal's Algarve (£36.04) retained its runner-up place for the second consecutive year and therefore remains Europe's best value beach resort. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria (£36.14) and Spain's Costa del Sol (£36.80) cost only a few pence more.