To be upset that we can't even afford...

[NearlySpring]

To stay in a caravan at the beach this year?

Dp and I always go away with another couple for a few nights in the summer holidays. We usually stay in a friends cottage in Devon for free but it's being renovated this year.

We've left it late I know but I thought that we'd find somewhere cheap and cheerful if we opted for a privately owned caravan near the sea. However, it seems they are all really expensive. We only need 4 or 5 nights, 2 bedrooms (4 adults and 2 toddlers) and to go sometime during 1-14th August. We've been quoted £380-480 for 4 nights! :( Other couple are struggling with money and won't accept financial help from us (understandable). We're really not fussy where we go- but we seem to have wrongly assumed renting a caravan is cheap!

I know I probably ABU and everyone is making cut backs this year, jobs are hard to come by and we should be grateful to have jobs and a home- but I can't help but feel sad we'll miss out on our little break by the see altogether with the kids.

[chicletteeth]

£380 for 4 people is really not very much for a break by the sea in the summer holidays.
That said, if you don't have it, you don't have it.

I feel for you, but perhaps you can try to plan some nice cheap/free day trips close to where you live.

Is camping an option for you

[crispyambulance]

i paid £700 for similar the other year, it ain't cheap but it's the going rate ime

[wisecamel]

YANBA - it's a bugger and the fact that there are always people worse off makes no difference. Caravans by the sea can cost a fortune...have you looked at camping/house swaps? Hope you find something.

[TeamLemon]

£380 seems pretty cheap for a holiday for 6 by the seaside, imo.

[ragged]

Camping?

[ivykaty44]

Can you borrow a tent and camp instead?

I find the last week of august is often the cheapest of the summer hols if you could go later?

[Selks]

Take a look at the caravans to let on ebay. If you can go last minute you can often bag a bargain - £200 or less for a caravan for a week.

[chicletteeth]

Yes ragged, camping

[weirdbird]

Unfortunately the days of being able to find a cheap holiday no longer exist, what was a cheap holiday in days past ie - camping / caravan in the UK is now on a par with a package deal abroad.

My parents kept saying that they always managed a cheap holiday when we were kids, that we were just being fussy, so I challenged them to find us something for a family of 5 for under £150, it just can't be done anymore.

Home swap is one way you could consider

[TinyBubbles]

Can you not go in September after the school hols finish? Would be much cheaper...

[ragged]

sorry, lol, I was echoing the Camping suggestion not aghast @ it (sleeping tot on my lap)

[yellowraincoat]

The sun normally do a £9.50 holiday offer every year. Might be too late this year but if you look out for it next year it could give you something to look forward to. My parents have been a couple of times and really enjoyed it.

It's crap not being able to go away though, I can't either this summer.

[chicletteeth]

Why on earth would you expect to get a holiday for a family of 5 under £150?

That's ridiculously cheap. Who or what organisation would ever sell them at this price?

[Mimile]

not quite devon, or the beach, but stunning and very cheap:
Scottish Youth Hostel
had great hols there - there must be some equivalent places down South?

[chicletteeth]

Get you ragged

[shirleyshortcut]

couldnt you find a b&b - laterooms have some for about £45 a night - not sure what area you are after though

[ChopMonster]

Crikey, we stay in a big lodge in Cornwall for a week for less than that. Have you tried Hoseasons?

[TheCowardlyLion]

Camping is the way forward!

Staying at Downshay Farm in Dorset, for example, would cost you £16 a night for two adults, one child and a tent - so £32 a night for you and your friends. That's £128 for four nights - slightly better than your original quotation!

[Northernlurker]

Oooh some friends of ours have just had an awful experience with Hoseasons - caravan was fifthy and flea ridden....they escaped to Centerparcs!

I think £380 is pretty good tbh. We stay on Mull for around £450-500 a week.

[Riveninside]

Even camping is going up. Add in train tickets or petrol and its lots :(

[ChopMonster]

Sounds unpleasant Northern! We stopped caravanning when we found we could get a lodge for the same price. I wanted a lodge holiday but being a tight arse sensible with money, didn't want to pay extortionate Centre Parcs prices!

[Tsil]

Hoseasons on the link below is just an example as you didn't give a budget or a prefered area.

www.hoseasons.co.uk/holiday-parks/search/east-of-england?CHCT=2&DURTN=4&SDATE=1-8-2011

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Travelodge on the coast maybe ?

If you booked now you could get a midweek break dirt cheap

[Dolcegusto]

Hi op, I have a sun hol in Newquay that I can't go on. I think it's 1-4 July, caravan at hendraholiday park. Pm me if you're interested.