If you have 4dc, are holidays abroad a impossible dream.....

[breakfastbiscuit]

Unless you are made of money?

I know it's not really something that should decide one way or the other if you have a 4th but was just wondering.

Does the cost double from what a "normal" family would pay, or do you get around it by booking your own villa and looking out for cheap flights etc?

[jb707]

Yes. Would not not a holiday for me. We go to the same place in Salcombe which has cots, high chairs toys etc. Although last year we did try a Feather Down Farm stay which was fab.

[mamatomany]

Time share is the answer for us, we've paid £16,000 interest free over 3 years and that's us holidaying for 4 weeks a year for the rest of our lives and can be passed down to the DC's too.
Prior to signing up I was paying £6k for two weeks for the 5 of us.
However having been on my first holiday to Cornwall this is year that was lovely and I plan to go alot more often in the future.

[EasterBunnyGirl]

We have 4DC. we drive to Brittany in the summer and usually stay in a gite with family. On the whole we holiday in UK. Hope to camp one day again soon but need a trailer first!
Cant face flying with 3 under 4 yet even if we could afford it!

[slipperandpjsmum]

Agree with Easter its the flying with little ones that puts us off rather than the cost!

[mamatomany]

You see I prefer the flying to driving with 4 fighting, singing and needing to stop every hour for a wee, coffee gin and tonic break, at least once you are on that plane there's no stopping for three hours, you will get there that day.

[frakyouveryverymuch]

I think you can reduce costs by looking around, self-catering etc.

At some point driving becomes more economical than flying as well - and there are plenty of places abroad within a reasonable drive.

[slipperandpjsmum]

I worry about the impact on other travellers on the plane Mamatomany. Should I go for it??? How have you found it? How old are yours?

[mamatomany]

Mine are 10, 8 and 6 but they've flown regularly since tots, the one time we had a problem was bringing a 13 month old back from Mexico she screamed for 9 hours with a tummy ache, nobody said anything and I was too knackered to even notice any looks if we got them.
People do moan, give dirty looks etc when perhaps you get called to the gate first I've learnt to just ignore (or mouth "oh piss off" so the DC's don't hear if people are being obnoxious) but that can be the same in Tesco's carpark I find

[HalleluiaScot]

We have five and have a holiday abroad every year.

We find that caravan sites are good value.

[LongStory]

if you are asking this question, and you already have 3, you probably know the answer!

[Zola78]

We have four children and we go on holiday most years unless the little ones are too little. We usually do eurocamp holidays. We love it. It's not 4 star accomodation but it's suitable and clean and most times new equipment (ish). We're generally gone for the south of France just out of season may/june. We fly with a cheap airline and you can get some really good deals. Eurocamp sites generally have good facilities swimming pools, and children's clubs etc. Just brilliant. So yes you can go aboard you just have to think differently.

[sweetkitty]

Interesting post we've only been to centerparcs so far DS is only 11 months the thought of flying with the 4 of them fills me with dread.

[HalleluiaScot]

Flying is much easier when they can handle their own luggage, and need limited help in-flight. We last flew when youngest was 7 and it was very easy.

Centerparcs is good for a large family in that the accommodation is very spacious, and easy to self-cater if that's what you want.

[5GoMadOnAZ650]

We usually holiday with my parents and/or grandparents if going abroad as we can't all fit in one apartment and can usually farm a couple out to sleep in the other apartments. We organise everything separately, book the accommodation usually direct and book flights and taxi transfers separately. We have also taken the dd's camping in France which was fantastic, the youngest was 5 months at the time and we toured for 3 weeks and had a fab time.

[tryingtoimprove]

mamatomany may I please ask who your timeshare is with - that sounds very interesting and I'd like to look further into it for us.

[jellybeans]

We have done it but we go in a 2 bed apartment or villa. You just have to look around.

[bronze]

The flying doesn't scare me. I'm taking my 4 on a 3 hour flight plus journeys either end on my own next month. It is the cost and to be honest we just don't normally. My parents are paying a lot of it this time.

We have looked at a villa because that does seem the most logical option but it's only tis year we've actually had anywhere enough money to even consider it

[Hassled]

We manage it by booking villas (ownersdirect is a good site) and booking the cheapest EasyJet/Ryanair flights as early as possible - as soon as the dates/flights are released. Car hire for all 6 of us is expensive, though.

[TOMOLBEN]

I have 4 children. 11, 9, 7 and 2. We fly to the States 3 times a year as my mum and sis live over there. It is expensive, especially after they turn 2 and they are child costs (which arent alot cheaper than the adult).

We take the 2 year olds car seat on the flight, which helps. My mother has time share so our holidays are through the Grand Hilton Vacation club or RCI. It is great as we have a 3 bedroom apartment with kitchen and living room on a beautiful complex. We have just come back from Florida and last year we went to Vegas and Mexico. So the time shares are definately worth looking into.

She doesnt have a set location and set week though she does the points system. So you buy so many points and then have a directory with resorts to chose from. Many are in USA but they have some in Portugal, Gran Canaria, Europe. Would recommended looking into it. xx

[redfoxy]

If you have enough money it does not matter. If you are skint, holidays are a faraway dream. I take my daughter alone abroad to see my family while the rest have to stay home. Would be nice for us all to go, not ideal but until Daddy dearest gets a better job to pay for it all we can't all go. (There are 4 kids, 3 of his 1 of mine)

[verybusyspider]

I think centreparcs and eurocamp in school holidays are very very expensive, the cost isn't widely different for 3-4 children, eurocamp tents can sleep 6 even if there's only 3 of you, if you can afford them now then you should be able to with 4, flights obviously are an additional cost as you are paying for extra seats. I think hotels are all tricky I think as you need 2 rooms.... villas or tent and travel by ferry would seem the most cost effective way to go....

[wheresthepimms]

If you can arrange the accomodation and flights separately then it is not too bad, especially if you book the flights well in advance. We are looking at Cyprus next year and for the 4DCs and myself the flights should be just under 600 pounds, not too bad if you ask me. We aren't going in holiday time and have friends who can arrange a cheap cottage. Otherwise we pack our tent up and head off to Europe and see where we go, not very good in this house in planning camping holidays down to every nights stop, have learnt the hard way that some days you will just not make the 6 hour drive in 10

[falasportugues]

children travel free on eurostar up til age 4, i think.... much better than air travel!