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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To holiday in the UK?

86 replies

HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:16

So, first world problems obviously but summer holidays.. we have 3 boys ages 15, 12 and 7 and in 2024 we went on our first ever abroad family holiday. It was bloody lovely - we had the best time. It was a very impulsive decision made 2 weeks before at the travel agents and my equally impulsive husband went from looking online to us sat booking it with a travel agent within a day or 2! I cannot stress how much of a great time it was. We put it on our credit card and then didn't go anywhere in 2025 as we told the children we were still paying off our lovely holiday - they totally understood. It's all paid off now and we are now talking about doing it in 2026. However, while we were chatting, I've just heard myself say out loud - well if our budget is 5k...

5k. For one week. 5 thousand British pounds. I had the best holiday and we had so much fun but 5,000 pounds for one week?! We obviously don't have that spare or we wouldn't have needed to put it on a credit card last time. We have very little savings really and the sensible thing would be to stay home. We could go away somewhere in the UK for half the price I suppose - although not all inclusive and maybe no flipping sunshine!

I guess my question is:

AIBU to book a 5k family holiday in 2026 knowing that 5k is a LOT of money and could potentially be spent on other things?

Or is it a YOLO situation where my lovely husband and amazing kids work hard all year and why shouldn't we just say sod it and book - not many years left where they will be at home and want to spend time with us?!

OP posts:
babylamb4 · 05/01/2026 18:39

I would just pay it and have a lovely time. Life’s short and life with kids is shorter. Be no time at all until they are no longer interested in family holidays and go off with their friends. English holidays are ok but the weather is hit and miss and still costs a fortune

Original poster
HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:39

Thedaywoman · 05/01/2026 18:35

we have been so bad with money for so many years how so? That introduces a new element to your OP

when did you pay off the 2024 hol?

I was a teen single mum on a very low income in council accommodation before I met my husband who worked a low paid job and was living with his mum after relocating. We found our way but never quite had enough money when my big boy was younger - nursery fees were crippling and some months we barely scraped by. Over the years we have both worked really hard in our careers and now have really good jobs - for context my job now pays more annually than we ever earned a year together back then! We never had holidays because we never had money!

OP posts:
WarmGreyHare · 05/01/2026 18:38

HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:16

So, first world problems obviously but summer holidays.. we have 3 boys ages 15, 12 and 7 and in 2024 we went on our first ever abroad family holiday. It was bloody lovely - we had the best time. It was a very impulsive decision made 2 weeks before at the travel agents and my equally impulsive husband went from looking online to us sat booking it with a travel agent within a day or 2! I cannot stress how much of a great time it was. We put it on our credit card and then didn't go anywhere in 2025 as we told the children we were still paying off our lovely holiday - they totally understood. It's all paid off now and we are now talking about doing it in 2026. However, while we were chatting, I've just heard myself say out loud - well if our budget is 5k...

5k. For one week. 5 thousand British pounds. I had the best holiday and we had so much fun but 5,000 pounds for one week?! We obviously don't have that spare or we wouldn't have needed to put it on a credit card last time. We have very little savings really and the sensible thing would be to stay home. We could go away somewhere in the UK for half the price I suppose - although not all inclusive and maybe no flipping sunshine!

I guess my question is:

AIBU to book a 5k family holiday in 2026 knowing that 5k is a LOT of money and could potentially be spent on other things?

Or is it a YOLO situation where my lovely husband and amazing kids work hard all year and why shouldn't we just say sod it and book - not many years left where they will be at home and want to spend time with us?!

How much extra did you pay for the holiday when you account for the interest charges?

Original poster
HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:36

Suffolker · 05/01/2026 18:32

If it’s taken you that long to pay off your 2024 holiday, I definitely wouldn’t pay another £5k for a 2026 holiday. Why the fixation on all inclusive? We’ve done several Eurocamp holidays for much cheaper than that (especially if you can drive). They are great holidays for kids if they want pools/sports/activities on tap. Gives them (and you!) lots of freedom and it’s easy to make friends.

I wouldn't say we have a fixation- it's just we do lots of other trips in the UK, camping etc that don't really feel like a break if we need to cook and clean. I do love going away with everyone but the AI holiday was amazing for the fact I could just totally switch off - no laundry, no worrying about the weather and no cooking/paying for meals out when we find places that everyone likes!

OP posts:
queenofwandss · 05/01/2026 18:36

If I were in your shoes, I would book a slightly cheaper holiday on a pay monthly basis. You can do that online without having to go to a travel agent (ime this is way cheaper!).

Life is very short and nobody knows what’s around the corner for them, but I don’t think you will regret having quality time with your children.

Also, holidays in the UK are often quite expensive!

itsthetea · 05/01/2026 18:35

I agree with a PP - can you figure out what exactly made the holiday so good? See if you can get better value for money

for example if it was the novelty - you won’t replicate that feeling so might as well do something different and potentially cheaper

if it was warm sun and sand - that can be done cheaper

if it was having to do nothing - no food , no thinking , stick with what you loved

Thedaywoman · 05/01/2026 18:35

we have been so bad with money for so many years how so? That introduces a new element to your OP

when did you pay off the 2024 hol?

Dollyfloss · 05/01/2026 18:34

Some of our best holidays have been in this country (Cornwall!) however I always want to go abroad too for the guaranteed sun.

If you paid it off without too much trouble go for it. Ps. £1K each per week AI in summer is about right for a 3 star hotel. It’s not a snip and it’s not particularly expensive. You could do an AI cruise for similar.

We went on a Tui cruise to Italy last summer hols for about that for 5 of us.

Original poster
HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:34

SunMoonandChocolate · 05/01/2026 18:31

Why don't you just save the same amount that you were paying off your credit card each month, and then book your holiday when you have enough saved (on a credit card for protection), and pay it off at the end of the month, therefore not paying any interest?

This is very smart. Probably why we have been so bad with money for so many years as we never had any so now we have good jobs etc we really need to start thinking this way! we didn't really have these problems before! X

OP posts:
Suffolker · 05/01/2026 18:32

If it’s taken you that long to pay off your 2024 holiday, I definitely wouldn’t pay another £5k for a 2026 holiday. Why the fixation on all inclusive? We’ve done several Eurocamp holidays for much cheaper than that (especially if you can drive). They are great holidays for kids if they want pools/sports/activities on tap. Gives them (and you!) lots of freedom and it’s easy to make friends.

Original poster
HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:31

pinksheetss · 05/01/2026 18:25

Against the grain here… if you are living comfortably and can afford it then go for it. Life’s short, the kids will grow and go on holidays themselves soon enough.

what else would you be spending that 5k on? Is there something else you need it for?

I lean this way too 😄 🤣 xx

OP posts:
SunMoonandChocolate · 05/01/2026 18:31

Why don't you just save the same amount that you were paying off your credit card each month, and then book your holiday when you have enough saved (on a credit card for protection), and pay it off at the end of the month, therefore not paying any interest?

Original poster
HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:30

SilverGlitterBaubles · 05/01/2026 18:24

It all depends on the time of year, the type of holiday and destination. Does the £5k include spending money? Was the previous holiday all inclusive?

The 5k was the budget for the all inclusive holiday - so it included everything but spending money. I presume it would be around 4.5k like last year but I wasn't sure I would get that deal again so just rounded up! We wouldn't spend much outside this as we would be AI but yeah would need trip/ice cream money if we went out!

OP posts:
Clefable · 05/01/2026 18:30

With three boys of that age, I bet they would love a Eurocamp. Massive outdoor pools, water sports, climbing trails, biking, football pitches, activity clubs. A chalet so everyone has some of their own space. And a fraction of the price.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 05/01/2026 18:29

What is it that you liked about the holiday? If it was the weather, then the only way you can guarantee it is to go aboard. But honestly, how you can spend so much on a holiday when you don’t own your own home is mind-blowing to me. The holiday you had and the one you’re planning to have will be over £10k in total. That’s a lot of money!

Thedaywoman · 05/01/2026 18:28

HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:27

I sure do! If we could get a mortgage we would. We can't so we, don't. Everyone has to live somewhere and my landlord is pretty lovely although I have had some horrors in the past. I don't know that not being able to get a mortgage should be punishable by no holidays though x

Show quote history

As I say, it’s what my focus would be in your shoes
but no issue if not yours!

Beautitul · 05/01/2026 18:28

You could go abroad just not in the summer. I dont thinm UK holiday is worth 5k though it easily can cost that.

Thedaywoman · 05/01/2026 18:28

When did you manage to clear the 2024 holiday debt?

Original poster
HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:27

Thedaywoman · 05/01/2026 18:25

You rent? With any intention to buy?

my focus would be squarely on getting a family home that isn’t vulnerable to the whims of a landlord

I sure do! If we could get a mortgage we would. We can't so we, don't. Everyone has to live somewhere and my landlord is pretty lovely although I have had some horrors in the past. I don't know that not being able to get a mortgage should be punishable by no holidays though x

OP posts:
Moonnstarz · 05/01/2026 18:27

Hmm as someone who has never taken my kids abroad yet but contemplating taking money out of savings to do it this year I can see why it's tempting. For us using our savings will mean we won't have much left if something big happened.
To me my issue is whether we can actually repay and recoup the savings.
You have shown you can do that by paying off the credit card previously - maybe you need to reflect on whether that was relatively easy or if you had to go without, and also whether you were paying interest or managed to get a card that was interest free.

Brightbluesomething · 05/01/2026 18:27

PhantomOfAllKnowledge · 05/01/2026 18:22

I wouldn't go if I had to put it on a credit card. No holiday is worth getting into debt for.

I put every holiday on a credit card, it gives better financial protection. So that point in itself isn’t good advice. If you can’t pay it off in a reasonable time, that’s when it’s problematic.
Don’t spend £5k, put it on a card now and pay it off before you go, giving time to save your spending money too and you won’t return from holiday in debt. I’d say go for it.

Silverbirchleaf · 05/01/2026 18:27

Could you have a cheaper holiday this year, and then start saving for a more expensive holiday next year?

Use this budget planner to work out your expenditure and what you can afford.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/budget-planning/

Clefable · 05/01/2026 18:26

We go abroad regularly for far less than that but it’s just a different type of holiday. We don’t really care for AI. I don’t think holidaying in the UK is any cheaper particularly if you want the same sort of experience. We regularly go to Europe and what we spend is on a par with holidays we spend in the UK.

Original poster
HoneyPie12 · 05/01/2026 18:26

We definitely want to go all inclusive if we go away but other than that we are happy with anything- it seems the problem is the amount of children we have..maybe if I left one or 2 at home it would be much cheaper but they all seem to attach to me with cute faces when I'm ready to drop them for some sun! 😄 🤣 x

OP posts:
pinksheetss · 05/01/2026 18:25

Against the grain here… if you are living comfortably and can afford it then go for it. Life’s short, the kids will grow and go on holidays themselves soon enough.

what else would you be spending that 5k on? Is there something else you need it for?