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Original poster

to ask how much you spend on a summer holiday abroad?

134 replies

chickpea1982 · 10/01/2026 15:08

We haven't had a proper summer holiday abroad for a few years, before our third child (now 2) came along. I've just been looking into it and am shocked by the cost! It looks like it would cost at least £4,500 for a holiday in an all inclusive resort in Europe, including flights - and that's the lower end! Granted I'm looking for somewhere with two bedrooms, rather than just one room for the 5 of us, but still. Is this normal? Does everyone just pay this as a matter of course? I'd be interested to hear what people usually budget for a summer holiday with kids so I can reassure myself I'm not just throwing money away.

OP posts:
MySweetGeorgina · 10/01/2026 15:24

You ask; Does everyone else just pay this as a matter of course?

well, no. It is a fairly recent idea to think this is a normal basic life thing to expect

we holidayed a bit more before we had kids, once we had kids and were on less money (1,5 job between us as we did all child care etc ourselves) we did very different holidays, mostly UK holidays or visiting family/friends or a house swap with friends

We did a villa in the sun holiday twice and loved it, but it was not our every year “normal”

i don’t know if other people maybe just have more money than us though 🤷‍♀️

Wingingit73 · 10/01/2026 15:24

For an all inclusive week on 3/4 star accommodation in school hols for me and my son its about £2,300
Expensive.

youalright · 10/01/2026 15:22

I think for a family of 5 thats really good make sure you check TripAdvisor before booking anything

AhBiscuits · 10/01/2026 15:21

Yes that's normal. We spend around 5k for our family of 4.

Treacling · 10/01/2026 15:19

3 kids 2 adults. 2 rooms in a hotel - 5.3k last October.
I budget about £1k a head. But that was AI last minute and I was flexible about where we flew m.

Original poster
chickpea1982 · 10/01/2026 15:18

NotSmallButFunSize · 10/01/2026 15:12

We have 3 kids, it will cost more to have to have more bedrooms I'm afraid!

Having said that, I can't bloody stand a "holiday" where I am sharing a room with my kids so we generally don't go for those all inclusive type of holiday anymore, especially now 2 are teenagers.

We have done Italy at Eurocamp for around 3k with flights and last year started to try out French Centre Parcs and drove to them - going again this year, is under 2k for the house and the travel will be via channel tunnel so only a few hundred pounds. You have to be a bit more creative about how you put it all together if you want to save some money.

Yes I feel the same! I'm looking at Eurocamp now actually - it's a bit cheaper, and I'm not really all that fussed about all inclusive anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
chickpea1982 · 10/01/2026 15:16

owlpassport · 10/01/2026 15:11

Is that for one week? That's £900pp, for flights, accommodation and all food and drink. I can't imagine how you'd think you could get a holiday for less than that.

We don't have children and generally spend at least 1.5k pp per week for a European holiday. Anything less, it's nicer being at home.

Yes for 7 nights. I suppose I am being a bit naive!

OP posts:
NotSmallButFunSize · 10/01/2026 15:12

We have 3 kids, it will cost more to have to have more bedrooms I'm afraid!

Having said that, I can't bloody stand a "holiday" where I am sharing a room with my kids so we generally don't go for those all inclusive type of holiday anymore, especially now 2 are teenagers.

We have done Italy at Eurocamp for around 3k with flights and last year started to try out French Centre Parcs and drove to them - going again this year, is under 2k for the house and the travel will be via channel tunnel so only a few hundred pounds. You have to be a bit more creative about how you put it all together if you want to save some money.

owlpassport · 10/01/2026 15:11

Is that for one week? That's £900pp, for flights, accommodation and all food and drink. I can't imagine how you'd think you could get a holiday for less than that.

We don't have children and generally spend at least 1.5k pp per week for a European holiday. Anything less, it's nicer being at home.

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