To think this is really mean spirited and she can afford it?

Stop persisting..Forget it. She doesn't want to go. And don't ask her again.

Make some kind of plausible excuse to your child about her not going with you

Frivolous, unnecessary things like holidays. You sound a real barrel.of laughs.

Are you some kind of Puritan or Wok!

You need to get a life

The key to this is it's her money so it's her decision what to spend it on- whether the holiday is amazing value average or outrageously expensive is totally irrelevant your sister is an adult with her own money, it's up to her what she spends it on- trying to strong arm her into expenditure she doesn't want is abusive.

If it's so cheap and affordable OP, why not pay for her to go?

If you can spunk £4000+ on a 2 week holiday in the UK, you can easily find the £1200 extra for your sister to join you.

For two people? Go to some hotel on-line booking sites and you can get a week in the UK for 500 or less

Technically I could afford to spend 1.2-1.4K on a UK holiday I wouldnt want to though

It sounds like your sister is sensible financially and has an emergency fund, which she does not want to spend on an expensive holiday. You need to accept that.

Saying she can't afford it is quite likely an excuse, family holidays are not everyone's dish of tea.
Also just because she earns well does not mean she is obliged to spend it on a holiday- she may have very different priorities, which is, after all, up to her.

@BudgetBuster remember most of MN don’t think you can holiday in Lanza for less than £6k, it’s madness 🤣 I usually get a week for 2 adults for between 800/1000 in very nice hotels, have had some great bargains.

That’s the thing - maybe sister wants to spend that money differently. Did she get a say in where the holiday was?

Although her income sounds good, for a single parent it probably doesn’t go as far as you think and she may be saving for something or worried about her job. Or she thinks it’s not worth the money?

it really wouldn’t bother me. You sounds quite hurt but I doubt it’s personal. She’ll have to pay for food and activities on top. Just meet for a play date with the kids another time.

maybe she wants to use the money to take her child abroad?

It's 1adult and 1child.... You could easily get a weeks all inclusive abroad for that.
The £1200 in the UK wouldn't even include fuel costs or food.

A £1200 holiday for a week long family holiday in the summer in the UK is a good deal.

Where are you finding a holiday in the summer holidays in Europe for £1200 for the whole family?

But the key point is if the sister doesn’t want to
go, that should be accepted.

I wouldn’t even consider a week’s break for £1200 in the U.K. and I earn more than her including her maintenance. Really expensive and about the maximum I would pay for an all inclusive in Europe!

Maybe she said yes in the moment and then when she actually sat down to look at the numbers it wasn’t doable, or she would rather allocate that money elsewhere.

Nothing would compel me to spend that kind of money in a UK holiday, if I’m honest.

She does not want to spend a week with you and Its easy to see why.

This!

You sound pushy.
Maybe she felt pressured into saying she'd go and in the end she can't or she doesn't want to.
Either way, it's her choice so move on and stop making a mountain out of a molehill.

Personally I think that price for a holiday on this country before you’ve took petrol, food, money for days out etc into account, is extortionate. By the time you’ve added all the extras up you could pay for a week all inclusive abroad in the holidays.

Just noticed OP is paying £4000 for a fortnight in the UK? literally nowhere Id spend 2 full weeks in, that could get a decent holiday abroad with guaranteed sunshine.

£1200 for a week in the UK? nope, could get a week abroad for that.

Do you know how much rent/housing is when you have to shoulder that burden alone? Also you can go abroad for that money plus the expenses while away are far higher on holiday in the UK.

You also sound kind of judgy of her perhaps she was fine for her kid to go but didn't want to come herself

Maybe she's thinking about her bills and can she afford to go on holiday.

So she's not going. It's her decision. If her daughter is disappointed that's for her to deal with. Just go as arranged. For all you know she has other plans for outside the UK.

I'm sorry but for those who said £1200 is not that expensive, yes it freaking is. For this money I would expect a large house with pool/hot tub that could acomodate 2-3 families. 1200 for two people plus the extra expenses, I would go to an all inclusive holiday in Portugal, Spain, Turkey or Greece where is nice and hot and can sip Margaritas without worrying what will I eat for dinner.
No is a full sentence. She does not have to explain herself but she did and you used this to judge her with pleading poverty" "mean" and the manipulative "poor children". Not wanting to spend those money or chanhi g her mind about it is not "pleading poverty" is making decisions that are sensible for her family and her circumstances. Your children are not her responsability to entertain, manage expectations amd don't expect the world to bow for your children. Get of your high horse and stop judgjng people like that you come across as mean and bitchy. Mind your own holiday and leave her alone.