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Original poster

How do you pay for holidays to America?

120 replies

MummyCool19 · 06/05/2019 17:17

We really want to go America soon. Looking more for Florida area I think. But my god how do you pay £5k for a holiday 😩. On paper we can afford it, we have a good disposable income but my god we can not save 😂😩. Plus how much spending money do you take?

OP posts:
Glittertwins · 06/05/2019 17:26

By a lot of saving! Move money directly into an account straight after pay day.

Resito · 06/05/2019 17:30

We only go on holiday every couple of years as takes that long to save as we don't have a high income, but of money goes into a savings account every month and doesn't get touched. If you've got good disposible income you just have to get more strict about ring fencing some for holiday saving.

TinyBarista · 06/05/2019 17:33

But this one is easy, right? You have good disposable income.
You save = you holiday.
You don't save = no holiday.
The issue isn't the cost of the holiday. It is getting into the habit of saving.

PoptartPoptart · 06/05/2019 17:33

I wish a Florida holiday coat £5k.
The last quote we got was double that 😩

ChippyMinton · 06/05/2019 17:38

Save hard!

Look out for flight bargains. A good way to defer payment is to book a fly drive or some accommodation so the flight becomes a package holiday, which can be paid off a few weeks before rather than immediately as is the case with flights.

Cashback sites combined with one of the hotel booking websites can be a good source of deals. If you book ones that can be cancelled, you can keep scouting for better prices/higher cashback.

Delatron · 06/05/2019 17:38

£5k to Florida! Try about £20k sorry.

£5k is a bog standard European holiday in summer with flights and accommodation for 2 adults and 2 children.

EdWinchester · 06/05/2019 17:39

I would jump at a holiday that cost that, tbh.

Backwoodsgirl · 06/05/2019 17:40

I would avoid FL, as it’s a tourist trap. We fly Norwegian or Icelandic,

teyem · 06/05/2019 17:41

£20k? Shock Surely, not?

crosser62 · 06/05/2019 17:41

We are paying 10k for Florida for 4 of us.

We save like mad, pay for things in sections and only go every 4-6 years.

5k.. how?

Fr3d · 06/05/2019 17:42

£5,000 = save £100 a week for 1 year. Set up a direct debit going into a specific savings account (preferably untouchable), to go out on pay day.

Tho if you have no savings at all, I would be making a rainy day fund before a holiday one.

MightyAtlantic · 06/05/2019 17:43

I used to put my long haul holidays on an interest free credit card, and spend the next 12-18 months (at least!) paying it off.
I decided I wasn't doing that any more, and I would only go on holiday once I had saved up enough. That was 5 years ago...

Fr3d · 06/05/2019 17:43

Been to Florida twice and no interest in going again.. what is the attraction?

Fr3d · 06/05/2019 17:46

Sky scanner for flights
Book well in advance...like 6-12 months ...especially for flights
Go off season...we were there in Jan and the weather was fab. Parks not too crowded.

Resito · 06/05/2019 17:46

what is the attraction?
The theme parks, especially Disney. Different strokes and all that.

LarryGreysonsDoor · 06/05/2019 17:47

Well you decide to go twice Fr3d, you tell us.

thisisthetime · 06/05/2019 17:48

You’re not going to get a holiday to Florida for 5k. Unless you mean you’d like to travel to Florida in general and not visit all the Disney parks?

If you’re not overly bothered about Disney you could consider flying to California, travelling the big sur for example, and camping (at fabulous campgrounds in gorgeous locations) along the way and then just visiting the much smaller Disneyland LA during your trip. Still doubt you’d do it for 5k but maybe closer! And is a great trip!

AngelsWithSilverWings · 06/05/2019 17:49

Our Florida holiday cost about £7k and that was with flying indirect to save money. Our villa was only 1.2k for the two weeks but the flights , spending money and park tickets cost a fortune. And this was 5 years ago it list cost even more now.

We put money aside each month for three years to pay for it.

Fr3d · 06/05/2019 17:50

Go to eurodisney instead? We have good theme parks in Europe too

dreichuplands · 06/05/2019 18:01

It may cost more than 5k if you want to go the parks.
The exchange rate is not kind at present.
We used DH's bonus. It was a reasonably reliable part of his job but came in a lump which meant we didn't have to save.
In general I rather like Florida, I keep meaning to go to California now we live in US but Florida has always been much cheaper to get to.
I have friends who have auto payments for holidays. They book as soon as the holiday comes out and pay monthly until they go.

Adversecamber22 · 06/05/2019 18:04

I paid more than that but it was over two weeks and two centres. Get over to money saving expert, be honest and do a budget. You admit to havung a decent disposable income so it is achievable.

Delatron · 06/05/2019 18:09

I think it was close to £20k but went at peak
time (had to for a wedding) and stayed in ok hotels, some of the onsite ones. Hired car etc, got fast passes, ate out.

If you budget you could do it for £7-10k
but definitely not £5k if you are including spending money and tickets to the parks...

IkickedtheBigC · 06/05/2019 18:10

My DH and I go every year. Unfortunately we've had to cancel this year as I was diagnosed with cancer. Im In Remission but will give this year as miss. However, we have spent far less than 10k!
2 weeks in September flying With Tui and staying at a comfortable but budget hotel would cost us £1414. A car would be another £500 or so.
So, 2k plus spending money.
We usually do one day in a Disney Park and enjoy wandering round Disney Springs which is free! Even the parking is free.
Dining out is as various as $ to $$$.
Some folk love to stealth boast.

Redlocks28 · 06/05/2019 18:11

We went last year and it cost £10k-what have you costed for £5k?

hartof · 06/05/2019 18:12

I'm assuming people spending more than £5k to go to Florida are staying on Disney property. You don't need to.

We always stay in a villa, we go in two weeks and for 3 of us package with virgin with villa and car it's £2400. Then £1600 park tickets.

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