Where do people find these foreign holidays that are cheaper than staying in the UK?

[Donatella]

I haven't been abroad properly for years, apart from a self catering holiday in France a couple of years ago, and I would like to take my kids somewhere hot and sunny next year but I can't see how we can afford it. However, all I hear about is how expensive UK holidays are and how people could have a week all inclusive in the sun for the same price. So tell me, what websites should I be looking at to find this, and how do I avoid getting ripped off? For context, this year was our most expensive holiday for a while and we spent £750 on a Haven caravan for a week. Spending money on meals out and activities of about another £250, so the equivalent of £1000 for an all inclusive. Is that really possible in school holidays? Or should I resign myself to staying in the UK until the kids leave home 😭

I don't think it's possible for an all inclusive - you're comparing apples with oranges.

All inclusives tend to be in hotels so you'd want to compare a hotel in the U.K. vs one abroad. In which case it's definitely on a par or cheaper.

To compare a Haven holiday with something abroad I'd be looking at something like a Eurocamp or similar. In which case you definitely could do it for similar money - although the cost of travel will be a big factor in it and should be considered before you book anywhere - there's a huge difference in the costs of taking the car on a ferry, and flying and hiring a car.

Agree with the above - we go all inclusive, into a 4 or 5 star hotel either Canaries or Turkey usually for around £1500.

If a caravan holiday has just cost you £1000 then surely its obvious that a 5 star hotel would have cost much more than that?

See that's what I've always assumed. But people see the prices for Haven/Butlins/holiday cottages and get all outraged and say they could have a week in the sun for less and I don't see how??? As you say, travel alone will eat up most of that.

On the beach. I paid £1200 for ten days all inclusive in Tenerife for me and the kids. I’ve previously paid £1200 for a week in haven in wales just for a caravan, plus spent an extra 1k on travel and food/entertainment. Far cheaper to go abroad IMO.

@QforCucumber

Agree with the above - we go all inclusive, into a 4 or 5 star hotel either Canaries or Turkey usually for around £1500.

If a caravan holiday has just cost you £1000 then surely its obvious that a 5 star hotel would have cost much more than that?

Same. Every single one of my exotic holidays has been cheaper than every one of my ‘staycations’, especially when you factor in spends. Our most expensive holiday with the kids was 10 days all inclusive in Egypt in a 5 star hotel. Still cheaper than a week in wales

Two years ago- flights to a European destination £50 each, so £200 in total. Car hire @€80, then €750 for caravan hire. Plus food/spending money. With our caravan resort fees we did get free local train travel mind you. And we had guaranteed sunshine and a little bit of foreign culture thrown in

How old are your kids and which airport? I will have look for you!

I buy flights individually, and get a room individually, usually a small apartment. Self-catering. No interest in 'all inclusive'. Can usually keep this to around 50-190 for plane, 350 for the room.

In the UK, holiday cottage at about 350-500 for 4-5 nights. Drive or train.

So, it's a bit more for abroad. But CenterParcs, for example, is bloody thousands, so that's certainly 'more than abroad'. Popular resorts cost more in both places, so favour smaller towns and less touristy areas where the costs are lower.

Anyone just flipping open a luxury holiday all-inclusive package brochure might indeed find some high costs and comparisons, but you don't have to holiday that way.

Kids are 10 and 13 (so 11 and 14 next year), Gatwick or Heathrow (could cope with Luton at a push), any school holidays. I'll also check out On the Beach that has been suggested. I just get overwhelmed with so many websites and options and have no idea how to avoid getting ripped off!

Even this year we have a week in Whitby for £495 in a 3 bed cottage, but then I guess I booked pretty early.

Cheapest Welsh stay was a cottage for £195, 5 nights. Beautiful mountainside location.

Yorkshire coast is also very reasonable.

Jet2holidays or on the beach often have cheap deals. However, I think I’m just really difficult and awkward as I can never find anything on there that I like - location, rating etc etc - so always end up back at TUI looking at £3500 for the 4 of us for a week.

In normal times we booked flights and and an AI hotel separate, it saved £400 on the package cost as the hotel had an offer on by booking direct, worth having a shop around, flights can be pretty cheap.

Ive often wondered this. We usually do cottage holidays for 600 or less for 4 of us. We had a fab trip to Alton Towers and peak district for under 800.

I don't think holidays abroad are cheaper!

The cheapest all inclusive I’ve found is 1748
www.tui.co.uk/destinations/bookaccommodation?productCode=010787&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=2&childrenAge=6,3&duration=7&flexibleDays=3&airports%5B%5D=NCL&flexibility=true&noOfSeniors=0&when=22-08-2021&pkg=1037962118/3/233/7&tra_o=1127289703/2953724&tra_i=1127289763/2953725&units%5B%5D=&packageId=010787ESTF008416295904000001629590400000TOM171016301952000001630281600000TOM1711TW01TW011037962118/3/233/7&index=2&multiSelect=true&brandType=T&bb=AI&room=&isVilla=false&searchType=search&durationCode=7115&rmpc=1|1|0|1|0|6-2|1|0|1|0|3&rmtp=TW01|TW01&rmbb=AI%7CAI&fc=n&greatDealDiscount=43&bb=AI&price=pp#page

We could have gone to a nice hotel in Devon b&b for £2000 per week, 2 rooms. So £4000 plus activities and eating out for 2 adults and 2 teens, easily £2000/2500 on top so £6000 total.

We actually did AI in Majorca so no additional expenses, guaranteed weather, amazing beach and 5 pools for £5200 in 5* hotel for 2 rooms.

@LuxOlente

I buy flights individually, and get a room individually, usually a small apartment. Self-catering. No interest in 'all inclusive'. Can usually keep this to around 50-190 for plane, 350 for the room.

In the UK, holiday cottage at about 350-500 for 4-5 nights. Drive or train.

So, it's a bit more for abroad. But CenterParcs, for example, is bloody thousands, so that's certainly 'more than abroad'. Popular resorts cost more in both places, so favour smaller towns and less touristy areas where the costs are lower.

Anyone just flipping open a luxury holiday all-inclusive package brochure might indeed find some high costs and comparisons, but you don't have to holiday that way.

I’ve just had a look out of interest. I went on on the beach and looked up package holidays to Majorca. The first one that came up was a weeks all inclusive in a 3 star hotel including flights for 2 adults and 2 children for £918. I looked up the same dates for centre parks and the CHEAPEST I’ve found was £1708 for the same amount of people, that’s just for accommodation.

Holidays are expensive whatever you do or wherever you go ; factor in costs to get to airports there and back any excursions you go on or car hire abroad and it can add up.
Abroad you are guaranteed the weather which means a day on the beach can be fairly cheap compared to finding things to do in the uk which can be pricy for a family of four so it's all 'swings and roundabouts' really.
AI is good value with children I think , but it depends on what you want out of a holiday.

I put in the dates for the October half term btw

1823

www.tui.co.uk/destinations/bookaccommodation?productCode=005996&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=2&childrenAge=6,3&duration=7&flexibleDays=3&airports%5B%5D=NCL&flexibility=true&noOfSeniors=0&when=26-08-2021&pkg=1123816729/3/237/7&tra_o=1119616659/2641835&tra_i=1119616721/2641836&units%5B%5D=&packageId=005996ESLZ010416299360000001629936000000TOM144416305408000001630627200000TOM14452BA011123816729/3/237/7&index=4&multiSelect=true&brandType=F&bb=AI&room=&isVilla=false&searchType=search&durationCode=7115&rmpc=1|2|0|2|0|6,3&rmtp=2BA01&rmbb=AI&fc=y&greatDealDiscount=0&bb=AI&price=pp#page
By the time you include all food, drinks, snack and water park I think this is a good deal compared to paying for the same in the UK

@LtDansleg

On the beach. I paid £1200 for ten days all inclusive in Tenerife for me and the kids. I’ve previously paid £1200 for a week in haven in wales just for a caravan, plus spent an extra 1k on travel and food/entertainment. Far cheaper to go abroad IMO.

£1200- either this was during term time, winter half term or it was in 1999

I'm with you @Donatella

When people say they can go to Turkey ai (cheapest option) for £450 pp in school hols that is a bargain basement hotel, 4 people in one room and only crap buffet, cheap drinks and mr whippet ice cream is actually included. Fine if all you want to do is swim and sunbathe. For a U.K. holiday they are booking a decent chalet, paying for dinners in restaurants, day trips etc.
Not comparing like with like.

By the way I've taken my kids overseas in the school hols, we drive, stay in hotels in interesting places (usually ibis or similar) but not on the coast and it's more reasonable

See I wouldnt spend 5-6k here or abroad!

Exactly gogo!

I haven’t managed to go abroad in the school hols for under £1000 per person for years, whether booking a package or doing things separately. Flights alone cost around £1k for the 4 of us once you’ve added on luggage.

We can book a self catering cottage for circa £1000 in West Wales/Norfolk/Devon, drive there in our own car and spend another £500 on meals out and a supermarket delivery.

All-inclusive's just drinks/food though? I've heard the hotel food can be iffy and my parents used to just bang on about 'unlimited ice cream.' I figure I'd sooner buy what I want to eat/drink when I want it, and not pay a massive price that, chances are, I'd never eat/drink enough to match.