Dh has just suggested we have a few nights away in the summer holidays, somewhere cheap.

[Florencenotflo]

Oh how I laughed...🤣

Cheap... Summer holidays. The year after a pandemic where the majority of people are staying in the UK, it would seem. I'm aware we have well and truly missed the boat this year.

Just showed him a lovely caravan holiday in Wales. The most basic accommodation, 7 nights is over £1000.

Any suggestions of where I could look before I shatter his dreams of a summer holiday?

Yes, stayplayexplore were fab! but a bit shorter than 6 days.

Shame about the passport thing, being in Kent you could use clubcard vouchers to subsidise eurotunnel and accomodation seems to be cheaper in France at the mo.

Have you looked at youth hostels?

We stayed here last year and had an amazing time. It is on a working farm and kids can help feed and groom the animals. Close to Ludlow, Ironbridge, and loads of gorgeous walking. At the mo is still available the first week of the hols...

www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/North-Wales-Snowdonia-Pennerley/Nant-Isa-957671.html

I've just booked 3 nights in the lakes, family room think its costing about £450 because I chose the fully cancellable rate so am spending over the odds. I didn't want to pay upfront for the cheaper rate.

It's a bit out of the way between Keswick and Grasmere which explains lower cost. It's a nice hotel. Just pointing out there's availability right now and it doesn't have to cost the earth.

Over £1000 for a week in self catered is about standard in the UK now. Its annoying. I'd go to Spain but the flight will probably be cancelled. Anyway just got back from disney so not looking for another foreign holiday.

I'm doing the lakes, the peaks and Norfolk this summer. i only sorted Norfolk well in advance.

I've spent £1700 for 2 weeks but one of those is free, the lakes is £150 a night and Norfolk is 1250 for the week in a luxury barn conversion with a private pool.

The Premier Inn in Aberystwyth is in a great location. I haven't checked your dates though. Drives to lovely places like Aberdovey, New Quay (where you can go fishing in a boat), Aberaeron where there's a fab restaurant called The Habourmaster nearby.

You could even do a couple of days there and then drive down to the one in St David's

Camping. Just paid under £200 for a week on a really lovely site, including hookup.

I did loads of camping with mine when they were little, so cheap that we could just go on a whim, and they older teens now and still love it.

I am going there at the weekend! Not that cottage. The place is beautiful!

Even in July? I M always scared to wait till last minute.

I’ve just booked Haven Hafan Y Mor in North Wales, 3 nights from 22nd July in a 2 bed basic ‘bronze’ level caravan for £299! Including all passes etc for us and our 3 and 6 year old.

Have a look on

www.ukcaravans4hire.com/

www.caravanholidays4u.com/

www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/uk

These sites are all for booking caravans direct with the owners so cheaper than somewhere like Haven

Or maybe not ! That's a really good price there @SeenYourArse

YHA family room?

We stayed in green hill farm for 4 days and it was really good value - a nice comfortable holiday lodge and it has a restaurant, bar, cafe on site and biking, segways, trampolining and archery

you can instead camp

plus it has a gate to the new forest - and is close to lots of nice pubs etc

really good value for money - really enjoyed it

lovatparks.com/locations/new-forest/green-hill-farm-holiday-village

some the Sussex places are great - we did a week in a caravan in Camber Sands - lovely beach - Rye and Hastings in easy reach which were lovely and the kids had fun - not what i thought i would have ever chosen but we had aa great time booked through these who seemed to be the cheapest There are places in there for less than £500 at the end of July www.breakfreeholidays.co.uk

Some youth hostels aren't that cheap. DP and I went to Whitby for a night last week and it was cheaper for us to get a BnB than for us to stay in the hostel there.

Last year we did a house swap with relatives. We’re in the South and they’re in a rural part of the Midlands, and it was actually really lovely - and free!

Airs b and b? Local b and b...

Tent/camping/ hire a motor home.

Oh yes youth hostel!. an offer usually comes out now is...25% off special offers. Many have a double bed .

We stayed in one recently and then wll stay on another soon.

And we take our usual breakfast stuff and tea etc which saves.

For that price you could invest in a comfy tent and some good quality equipment and camp. Prices are rising so fast and holidays will only become more expensive in the future. Kids love campsites and there are tons of beautiful, quiet sites with good facilities. It would set you up for cheap holidays throughout their childhood.

I feel you pain, am also trying to sort out holidays last minute. If you use all the relevant websites and are flexible with location, I think you will still be able to limit cost.

I've got lucky with Priceline in the past. Good luck!

If you don't mind traveling to Scotland, there's an FB group called 'last minute holiday cottages in Scotland'. If you join that, you can post your requirements and owners can come back to you with options. Owners also post their last minute availability on there. Always lots of lovely properties available.

@Florencenotflo you're dead right with the 'cheap' thing. We keep looking at 'bargains' on Facebook marketplace but by the time you've factored in fuel to collect them they're no longer cheap!

So don't forget the expense of fuel to get to your 'cheap' holiday!

Florencenotflo · Yesterday 19:55
@OompaLoompaa I have looked at Haven. I didn't see any under £500 but because we only have a 6 day window, it's likely to be that bumping up the price. 1st week of the holidays

have you looked at four night breaks, there are definitely some available at that price?

I checked Essex, Kent, Dorset and Norfolk Haven.