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?

How would one go about organising a house swap?
I live in a holiday area in the Highlands of Scotland and would love to swap for somewhere with a beach in walking distance.

I’ve just booked a premier inn in a good place, it was about a grand for 6 nights though. It’s the weekend nights that make it expensive so if you wanted to do Mon-Thu think it would be in budget. I looked at Arundel (castle, beach, Weald and Downland museum) and Lymington, New Forest (loads of free stuff to see).

I got a farm cottage on Airbnb for £55 a night a couple of weeks ago for the summer. Worth having a search.

Barry Island has a premier inn.... I have also stayed in the ones in Cardiff Bay and Swansea, (which is not far from the beach, or you could do day trips to the Gower). If a quick visit to relative could involve an overnight - or at least a meal - you could probably do a nice little trip on a budget. Motorway Travelodge/Days Inn are often cheap if you just use as a base.... Perhaps not the most relaxing of holidays moving about but if you could be creative it would be a bit of an adventure. Hope you find something and have a great time!

I wouldn't mind trying camping, but we'd need to kit ourselves out with all the gear. I don't think we'd get everything we need plus a pitch (and fuel) for £500?

@OompaLoompaa I'll have another look then. Maybe I did something wrong, ideally we'd need Sunday - Thursday which isn't the usual check in days, I know.

@PoseyFlump I know! I didn't want to sound like I was being picky, I'd love to go somewhere in the lakes, but it's around 350 miles from us, so a tank and a half of fuel (that's if we don't drive anywhere while we're there). It becomes quite expensive.

DH has found a b&b/hotel between Southampton and the new forest, so he's going to ring them to see if they have a room that will accommodate all 4 of us 🎉

Thank you all for all of your suggestions though, it was so helpful! And I'll be looking at a few suggestions for next year... well in advance 😂

They have 4 man tents for £30 in asda, add 4 roll mats or inflatable mattresses, 4 sleeping bags or take duvets - Argos have cheap ones. Halfords sometimes has cheap gear or look on Facebook marketplace, ask on Freecycle etc. you do not need much stuff specially made for camping, just take things from home. I paid £14 a night in wales last year, 300m from a surfing beach

@DogDaysNeverEnd

Leicester is good for a long weekend actually, good for families (space centre, bosworth battlefield museum, Drayton manor isn't far if you want a theme park, abbey park (city owned) is lovely and the city museums are free (or were before I moved!)

It isn't really cheaper anymore. The OP might be ok as she would be looking for a few days, but a lot of city locations have a two night minimum stay now (which annoys me as Premier Inns were supposed to be for flexible stays). I agree it's worth a look though as you might find somewhere say 10 miles outside a city which is well priced.

Look here for Southampton if you can't get any joy with the place your DH found. The one in Eastleigh might be cost effective and you are not far from the New Forest, South Downs, Chichester or Portsmouth: www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/hampshire/southampton.html

I’d do North Norfolk.
3 hours approx from London
try the Travelodge at Acle - approx £75 per night for a family room. It’s basic but ok.
No restaurant on site but there is a Starbucks plus M&S for food.
Fish and chips in the day, farm shops for fresh fruits. You could sort of self cater rather than proper eating out.
You’d be a few miles from lots of sandy beaches big and small. Perfect for small children. I’d also recommend a trip with Broads Tours just the 2-3 hour option.

Arundel Premier Inn Family Room is available last week of July, depending on what nights can come in below 500

www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/west-sussex/arundel/arundel.html?ARRdd=24&ARRmm=07&ARRyyyy=2022&NIGHTS=4&ROOMS=1&ADULT1=2&CHILD1=2&COT1=0&INTTYP1=FAM&BRAND=PI

I'd get him to book it. All people saying camping - you'd have to buy all the stuff first so pushes up the budget.

@OompaLoompaa I'll have another look then. Maybe I did something wrong, ideally we'd need Sunday - Thursday which isn't the usual check in days, I know
You could book a Monday to Friday break and leave Thursday evening after a full day there if your DH has to be back at work in the Friday.

www.thearkpark.co.uk/couples-ark

Just down the lane from us, very cute

Premier Inn near Sandown the Island has space.

Air bnb on Isle of Wight A few here for end of July

Have a look at Shorefield holiday parks - Oakdene forest is in driving distance of Bournemouth, the new forest and Sandbanks and the ferry over to Studland Bay. A quick search from Monday 25th July for 4 nights is about £550. Got a nice pool and not a bad spot although you def need a car.

Have you looked on wowcher? They often have some good deals.