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Original poster

Big days out during the year vs yearly holiday?

32 replies

Charlie90123 · 22/10/2023 14:14

if it's financially one or the other what would you do?

Option one would be one abroad holiday a year but no UK weekend trips and no big days out over summer.

Option two would be maybe two weekend breaks to a seaside town in the UK like a caravan holiday. But do more day trips theme parks, London, bowling, trampoline parks and waterpark type things throughout summer.

OP posts:
PleaseBePacific · 22/10/2023 14:17

How old are DC?

thunderandsunshine01 · 22/10/2023 14:18

Big holiday abroad, it’s such an exciting thing and likely to create a more lifelong memory. You can still have a fun summer, beach, parks, picnics, bbqs, walks…

Beanie567 · 22/10/2023 14:30

If they’re young (say under 12) then uk caravan and days out definitely.

troppibambini6 · 22/10/2023 14:30

Holiday abroad everytime.

YourNameGoesHere · 22/10/2023 14:35

UK breaks and days out. Honestly every half term and the summer holiday will feel like an eternity if you have no money to do anything because you spent it all on a week away potentially months ago.

Yes holidays abroad are exciting but not at the expense of spending many weeks of the year unable to do trips or spontaneous days out.

Adropofink · 22/10/2023 14:39

I’d probably alternate one year to the next. Abroad year 1, uk and days out year 2 l etc

Musiclover234 · 22/10/2023 14:48

We did the day trips as tweens and early teens and loved them. We were big theme park fans. We occasionally had a holiday to Butlins or centre parcs but years apart.

Id rather have things to do through the year than an expensive weeks holiday at the detriment of having nothing else to look forward to. The alternating idea is quite good too.

This could also depend on the ages of the kids and their likes/dislikes though.

Universalsnail · 22/10/2023 14:49

I would alternate year on year

Princessfluffy · 22/10/2023 15:42

Option 2

Girasoli · 22/10/2023 16:56

I'd have an abroad holiday and cheap days out...but mine are younger and still happy with big new playground/splashpark/playdate with friends at the weekend.

VioletCharlotte · 22/10/2023 16:58

How old are the kids? Up until the age of about 11, I much preferred UK holidays - not so far to travel, freedom to play with other kids on campsites, food that was familiar, not too hot. I think most teenagers would prefer holidays abroad even though they spend most of their time sat in the hotel room scrolling on their phones

BulbasaurBloom · 22/10/2023 17:00

One holiday abroad. I’d even suck up the fine and take them for a couple days before the end of term.

so much can be done for ‘free’ to make a nice weekend. Picnics, museums, galleries, the beach, bike rides, nice walks, baking, city farms.

i certainly wouldn’t forgo a proper holiday for a handful of stints at chessington world of adventures places and other mediocre UK ‘amusements’.

orchardsquare · 22/10/2023 17:02

As you have said the days out option includes weekend breaks, then I would do mostly this option at least until the children are older. I feel it's important to have something to look forwards to and to break the year up into segments.
When the children get older, they probably won't be bothered about days out or UK breaks so I would go abroad then.

YourNameGoesHere · 22/10/2023 17:05

BulbasaurBloom · 22/10/2023 17:00

One holiday abroad. I’d even suck up the fine and take them for a couple days before the end of term.

so much can be done for ‘free’ to make a nice weekend. Picnics, museums, galleries, the beach, bike rides, nice walks, baking, city farms.

i certainly wouldn’t forgo a proper holiday for a handful of stints at chessington world of adventures places and other mediocre UK ‘amusements’.

This all depends on where you live though doesn't it.

I live in a huge city but the amount of stuff that's free is actually very small and unfortunately as lovely as picnics and nice walks are they are unlikely to make for an exciting day out for most children.

Original poster
Charlie90123 · 22/10/2023 17:10

aged 7 and an only child. Which is why I'm unsure if going on an all inclusive type holiday sitting by a pool for a week would be that much fun for him. Typically our holidays except one have been active holidays where 3-4 days is enough. Annoying because in 3 years I'll be fully qualified and hopefully will then be able to afford nice holidays but he probably won't be bothered about spending time with me then :(

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 22/10/2023 17:13

YourNameGoesHere · 22/10/2023 14:35

UK breaks and days out. Honestly every half term and the summer holiday will feel like an eternity if you have no money to do anything because you spent it all on a week away potentially months ago.

Yes holidays abroad are exciting but not at the expense of spending many weeks of the year unable to do trips or spontaneous days out.

I agree with this actually.
I mean I would LOVE a holiday but I can live without it.
I'd find it really hard to go without any days out to be honest

Pinkshoppingbag · 22/10/2023 17:27

I have an only who is 6. We went an all inclusive holiday this year and he got bored, refused to go to kids club and exhausted me and DH. If it's one or the other I would do the UK breaks and other days out.

morellamalessdrama · 22/10/2023 17:34

Charlie90123 · 22/10/2023 17:10

aged 7 and an only child. Which is why I'm unsure if going on an all inclusive type holiday sitting by a pool for a week would be that much fun for him. Typically our holidays except one have been active holidays where 3-4 days is enough. Annoying because in 3 years I'll be fully qualified and hopefully will then be able to afford nice holidays but he probably won't be bothered about spending time with me then :(

I think he'll want to spend time with you for a good few years yet. One of my sons is 14 now and he chats my ear off all bloody day long Grin

Original poster
Charlie90123 · 22/10/2023 17:38

This is what I imagine my son would be like I'm unsure if he'd go to the kids clubs and after a few hours by the pool he'd be bored so I'm worried a week away all inclusive type would be a waste for us

OP posts:
PleaseBePacific · 22/10/2023 17:39

Definitely uk for now in that case. I have a 5 year old and there would be no point taking him abroad at the moment. He loves a seaside holiday or anywhere different, doesn't even need to be far just a change of scenery and different play areas to explore. When you are qualified your DC will be the perfect age to start going abroad.

CesareBorgia · 22/10/2023 17:40

I would be wary of putting all my eggs in one basket - if, for whatever reason - e.g. you fall ill, the hotel turns out to be crap, you have freak bad weather in the guaranteed sunshine resort - you are going to be disappointed if that is your only treat for the entire year.

99point6 · 22/10/2023 17:45

Big days out an UK breaks can quickly add up to ££££. Can you downgrade the abroad holiday and still do the odd cheaper day out?

Pleaseme · 22/10/2023 18:03

I do uk camping breaks / days out. Dc8-13, I have a camper so go park up by a loch, campfire and go paddle boarding type stuff. I spend money on kit/ nice food from supermarket rather than entry fees/ eating out. I would like to do at least one big family holiday abroad while they are all children. Possibly 2025

I would say cheap holidays abroad are often shit, bad food, noisy run down hotels, crappy flight times so everyone is shattered. I’m quite risk averse so prefer not to put all my eggs in one basket.

DelurkingAJ · 22/10/2023 18:07

After a break in Cornwall in August where we had one day rain free and two pre schoolers in a house smaller than our home I am firmly in the one holiday abroad camp, however small the children. Highlight of that holiday for DS1 (then 4) was the local municipal swimming pool. Smaller than the one at home. Abroad turned out to be cheaper the next year, too…

Original poster
Charlie90123 · 22/10/2023 19:48

They really do add up! The local little theme park my son loves costs £50 for both of us. Bowling for the 3 of us cost £36 and lasted all of an hour. It's ok doing trips to the park and picnics but with the weather this summer it was really hard to. We ended up doing a lot of paid activities. I did tell myself to try and limit it to maybe one activity a week but then we were in the house and it was raining most days so felt like I couldn't. Even going to the local indoor play area is about £7 now.

OP posts:
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