How can people afford 2 week summer holidays?

[NobilityScooter]

Pre COVID we went on holiday in the UK because we couldn't afford to go abroad. £1.5-2k accomodation then £1k spending money. = £2.5-3k holiday (2 adults + 2 children).

The costs crept up each year until COVID then the UK shot up in price. We changed locations to holiday somewhere cheaper still in the UK. Then the accomodation was poorer standard too for the price but it's what we could afford. I looked at what the same place would cost the next year when we got back (not that we wanted to book it but to see a cost comparison). And it was over £1k more expensive!

So we looked at cheap all inclusive abroad. And got something for the same price as the UK post COVID but abroad. Fabulous holiday. Wanted to book it the next year over £1k more expensive! We're lucky to be gifted £1.5k that year so went back to the same place and had a great time but the DC were getting a bit old for it so needed to find somewhere new.

Everything is so expensive! Looking at last year's holiday place is £2k more expensive! So it's gone up £3k in 2 years!

So my question is how does anyone afford to go on holiday in school holidays? (2 DC at school and education jobs mean we can only go in school holidays). This is £3k - to £7.5k in 8 years. How is anyone supposed to afford that? I see lots of people on holiday and places are selling out so people must be paying those prices. Our mortgage has doubled (£650 to £1250) and our gas and electricity has tripled (£88 to £270) plus our food bills have rocketed post COVID. Where is the spare money for a holiday?

We save up for our holidays and only go for a week...
Also things like campsites with static homes in Europe come in at under 1k for a week.

We used to go 2 weeks camping in Europe with own tent pre covid and only paid something like €800.- with electric hook up.

I can afford it but there is just me and DS, I don't go in the summer holidays, the weather is usually OK here in summer and I don't like extreme heat so I wouldn't go to Europe in August. We usually go for a week at a time as well, 2 weeks is too long for me. We do a longer haul in February/Easter holidays and then a shorter haul in May or October half term. Costs about 2 grand a time.

it depends what kind of holidays you enjoy. I’ve never been to an AI type place as that’s not what we go for.

When we had less income, we’d book Eurocamp style accommodation for 2 weeks and crossed with the Eurostar. Long journeys but we enjoyed going to France, and that was how we could afford it. The dcs always loved the campsites and the activities on offer so we’ve had loads of fun. Dh and I both don’t mind preparing a quick pasta salad or other simple meals cooking in a tent but I appreciate that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Now we have a bit more income, we’ve booked flights (under £1000 for 4) to a tourist hotspot in Eastern Europe and AirB&B (for £1100) in August. All SC, and depending on how much budget we have by August , we’ll adapt dinner plans to either cook more, or go out more. It won’t affect our enjoyment of the holiday.

We book the easy jet flights and car hire as soon as they are released as this is cheaper then search for accommodation on vrbo. This year going to the South of France will be £2,400.00 for 5 of us. And that is with a private swimming pool so could definitely get cheaper accommodation too.

We go camping in France. Prices are increasing (we are spending about 25% more this year than last year) but it's still cheaper and way better than UK camping.

Tunnel is not too pricey, and we're happy to drive for hours. Ferries are eye watering, we used to get the ferry to Cherbourg but that's now more expensive than flying would be, it's just not an option.

We used to have two holidays a year, used to go away at either Easter or February plus the summer, but everything is so expensive we are just doing 2 weeks in the summer this year.

We spent 4k last year but we only went for 10 days and didn’t go AI.

Another way to make it cheaper is to go a few days to a week before school holidays start - they don’t miss much in the last couple of days and you can save quite a chunk of money.

as others have said we sacrifice other things. We have 2 old cars. One is 14 years the other 10 so we save on car payments. We try and keep our food shop down too by shopping in Aldi and Lidl.

I never really understand these threads.

We go a few holidays each year and never pay anywhere near this much.

Find cheap flights somewhere, or drive if you can. Find some cheap and cheerful accommodation- self catering chalets or eurocamp type places.

I can usually get flights somewhere for 4 of us for £400 of £500, then cheap accommodation for between £300 (low season) and £600 (high season).

Visit a supermarket when there for food, and so far you're at about £1k. Some spending money on top.

The above is for a week, but the cost to increase to two weeks is never much.

We're on an admittedly high income and we can absorb the costs. We never do holidays in term time, but dcs are in a private school so we do go away when it would be term time for most other schools. And we visit PILs in the US once a year, and they contribute to those costs (we can't stay at their house but they pay for an airbnb). This year we will do a UK farmstead cottage, a Butlins short break, and a week city break in Europe. .

Each to their own @Doseofreality I'm certiainy not crying about it when I'm lying by a pool for 2 weeks doing nothing...and while my kids are young it works for us, I got to spend over 30 days last year on a sunny holiday away from home and the routine so I'll take it!

We have no children and are on a good income. But we only go for a week at a time several times a year. As we’ve got older we like a bit more luxury so will stay at a decent hotel and eat out a lot. Florence, Warsaw and Florida this year but we stay in England for the summer.

Oh also, don't assume that Easyjet is the cheapest option. I tried to book Easyjet this year and watched like a HAWK for the dates to come out, and when they did the flights were insanely high - this was MINUTES after release. I had a look on Skyscanner and found better flights for half the price (same dates and destination airport) from Heathrow with British Airways.

Always check Skyscanner first.

Family member has an apartment in Italy we use! We go for a fortnight ever summer- could never ever afford it in otherwise so we are incredibly grateful.

We have given up on holidays since Covid. Dh earns a very high salary (and me a low one) but we cannot justify the silly amount of money that holidays now cost. Even if we enjoy them (not guaranteed) we never enjoy them that much!

Haven let you pay monthly. I know there is snobbery about this kind of holiday but it's a manageable getaway if you have a small budget.

I plan ahead and pay monthly. Holidays are a priority for me. I usually budget between 3 - 5k for two weeks 1 adult a tween and a teen. We've done Greece, and France and back to France next year. I also try and do one city break a year, but that won't happen this year as too many extras in the house that need paying for. For context I earn just under £50k, have a sizeable mortgage. I spend very little on eating out & new clothes etc.

Some people take their children during term time and take the hit with the fine, as it still works out cheaper. Others take them on holiday just before the end of term, 1 or 2 days beforehand and call school to say they are sick.

Because people are stupid enough to pay it.
Then they come on here and do nothing but moan about it.😂

Book a self catered apartment or villa. Can easily stay for around €1200 for a week.

Book 10 days instead of 14. That’s around €2000 for 2 bedroom accommodation, in decent area, southern Europe.
Find own flights and hire car. Mixture of eating out at restaurants, eating at apartment for breakfast and odd bbq on terrace will keep costs down.

Eurocamp and booked a year in advance. Ryanair flights. We got two weeks for what most other places were charging one week for. FYI we went to baia domizia in Naples. It’s a mobile home which suited us grand. Two hours to airport

That seems very reasonable. OP have you seen this?

I prioritise holidays- I drive an old car, don't buy new clothes, never get takeaways.

Having said that the holidays I like (with the exception of skiing) are fairly cheap- camping e t.c.

We're going abroad for the first time this year. Luxury 5* resort in turkey for two adults and 1 child (plus baby but they get a free place). It's for 1 week and has cost in excess of £4k. I work in education but my workplace tags their 5 inset days onto May half term. Staff do twilights throughout the year to cover the time off. Going during this extra week in June made the holiday considerably cheaper than going during the summer hols.

YABU. There are ways to vacation in expensively.

Off-season travel, cheap destinations, pre book flights in advance, the closest airport to you may also be an airlines hub, and they frequently have deals to certain places; sign up to receive those promotions.

Holidays and travel are extremely important to us. We both lost our parents as children/young adults and agreed that making memories with our children was our biggest priority. We live in a much smaller house than we probably could. We don't go out spending money on the weekends, we are not material people in any way. We drive reasonably priced cars, don't but clothes we don't need etc. We try to take joy out of the simple things in life at home and travel the world as much as we can.

This! Regular car, no takeaway, seldomly do we waste money on ‘snacks’, only buy necessary clothes, etc.