What do you spend on a family holiday?

[Goodenoughisgoodenough]

Hi all
I'm curious, what do most people budget on spending for a family holiday? I realise that this is a real privilege, and do sympathise that with the many families unable to get away. But I'd like to try to 'bench-mark' what most people spend on a two-week break. I'm trying to make a last minute plan for our family of four (two teenagers, so they're full price for most things). If you're going away for 10 days - 2 weeks, what are you spending? Not luxury, but not camping either!. ie holiday cottage in Cornwall, villa abroad, Mediteranean etc For context, household income £65k. Paid off the mortgage last year - but also aware we'll need to support two teens through uni soon. I'd like to know what similar families spend. Ta!

We love holidays but tend to do independent trips to Europe. Flights & Airbnb. We are 5 of us and it varies massively depending on flights. But with flights, airport parking, hire car, accommodation = £1000-£2000 (for one week) and then spending money of £100-200 a day. (One of us likes cooking so we do bbqs/paella/pasta at home by the pool some eves and eat out on others). We often choose location based on flight price.

When kids were younger and we had less money, did loads of camping holidays. Cost all in under £2k.

Then we branched out to Europe after lockdown about £6k all in but started to do a couple of these a year.

This year we did a once in a teenage lifetime for our very lucky pampered princes £23k for two weeks! We can't do this again in a hurry.

So looking at a budget of £10-13k for next year.

This is what we spend our cash on, this is why we work. We spend fuck all on cars, clothes, going out, household stuff. We have everything, plus some, we need.

Ikr?! Especially after looking through these posts and the costs of going to Europe. I wanted to really look at our spend in detail to see how 'long haul' for 2.5 weeks compares with 2 weeks on the Med. To be fair, we do travel 'on the cheap', so if you wanted more luxurious transport (eg taxis, driver) , eat in more touristy restaurants and maybe upgrade your accommodation, you'd probably add £500 - £1,000 on our family spend. But it's still good value. And our accommodation was often exceptional value (ranging from £12 a night for two rooms in guest house near the airport to £40 for two double rooms in a hotel with a pool). The best was a family room with breakfast, for around £38 a night. It was 100 m from the Indian Ocean, like literally walk from your room in a bikini into the sea. With a lovely little bar/restaurant serving noodles/rice/curries for around £2 a meal, plus a beer for £.2.50. The equivalent daily spend on the Med would have been £££...It wasn't really a 'fly and flop' holiday, although we did spend 5 days on the beach, but if you're looking for some amazing scenery, experiences, sight-seeing and beaches, I seriously recommending Sri Lanka! Am now looking at other long haul for next year. Maybe Vietnam?

This sounds incredible! I will definitely be asking for recommendations for next year. We're going to Japan in October and I've been surprised that our flights plus hotel basically cost the same as flights plus hotel in Greece where we currently are. Going long haul appears to be much better value for money.

Ohh wow where are you going for £23K?

This is our attitude to. Don't spend much on clothes/house etc. Holidays/travel is a big part of why we work hard... And have also progressed from camping with young kids to bigger adventures.
I'm also curious though - where is the £23k holiday of a lifetime destination?🙂

yes, I can imagine. It's funny how things change. My teenage son and his girlfriend were chatting the other evening saying they'd love a holiday in Greece - but it really seems that this is no longer a cheap option. It's 25 years since I was last in Greece, when it was great value, but I imagine that food/drink/accommodation prices are pretty much same as UK now?
Recently, when we've been on European holidays (Croatia, France) we don't eat out much - I end up doing lots of Lidl shops and cooking pasta! - so one of the things I loved about Sri Lanka was 'no cooking'!

Wow I am amazed people pay so many thousands very eye opening! We have three kids age 11, 9 and 6. We go away several times a year but often things like center parcs in the Netherlands, combined with theme parks etc. Usually for a week in half term can find offers around 250-500 and the ferry is under 150. Loads of fun!! In summer we usually go to a french campsite - sunny, beaches, beautiful towns, lakes, loads of food options, culture, theme parks, zoos etc affordable and no stress. Kids have lots of freedom and there is entertainment. We drive so have our own car and bikes. Eat out some of the time, lots of bakery visits, self catering the rest of the time, using the brilliant french supermarkets. Usually stay in 3 bed mobile home for about 1000-1500 for 2 weeks in August plus ferry plus spending money. Works for us. It would cross my mind to spend 3000 on a villa as the kids would be bored and we would still have to do all the cooking!!

We’re going to the Netherlands. Cost is £1,700 for 6 nights 3 bed chalet with Eurocamp, 1 night/2 days at a theme park and overnight ferry there and back. We will bike everywhere once there. We don’t mind self catering but will eat out several times. I still thinks it’s good value for a holiday with a lot to keep teens happy. Well do two separate weeks camping in the uk as well at £300 ish per week.