Booked flights for a holiday but now can't afford it. WWYD?

[Cheeseer]

I booked some flights to a European country 6m ago for the summer. Was planning to take the kids to their first ever holiday abroad. They have never been and really want to go. The only holidays we get are in the UK for a week per year if we can afford it. The kids do love them but they yearn to go abroad.

I thought if I booked the flights early, I could put aside some money each month to save up in time for the summer.

However, each month something comes up and I haven't put anything away. If I start from now, I would have enough to cover accomodation which I haven't booked but nothing left for food, fun, travel etc.

I know Ive messed up but things are so expensive and prices are going up month to month and I just can't seem to have any money left over at the end of the month.

Should I plan to go to the hol and see what happens, can't do excursions or anything, very basic food or should I just leave it and lose the flight money and never plan a holiday unless I have the funds for it.

If you’re happy to give me the dates I love looking for accommodation. What’s your max budget? How many of you and ages, kids sexes?
watch some YouTube vids of visiting Lisbon on a budget and make a list of things to do. Do you have luggage with the flights? Have you booked seats?

The ages of the children are crucial

are we talking young or teens?

Hi what age are your kids? Lisbon is cheap you can eat out cheap and supermarkets are cheap if self catering. Cafes ( Pastelarias) are very cheap still for coffee/ sandwiches / cakes. The metro is cheap. The castle is free to kids under 12. You can get buses to the 'Costa da Caparica' beach for a cheap day out at the beach. You can also travel to beaches at Cascais and Estoril, there are public transport options. Museums are mostly free for under age 12 and first Sunday of the month in the morning is free entry for adults too. Happy to give you more tips if you need, I used to live there. It's a great city loads to see just walking around, I hope you go and have a great time.

Can you get a second job?

It has a beach. Multiple beaches in fact.

You can definitely have a lovely time in Lisbon without spending much. You will have to save coffee, icecream, pasta di nata for a one off special times and do self-catering most of the time. You can also walk around a lot. Lots of parks and just nice views etc.

Loads of stuff online about how to do Lisbon on a budget - eg https://www.everlastingwandering.com/lisbon-guide-what-to-do-on-a-budget-trip/#whattodo

You can get guidebooks out from the library.

My experience of taking kids abroad is that they get loads from just being somewhere new and interesting - don’t give yourself a hard time about having loads to spend -
you don’t need it.

I wouldn't call 20 kms away a close beach.

OP you can definitely do Lisbon quite cheaply; it's close to Estoril and Cascais, good places for beaches, as well as Costa de Caparica. Loads of cheap eats and supermarkets in Lisbon.

OP just do it. You can cover the big expenses and self catering makes it possible. Use public transport and don’t compare with those on big spend holidays with the say yes mentality. We always self catering and the kids have always loved it - foreign supermarkets are great and living as a local has its own pleasures. It’s somewhere you can manage and the kids can understand that sometimes it’s better to go and to enjoy a bargain too. The experience trumps luxury vacations - make the best of what you have.

When you do go take food/ sandwiches, crisps etc for flights and empty water bottles as you can fill them from free fountains usually near the loos, especially once through passport control. Airport and plane refreshments are daylight robbery eg €9 for a baguette in airport.£30 for 4 sandwiches, small Pringles, 2 small waters and a coffee on plane

The one at Praia de Alges is 2km from Belém, one of the major tourist sites in Lisbon. And as I advised OP, best to stay one side of the old centre for cheaper accommodation and more beaches. Trains are easy and very very cheap.

I was on a beach in Cascais (which is Lisbon, unless you are the sort of person who insists Vauxhall underground station is in Surrey) last week literally at the exit point of the overground train. Must have forgotten the 20k treck clearly.

I don't agree, Kids have a short memory span and the excitement of a flight wears off quickly when the holiday can't give them the outings and fun they expect to get.

We did ok for holidays and outings, but one of eight year old me’s best memories of Denmark is going to the different tourist information offices to get a free sticker for each town in my booklet. Free stuff can be fun.

They have never been and really want to go. The only holidays we get are in the UK for a week per year if we can afford it. The kids do love them but they yearn to go abroad.

I think your DC would be delighted to just get abroad, just set expectations that you will need to be very careful with money while there. Let them know that is the only way that you can go.

Self catering can still be fun. The DC will have fun exploring the accommodation.
Eating in can still be a nice experience.
eg Lovely fresh rolls for breakfast! (20c each on recent trip!). Or nice pastries!
Supermarket shopping, with ice cream, soft drinks and other treats. Eating out is not such a big deal for DC.

Stay a little way out in cheaper accommodation and use public transport. Check where you stay has good transport links.

Plan your itinerary together with DC. Find free things to do that they are interested in. Use public transport, usually reasonable cost.

Make a plan for each day in advance. Figure out and price transportations options before you go.

I think it is possible on a tight budget. Just have a positive mindset that it is a great adventure.

Some posters on here think this would be miserable! But I think your DC would disagree. I think if it made the difference between going or staying at home, I bet they would choose to be very careful with money and not miss out on a trip abroad!!

And start saving for next holiday as soon as you arrive home!!

Post Office does good holiday insurance.
You've not updated the ages of your children?
If they receive pocket money, maybe they could start saving £/week which will give them a little spending money when you get there.

You absolutely need travel insurance.

Lisbon isn't expensive you can do most of it on foot or walking around.

I would still go if the children want to go and tell them they have to save their own pocket money for ice cream and fizzy drinks, you'll just be getting water's and meals but they can be in charge of soft drinks and ice creams.

Then you might need credit card/small loan as a back up, but never ever do this again without saving up first.

Try and get self catering accommodation so that you can do some cheap meals at home

Booking.com has free cancellation so get something sorted now

yes this. I always get the post office one, you can get it at the counter. Shouldn't more than £100 but never go without by insurance.

You can also get a post office travel money card to put euros onto, really easy to use and there's an app to make top ups easier.

I’m pretty shocked by the posters who think that low cost holidays without spending massively on trips and excursions aren’t fun. My student years would beg to differ 😉

Most kids want to spend time with you in an unusual place. Most kids have been raised to hear the word “no” and not think it’s the end of the world. Most kids understand that money is finite.

You can ask ChatGPT to plan an itinerary for you. Put in your ages, interests, dislikes and most importantly that you don’t have any money and see what it suggests!

Op I’m guessing your kids aren’t young.

at least teens, correct?

I thought that. I’ve admittedly only been once and it was for just under 2 days but I know I saw beaches.

we also took the train to cascais which was super.

Lisbon itself does not have beaches but they are easily accessible by train as is the case with getting to Cascais.

DC are teens and primary. They don't know about the holiday as I haven't told them. And yes, they are used to us saying no, we can't afford x,y,z. We are just a typical working class family, with a household income way less compared to the typical MN reader. The teens are quite good with appreciating the value of money as they have got older.

Yes, it is shit being skint but I have been poorer and even a UK holiday would have been a daydream, so being able to even get to this point with a holiday abroad, albeit a bit wobbly with finances, it's the way it is unfortunately for so many of us at the bottom.

The cost of living crisis and inflation is crippling. Despite in the last 3 years, with the combination of increasing my hours and getting a better job which has given me a pay increase of approx £10k, I only feel marginally better off- it's crazy.

Our UK countryside hols have always been self catering and we always find free stuff to do, walks, nature reserves with the odd thing with entrance fees. Weirdly, it's always the cottage/ location / sheep by the front door / scenery that blows them away as it's so different from the usual urban jungle that we are used to. So, I think just a change of scenery will be fun for them.

With regards to raising money, I remembered that I have a bin bag of clothes that I want to get rid of on vinted but just haven't got round to it. I'm also going to ask if I can become FT at work ( I'm currently 0.87, so almost there anyway) Even a few hours will make a difference but not sure if management will agree but I'm hopeful 🤞🏼

I'm going to go back and reread this thread again when I sit down properly to do research. And thank you for the offers of help, I might contact you on the thread again in a month or two!

Are there public transport passes that covers a few days /a week- thinking that might be cheaper than daily passes. Is the main way around the city by tram or bus?

At this stage, I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do but you have all made me feel optimistic that I can do this, with some proper planning and research. I have plenty of time for that so no excuses!