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.

Haha it helps with the main attractions worth seeing or transport options and costs without scaling the Internet! It can plan the whole trip but I don't rely on it solely. However i have found it mighty helpful with making lists of stuff worth seeing, or stuff to pack for particular type of a trip and even narrow down best areas to stay in based on what I want to do and who I'm travelling with. Then I go off and do some independent research.

I Paid for our holiday last year by selling some of our old toys and games on vinted. It took a fair bit of selling but I think because it was for a holiday and the way I raised the cash it forced me not to use it for anything else. This was the kids old toys games and some old clothes. Best time ever knowing it paid for a holiday we would otherwise not have got. You can do this!

There are lots of free things to do in Lisbon https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-free-things-to-do-in-lisbon

Also pop to Aldi (there are at least three of them) for bargain food, take some Tupperware with you and a cool bag for picnics made up in your apartment to save even more cash!

I think they will love being somewhere abroad. You will have the apartment (or whatever you are booking) the sea and beach. It could be a nice relaxing holiday. You don’t need to do something every day. Go exploring or for walks. As long as you have a bed and some
food it’ll be fine. I think given the choice they would rather go abroad and just have the beach than stay in England. I only had uk holidays until I was 15 and when I first went abroad it was amazing to be somewhere else

Went to Lisbon last Spring
We got Lusbon cards which covered all the transport from airport and then all around the city. Also gives free entry to lots of places or ticket reductions. It was surprisingly cheap to eat out but you can also just grab a sandwich from the supermarket and sit somewhere outside and eat or back at your accommodation.
I hope you can make it it's an amazing city

When are you supposed to go and how long ? I can try and help find cheap places to visit and eat as I’m from Lisbon . Portugal is a fairly cheap country to visit if you know where to go .

How about looking for a campsite? Most European countries have campsites where you stay in one of their tents or caravans and often have an on-site pool. Much cheaper than apartment and then just spend on food what you would normally spend when at home. Or can the flights be changed to next year maybe? I do hope you get to go

You’re going to have to ditch it and put it down to experience.

As others say if you can get a self-catering apartment that is conveniently located (so you can avoid a hire car or taxis) then it might, just might, be doable. But it’s very unlikely peak season.

Your best hope is to check the week before for a last minute cancellation.

Worth asking for suggestions and advice on the Tripadvisor Discussion Forum.

ChatGP can be unreliable, lists things that have closed down etc, so double check anything from there.

I have cancelled flights before when due to a change in circumstances decided it was going to be too expensive.

Hopefully if you can increase your work hours and save that money it will be doable. Does you DH have any possibility to increase his income also?

Are there any treats you can cut out - like if the DC know you are “all saving” for a holiday will they be willing to forgo snacks etc for a while?

It may be worth rescheduling the flights, even with the costs. Next year would give you ample time to save more.
If I were you I would join a credit union and save with them. You can access small loans too.
Going and scraping by will not be much of a holiday to remember.

https://www.aldeiadapraia.pt

Have a look at this place. It's like a surfy village resort and cheap to stay with food and drink places on site and walkable to 2 gorgeous beaches. Its a 35 min uber from Lisbon and its fab!! We went last yr

Why dont you try booking something with euro camp thats super cheap

I'd do this too - they have local experts.

Unfortunately I think you are stuck with it- there is no way you will get your money back from flights. Book the cheapest self catering accommodation you can find- don't leave it the longer you wait the more expensive it will be.
Explain to the kids there is no extra money for trips etc-but they have got their wish to go abroad.
They are lucky to be getting the holiday- excursions etc should be unnecessary.
Next time do not book until you know you will have the money-go for a package company like Jet2 and pay in instalments, never book one element until you know you can afford all the elements- £40 flights are no good to you if you can't afford to stay anywhere.

This. No point going and running up loads of debt on to a credit card. Could you sell the flights to anyone to recoup a little money back? The person buying them would have to pay to change names but you might gain something back.

Hope you find your way. I still vote go - you have done the heavy lifting and loads of people are still broke on holiday. My kids would pick an Aldi picnic, some board games and a free beach over most paid options. Your kids will enjoy the flights, the place and the weather.

OP has already booked somewhere and should be able to pay for it.

OP I hope you find a way to get your holiday and not waste the flights. I would recommend taking a light weight cool bag/or two, flask for coffee and any other transportable pic-nic stuff you have. That way you can make up really good picnics to take out with you including hot drinks. We used to do this when having budget holidays in France. Also when you arrive take the kids to the supermarket with you to help choose food, mine used to love this trying out biscuits, cereals, yogurts etc different to those at home was part of the fun of the holiday. We also packed travel sized board games. If you plan on visiting museums etc - check and see if they have a museum pass. You may only need to pay for you and DH as most places free for students/kids (so check before paying). Some are free entry after a certain time (usually later in the day).

Eating out avoid touristy places (sometimes this just means going a street or two off the main area). A good way of telling if touristy is very large menus with pictures of all the dishes. Places with small, daily and set priced meal of the day type vibe are usually good value and More authentic.

You can get downloadable guides - so be your own tour guides at attractions etc.

I’ve not been to Lisbon but other places in Portugal I’ve found to be lovely and just as easy to budget as it is to splash out - go for it!

I know the feeling, just done the same on the spur of theoment booked a weekend away for Mayday weekend. UK hot tub holiday. Nothing flash but we've had a lot going on money tight and it's my hubby's 50th a week before, then my birthday and out anniversary. I worked dout somehow that we could afford sit then totally miscalculated. Booked the trip then realised between now and then we literally about £30 left. Looked at all sorts of options. Loans etc but no luck due to poor credit. Honestly ready to give up. But have managed to scrape together a little by selling some items and maxing out a credit card with a cash withdrawal and that's now gone in a safe place till the day. It does mean that we won't be doing our usual trick if visiting numerous places. Instead we will be having a chill in the hot tub, cooking there, keeping costs low and just have one good day out at maybe a free museum or the beach. Still trying to raise more. But I am determined not to cancel it we'd lose everything we paid and I can't do it because we all so need this holiday especially my 12 year old who has been though he'll lately.

Try an air b&b outside the main area, that’s what we do, it will be more local and interesting. You can cook breakfast and bring picnics for lunch to save money.

hiya,
have a look at some house-sitting websites,
that's a way of getting free accommodation
:)

Lisbon is fantastic, we went a few months ago, it’s small so you can walk everywhere, you can cook all your own food, lots of lovely parks that are all free, you can also get to local beaches very easily and cheap. There are lots of young people there who are obviously holidaying on a budget so you won’t feel like paupers at the gate. Take a packed meal for the airport/plane too as that saves a fortune. Go!!!

If it were me I would definitely go!!
You have the passports already which would otherwise be a huge expense. If you're all relatively young and otherwise fit then travel insurance for the family shouldn't be prohibitive.

Sell as much as you can on FB Marketplace or Next Door to raise a bit more cash.
What luggage are you planning on taking? Maybe you could just take small backpacks and economise a bit that way?
Otherwise just plan to spend what it would cost you if you were staying at home.

Loads of good advice and great ideas from other posters about picnics and travel games and just revelling in being in a new place :)
That surf village at Sintra someone linked to looked wonderful but could well be booked out at the height of summer. (Interestingly it was apparently originally set up for the families of rail workers.)

Excited for you - you should definitely go - it's a great city!

I'd go but wouldn't stay in the city and would head to the coast. We flew into Lisbon before and got the bus. It is much easier to have a cheap holiday if you have a pool or a beach.