Did you go abroad this summer?

[Lilacbluewaters]

Family of 5 soon to be 6 here. A lot of our family members were lucky enough to go abroad this summer but somehow I don’t even understand how. What sort of income do you need to be able to afford a holiday abroad?

I went abroad but this was driving with DS to the Netherlands for his year abroad studying so not really a holiday!

No, nor the last 8 summers. But we have lots of days out, so spent about the same.

Honestly, I made a conscious decision to have no more than two children so that I could afford the things I wanted in life. It didn't just happen.

We went to Thailand for 3 weeks this summer.

I've gone long haul the last three summers- overall it's better value than your traditional med holiday and increasing the same or cheaper.

Yes. A week in May half term and 2 weeks in August. We chose to have 1 child.

Eurocamp is the answer.

This summer we went to France on a bit of a road trip. Went to Puy du Fou and Disneyland Paris for a few days at each which probably doubled the price of our holiday overall but the Eurocamp in between cost us £1500 in the most expensive type of accommodation for 8 night, fab site with loads to do.
We took the long ferry to Caen on the way which cost us £300 but the tunnel back which was cheaper and Calais to Dover ferry would have been even cheaper.

Only other cost to consider was obviously food but Eurocamp is great for self-catering with a bbq and tolls/petrol.

We could have done a week in Eurocamp with ferry there and back for £1800 if we’d have chosen a cheaper accommodation. Ours slept 6 so would have been fine for your family.

Yes, twice. Our children are grown up so very straightforward. When they were younger we went abroad paid for with bonuses or maturing sharesave schemes.

3dc all counted as adults plus dh and I went to Greece for a week. Went AI as that works well for teens and it cost £7k. Earnings are about £110k with mortgage being our only debt.

We didn’t go this year, had a lovely UK holiday. We went last year. Dd is 14 and was desperate to go. Will try and go again in 2 years just after her GCSEs finish - hoping we get a better deal term
time.

When we had 3 to pay for we found places like landalgreenparks in the Netherlands the most suitable/affordable option.
We have finally hit the no school age kids bit and are off the Canary Islands in a few weeks for 10 days all inclusive laying on a sunbed

We are a family of five and last year we went to Portugal for a week self catering with easyJet in May half term holidays which cost 1600. We took £2k spending but come back with £800. This year I took the 3 kids to Cyprus and stayed in my mum's so only paid for flights and spending money. Flights cost £ 1200 and spent £1100 over 9 days on activities and food. We bring in about £3000 a month between us in wages so not well off but prioritise holidays over days out and activities the rest of the year.

Did Italy in winter and Disney in spring so no summer holidays this year. I did look but left it a bit late and it was £££. Went to wales for a summer break instead

We didn't but it's so we can go on a big holiday next year. We did a lot of day trips and treats though.

Yes, Dubai and Maldives with dc3

I only have 1 child though - single mum

Yes I’ve done a city break and have a week in the sun still to come

We did our first AI. Was £5k for the week. Honestly, didn’t love it. Think I prefer UK holidays where you can get out and about and visit places (weather dependent- which is the problem!)

I took my two teens the the USA for two weeks. I spent around £6 -7k in total and am a single parent on around £72k. That may sound a decent salary (and it is) but it had to pay for 3 adults essentially. This was an exceptional year as we normally stay in Europe and spend around £4k. It's manageable because I spread the cost - so flights booked first and paid for, then accommodation, which I was able to pay in two stages, then car hire and then obviously spending money. I was so worried about how expensive it was going to be when we were over there as people tell so many horror stories - $20 for a coffee and bagel etc, but I didn't find it that bad at all. We ate out around 50% of the time as we were sc and it was fine. No one chased after me for a bigger tip (I left around 15-20% mostly) and supermarket prices were comparable to here in most places. Petrol was cheaper.

We had a lovely 4 days stay in a cottage during May half term (in the UK) Cottage very reasonably priced.

We also had a fantastic 10 days at Eurocamp in France this summer. Kids loved it & we were very lucky with the weather. Already looking at booking for next year but might try a different site (even though the one we stayed at was excellent)

Edit: If you have young DCs, Eurocamp type holidays are especially ideal (and much cheaper than the standard package holiday abroad)

We did a week AI in Tenerife. It was 4.5k for our family of 4 and we had a really lovely time.

I’m honestly staggered at the 4.5-5k prices for a week AI in Europe - it didn’t cost me and my partner much more than that to spend 5 weeks travelling around South America!

Just home from an amazing 2 week holiday in California (LA). Three of us in the family, all adults. Stayed in a hotel, ate out twice daily, cost around 9K before food and taxis. With food and taxis probably 15/16k. We discovered that everything had doubled in price since we last visited in 2023. So expensive. Paid mainly on credit card but worth it as we'll pay it off and it was an incredible trip.

It will not surprise you that my holidays have been to the land of song, Wales. Other than a day trip to Paris on Eurostar to visit the memorials to my ancestors who lived there.

We go abroad 4 times a year together and my husband goes on his own with friends because of his hobby!
We usually pay around £3/4k per holiday
We’ve booked to go on a safari holiday to Africa next year and that would be our most expensive one yet £8k, so we’ll most likely only get away 3 times next year!

No - and we haven’t been abroad since our DD (an only) was born 6 years ago. TBH this year the summer here was so good why go abroad - and for us that is enough sun for the year 😅
Hopefully we can go in the future, but even though we both work it feels very expensive for us. We don’t have credit cards and we do lots in this country, have a hot tub at home etc so don’t feel a massive need to go abroad.