is a holiday abroad worth the angst? A very long ramble I'm afraid

[OrmIrian]

Some friends asked us to go away with them in the summer. Somewhere reasonably cheap and cheerful. Under the influence of another wet week in Cornwall we said yes in a vague sort of way.

Last week we were told that we had to pay for the flights this month and put a deposit down on the accomodation. Flights approx 600 and apartment 900. (Not to mention 4 passports as none of us have current passports!) Now for a start that doesn't seem all that cheap for a week in Majorca However the kids want to go and I think DH would too. I can't see passed the money atm.

Problem is that DH has a huge overdraft built up over his time as self-employed builder - expenses more than he earned sometimes. Also because he is crap at budgeting. He is now teaching so his income is higher and expenses much lower. But due to various big costs (car, new TV when the old one died etc) he still has fuck off big overdraft. There is no way we can pay that much from our joint a/c or from mine - christmas and DS#1's trip to Germany is going to clean us out for a few months. so the holiday has to go on DH's overdraft or a credit card. And that much debt freaks me out TBH. We would set up a DD to pay a set amt off the credit card every month - DH would pay, but even so I don't much like it. Added to which DH's teaching post is only for 1 yr - contract to be renewed (or not) in September. We will find out in March but we need to decide now.

Friends very keen for us to go. They say that it's really relaxing to go somewhere where the weather is guaranteed. But they have never been on holiday with DS#2 who is to relaxation like a pin is to a balloon

So the pros are:

1. Eldest DC not been abroad for 9yrs. DS#2 never. I feel a bit embarrassed that none of us have valid passports TBH.
2. Kids want to go (I think) as does DH.
3. Friends want our company (bless 'em - they'll regret it after a week with DS#2 )

cons:

1. COST! It may not be expensive as holidays go but it seems a lot to me.
2. If I am going to go abroad there are a million places I'd rather go....
3. DH needs to concentrate all his spare cash on making a dent on his overdraft. And then I really want to think about moving house. We need more space. That would be better than a hundred sunny holiday too me...

Tell me what to do please?

I mentioned it to DH this morning and he rather huffily suggested that it was up to me if I didn't think we could afford it. He is very much a 'sod it, let's do it' sort of person (hence the OD). I am not.

Hey knickknack that is beause you have not met DS#2 Beleive me he doesn't do relaxing.

I found our wet holiday in Cornwall relaxing TBH. Because we could walk to a lovely beach even in the rain and because it was so wet we had to do a lot of sitting around watching TV and playing games. And I could escape and go running when I felt like it. But everyone else decided that it was a wet week too far.

pacific -we need Cornwall for the surf.

Thanks mousey I'll look into it.

Um, yeah, in case it wasnt obvious, I meant you should look for alternatives in the same area.

Hey Mousey! did you fly easyjet? see my other post....... LOL

We were in Las Palma - Reina Isabel - half board

Have to say that is a lot of money for just a week, and you will also have food to pay for if in an appartment (assuming self-catering)? Friends had a holiday in Majorca very recently - cost them £1,700 all inclusive. FWIW, I wouldn't go - the stress of worrying about money would mean not being able to relax and enjoy the holiday, which is what it's supposed to be all about!

That's a nuts amount of money to pay-sounds like you will be subsidising their holiday.

I could get something abroad for a fraction of that. Mind you, going abroad rarely relaxing, least of all with other people. Sounds like hell.

Do a houseswap (www.homeexchange.com) in UK, stay cool, have a rest and pay nothing.

Don't go. Review the situation in the spring. I think you could get much cheaper than that if money is an issue. We went abroad this year with Owners Direct which I'd never heard of but was recommended by a friend. It's people who hire out their own places, all over the world, I think. So you don't pay any middle man, though you do have to sort out your own travel arrangements. We booked the most beautiful apartment in Austria last year in the summer holidays for £250 for the 4 of us - it would have slept 6. We drove over (which in retrospect was a mistake, car broke down in Germany ) but even if we'd flown it would only have been around a grand all in. When we got there we got this free sightseeing card so everything we did was free and we self catered so that didn't cost a lot more than home. We did Austria because I don't so sitting on beaches (I can't relax, lol) but you could go anywhere you fancied.

I'm liking the houseswap idea for a holiday here.....would have to tidy up though! I agree with moondog, it's a nuts amount of money, only OK if money is no object. Also, I know some people holiday with friends but I always think it's a bit of a recipe for disaster. You'd need to set some good ground rules now. My sister has done a lot of holidaying with various friends - I notice they are never such good friends after they return!

Thanks music - owners direct sounds interesting.

moondog - have to ROFL at anyone wanting to swap their house for our dump!

I also agree that it sounds a lot.

As a comparison we got return flights (2 adults 2 children) and a lovely apartment in Portugal last year for less than £1000 in total. It was in a lovely town, away from the busy touristy Algarve region(our choice as we wanted to be in a more traditional Portugese area) but only a few mins walk from the beach.

We used www.holidayrentals.co.uk after seeing it recommended by someone on here. You deal direct with the owners

It does seem expensive.

I have just booked our fanily holiday to Majorca for next year, there will be 5 of us, in a 4* apartment, peak season (august), flights, flight meals and baggage included for £2k. So youre deffo paying over the odds.

Thankyou.

I canvassed opinion amongst the DC and they don't care that much. So DH is texting friend tonight and crying off.

I feel so releived TBH. Will deal with holiday when we have more time to think about it and when we know what our financial state is.