sexy-I do have an excellent credit rating and have recently been offered a 0% card, which I was going to decline.
the save vs debt conundrum comes down to the differences between me and DP. I have been a v good saver in the past (saved 5 figure sum whilst on low income to put down a deposit on 1st house) but DP has spent EVERY penny he has ever earnt, even though he used to earn quite a lot. He just cant save but he'll pay a ccard bill when it comes in.
four fingers-we have access to 0% interest until december, atm that would then increase to 16% but either most would be paid by then or we could get a transfer
aldi- like I've said we already to the UK holiday thing, it's not the same IMO. The day is so short here, you just cant stay out with the kids until midnight like they do in mediterranean countries. I dont want to be stuck in watching tv in the evenings.
tyler- yes I've paid for holidays on credit before and had absolutely no regrets!
weird- I do have to find out how long passport apps take, we have the photos but do need to renew. But tbh I see having a passport as an essential expence whether I was planning a tip or not. We buy all our clothes in charity shops anyway and dont need v much so that is hardly going to cost anything.
knitted- if we go this year we wont go next year. I dont feel the need for a foreign holiday every year just every 2 or 3.
better- it's cold where we live, we maybe get 3 or 4 days all year that you could sit out in the park. A holiday at home would mean us all cooped up together in the flat driving each other crazy.
belgo-the passport cost is a PITA and is putting me off but it makes me feel uncomfortable not having a passport IYKWIM? I keep thinking of emergency scenarios where I'd need to travel but couldn't.
where- I know that by the time everything's addded up we'd be looking at more like £1200. It was just that previously I'd thought it would be closer to £2k which I'd thought would be a push too far. We have discussed us just going away as a couple or me just taking 1 DC but it would be really nice for us all to have a shared experience.
We would get a lift or could even bus it to the airport. We have sunscrean, adaptors, luggage etc already.
Euphemia- we recently paid off ccard. No debts apart from v low mortgage.
mrsbun- I get free travel insurance with my bank account.
mario- I only ever go on last minute deals. Holidays you book far in advance are extortionatly expensive! I've never paid 'brochure price' in my life and never will.
take-Isn't high inflation a reason NOT to save? DP's job is perfectly secure as he is self employed. We CAN afford repayments, what's wrong with that?
trillian- Until v recently we were servicing several £1000's of debt without any stress at all. It has now been paid off so now we have this portion of out disposable income freed up. If we still had that debt I wouldn't be adding to it with a holiday. We didn't save last year because DP's income dropped.
weird- see I wouldn't have spent £2k on a wedding instead of using it as a deposit on a house
bimbo- if you cant save up a few hundred pounds over 16 years of a child's life then I thinks that's really sad (and that you cant be very good at budgeting)
birds- I agree. A relative of mine always said she wanted to visit a particular exotic location some day. Then she was permanently disabled at age 42. No more holidays for her. 
I'm happy to go without ohter things which other people take for granted for a while to have a holiday every couple of years or so. One year I only spent £50 on Xmas, all in. I can be v frugal if need be.
grimma- can you name any bank accounts atm which pay interest which is higher than inflation? You are literally paying the bank to store your cash, it's daft! If I had spare cash I'd use it to overpay the mortgage, not sit in a stagnant deposit acount.
2rebecca-"walls are paper thin and you can feel every spring in the mattresses" lol- that sounds like home! - why do you think I'm so desperate to escape!
magic- I'd never go all inc. For one I think it works out more expensive. Two, it doesn't suit my holiday style- I dont want to sit by a pool all day and night, that would be very claustrophobic IMO. I like to get out and about and explore and eat in local restaurants. Thirdly I think it's unethical for all the money to go to the big tour operators rather than small local shopkeepers. Not interested in kids club. Point of the holiday is 24/7 family time. We could go away alone if we wanted that.
confessions- DP would get full pay sick pay of he fell ill. If we were in dire straights we have family who could help us. Do you really think that no-one should go on holiday ever just in case someone falls ill and cant work? And tbh I find the attitude of some British people who are so inward looking that they never leave their tiny small towns, medieval. I think that the cultural awareness that come from some travel is priceless.
because- When I took out that ccard it was 0% for a year then went to 9%. I was fine with that. But considering where the base rate is, the ccard interest jumping up to 16% at the beginning of this year was exploitative IMO. This doesn't happen elsewhere in Europe. Also cars and washing machines AREN'T essential, either. You can walk and use a laundrette.
Anyway, after thinking about it for a bit I think the best idea is to decide to go at the end of the season, so it's still this year but will give us some time to save up a bit. Then we should only have to borrow as much as we would be able to pay off by Christmas.