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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that a weeks holiday in the uk should be cheaper than going abroad?

72 replies

carriedababi · 12/06/2011 10:34

would liek to go to either cornwall, dorset or east coast,so pretty flexible

for 1 week

2 adults 1 4 year old

flexible on accomadation, either b and b, hotel, caravan
so flexible there

but can't seem to see any accomadation for less than 800 a week

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 12/06/2011 15:28

"I think more people would travel in England if train prices were lower."

I assume you don't drive. Do you have a family railcard? You can save £££ with one. Or the other option is to travel by coach. Megabus are very cheap.

Groovee · 12/06/2011 15:55

Having done lots of searching we got www.broadgatefarmcottages.co.uk/ for just £700 for the 4 bed coattge for 4 adults and 2 children. The sun and daily mail deals are quite good value as we paid £181 for 5 days instead of the £450 which Haven wanted from us for the same caravan. If you go Late August to Scotland the school hols are over so is cheaper. Probably why the place we got is cheaper as it's the scottish hols but not english hols.

AandK · 12/06/2011 16:35

I went to butlins last year paid £360 on a last minute booking and it was half board fair enough it was only ds and I but I can no way go abroad for that and it was gorgeous sunshine all week Grin

AandK · 12/06/2011 16:38

I also have a railcard £25 per year and it saves me loads you can use up to adukts and 2 children on a railcard

youngwomanwholivesinashoe · 12/06/2011 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AandK · 12/06/2011 16:48

I wouldn't go to haven ever again even though they're owned by the same company as butlins they're worlds apart. Haven was for more expensive nearly double what paid for butlins and it was only self catering and the entertainment is a joke they're lazy imo I know its going to be butlins every year until ds is 12 now as then it will be cheaper to go abroad.

Deaddei · 12/06/2011 18:24

We normally have a week in Wales but two years ago decided we would never go in this country again.
Our house was £1000 for a week, and with meals out etc we didn't get much change from £2k. I want to stay in a house which has the same facilities I have at home ie fully equipped kitchen, 2 bathrooms, warm, decent tv......

expatinscotland · 12/06/2011 18:30

I just found caravans for £888 for an entire fortnight in July. For 2 adults and 3 kids.

We go abroad to see family, it's paid for by them. Because otherwise I couldnt be arsed with said 3 kids in tow. It's a fucking PITA, IMO.

Beamur · 12/06/2011 18:35

I love holidaying in the UK.
But there again I hate travelling!
We mostly camp (with 3 kids too) but sometimes rent a cottage or B&B.
Good point made about it actually costing more for hoteliers etc in this country to provide the facilities too.
When cheap flights start costing more then the price difference might face a bit.

smudgethepuppydog · 12/06/2011 18:36

Have you tried Owners Direct

diabolo · 12/06/2011 19:00

It is a joke isn't it?

No wonder we all bugger off abroad.

bettyblackeye you can probably pick up a really nice apartment in Menorca, last minute. Doesn't have to be some prison-block style AI hotel. Shop around a bit and you might get a nice surprise.

Original poster
carriedababi · 12/06/2011 20:56

oh owner direct seems pretty good

OP posts:
Bettyblackeye · 12/06/2011 22:07

Yes I am thinking I might leave it until the last minute and see what the weather forecast is like in this country :)

pingu2209 · 12/06/2011 22:12

If you are a family of 5 going abroad is very expensive. Family rooms on the whole are only for 4 so you end up having to pay for a room for 6, which means paying for someone who isn't there. Hugely expensive.

That is why staying in England is cheaper.

Bunbaker · 13/06/2011 07:17

I don't think it is much of a holiday if you all end up sleeping in the same room. That is why we always book a 2 bedroom apartment.
In the UK we always get somewhere with the same creature comforts as we do at home - space to move around in, TV/DVD, washing machine, sometimes a dishwasher, a garden. Caravan parks just don't appeal, all inclusive holidays in some kind of complex appeal even less.

The 2 bedroom apartment with the above comforts we stayed in over half term was for up to 6 people plus a baby. I doubt that you could get a holiday abroad in that kind of accommodation for that many people for £560.

microserf · 13/06/2011 07:55

YANBU!!! the Uk prices are ridiculous, and i'm going to get flamed to hell for saying this, but the UK tourist industry is often pretty shit.

crappy hotels and b&bs with rude owners and rubbish overpriced food in the local restaurants. same bloody shops in every town, hardly anything local. "attractions" that cost £££ for a family of four for one day - but my kids are little and we usually leave after a couple of hours and go sit in the crappy b&b while they nap.

and that's when we can find a b&b or hotel that takes kids - i had one b&b owner arsily tell me it should be "obvious" she didn't accept kids as guests, but given she saw fit to say no dogs and no kids on her fricking website, she didn't mention children. she sent me some really rude emails, the cow, about how we shouldn't just expect people to accept children - sorry, i thought they were people too, and paying guests! if you don't want them - SAY IT ON YOUR WEBSITE.

phew, rant over.

personally, i'd like to holiday more in the UK as i hate travelling on long trips, but it's usually cheaper and better elsewhere.

ddubsgirl · 13/06/2011 08:40

we are going camping for 3 ad 5 kids its £270 for a week,plus then food on top,sil wants to go to paultons park as its just over the road for where we are camping to book online its £150 :/

cwtch4967 · 13/06/2011 21:26

There are some bargains around - just booked a caravan four night break in July with Hoseasons in Cornwall for £75.00

emsies · 13/06/2011 21:42

We had a gorgeous week camping near corfe castle in Dorset for £11 a night for a whole family. Fantastic! Completely weather dependent though.

Gorgeous area, grorgeous beaches, gorgeous walking etc etc.

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 13/06/2011 21:47

YANBU. Dp is insistent that he wants to stay in the UK this year and I am really, really struggling to find anything. The idea of it pissing down all week doesn't hold much appeal for me either. We are going to end up going nowhere at this rate.

tyler80 · 13/06/2011 21:57

We went to Tenerife earlier in the year. Flights, self catering accommodation (booked through owners direct) and car hire cost less than renting something of a similar standard in this country.

Omigawd · 14/06/2011 05:38

Cornwall and area are ludicrously expensive in school hols other bits of UK are cheaper. But we always go to Europe now as it's cheaper, better weather and better food usually.

Having said that we once camped in the middle of nowhere in the midlands for a week ( no sea, entertainment etc, lousy weather), and the kids loved it - all it needed were other kids!

jester68 · 14/06/2011 06:26

YANBU
We have had the same problems. Have now found a holiday to costa dorada in october half term for £900

This is for 2 children and 2 adults, half board, insurance, airport parking etc.

So we are going to go for this one instead

mouseanon · 14/06/2011 06:35

Have you tried WWW.cottages4you.co.UK we always manage to find something reasonable on there. It's easier if you're a bit flexible about where you will go though.

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