AIBU to not take my children on holidays....

[nonsense0name]

I can afford to go but can't justify the price, I hate flying, travelling and the sheer hassle of the whole thing, the packing, organising, being disapointed when it's not fab.

or am I robbing my kids of precious childhood memories?

we have loads of days trips and outings to the beach, park, beer garden in the summer, zoos, picnics etc etc

but I can't bring myself to part with the near £1k it costs to book a decent holiday cottage in this country or go further afield

What do you think - am I missing the point?

One of the best holidays I had as a young teenager was to the South of France where we stayed in a French campsite. We had a large semi-permanent tent, proper campbeds, bedlinen, a table. On the campsite there was a pool, a beach by a lake, a mini supermarket, laundry facilities, other children, great weather, everything. You could also stay in a chalet. We got there by Eurostar and TGV as my mum didn't enjoy flying either. I have no idea how much it cost but surely less than £1000.

Alternatively how about one of the channel islands? Really short flight or longer ferry, but much warmer than the UK and lots to do. Just spent a week there.

I don't think you need to pack a ridiculous amount, especially if you can wash whilst you're there. Isn't the golden rule "set out what you think you need and halve it?"

My DS won't remember our week away (22 months) but hopefully I will have lasting memories....

you dont have to go abroad there is cheaper alternatives although nobody really 'needs' a holiday its just a fun and nice thing to do, OP dont rule it out look for alterntives long weekends or monday to fridays ,

we have booked our first holiday this year in 9 years and I can't wait. It's just a change of scenery isnt it? and the children are looking forward to it, but it IS a luxury and it's up to you what you spend your money on :)

I am self confessed holidayholic and I Dont think YABU. It sounds like you do loads of fun stuff with your children already.

OP several people have pointed out after your openign post that a holiday does not equal a £1000 cottage yet your second post just reiterates this - you seem quite fixed. Start looking and you will see there are loads of holidays you can get cheaper than this!

I love holidays and for the past few years we have driven to France, our own cottage with its own pool is heaven for us and our boys.

IMO if you can you should go on holiday with your children, the memories are far superior to a day trip. Think back to your childhood the days out blend together but we all remember the week in cornwall, west Wales etc. holidays are special because everyone is away together and there's no washing basket staring at you or bathroom beckoning for a clean, just a chance to really switch off when everyday life for a bit. The fact that you seem to think you have to go abroad is a shame as many have pointed out you can get a caravan holiday here or abroad for a lot less than £1000. Think of your children and get away even if it's only for a week.

I'm just imaging the OP's children as adults saying "we never went on holiday as children because my Mum didn't want to"

Why are you all detailing the price of cheaper cottages when we all know the expense of the holiday goes beyond the cost of the cottage!

the OP said she was a bit miffed at the prices she can afford them but thought they were overpriced so others are giving different suggestions, and what she would pay on her day trips money could go on a holiday if she wanted ,

Because Fio, if you halved the accommodation price the OP found, you'd have enough money for a holiday, spending, petrol and food and still have change from a grand. The Op is taking £1000 as her starting point.

Besides which, family days out can be expensive- add up the price of three or four days out with entry fees petrol etc and you've probably got enough for a holiday.

(disclaimer- I know many, many days out are free or cheap by the way, I'm talking entry fees/zoos/cafes/petrol/train fares/whatever).

It's also irritating that despite being told how much cheaper holidays can be, the OP has mentioned the £1000 cottage AGAIN, without listening to good advice given.

I think it's because the prices are so much more expensive during the summer holiday that causes more objection. I was looking at a lodge for October half term and the week before it only cost £2.50 for the week but October half term it was almost £900 and I know these places and individual owners are running businesses but it doesnt half smart

We've booked a caravan in the middle of August for less than £500.

Fio- £2.50 a week? Is that a typo?

There aren't many cheaper cottages though are there? I booked a week in August last week and there was nothing really under £800 for a family of 5 and the one I found was 800 and something and by the time the computer had added on insurance and a booking fee and a partridge in a pear tree it was closer to a grand

I was joking re. £2.50! It was about 200 and something the week before though!

I don't know where you're looking, but we had a house that sleeps 10 last August for £600.

It's more than possible to have a reasonably priced UK holiday during school holidays. If you shop around and use offers, Sun holidays, caravan parks, lesser know private ownership rentals etc

I find caravans claustrophobic and not much of a holiday, all crammed in together, cold loo seats and tiny crap oven, rubbish reception on the tv.....but I am not the OP and my children are most probably harder work than some of yours :)

I was looking in Wales YouOldSlag. I imagine I had left it a bit late to start looking though and I only got this one because it was new on their books

sun holidays start this weekend

you could go to butlins for £40 ish, and could spend a few more £s per person to be half board so no cooking either...

bet the kids would have a fab time!

This thread is pissing all over my sunny holiday mood. You bunch of miseries!

If you don't like caravans- get a house or cottage- they ARE reasonable if you shop around. Or stay at home and tell your kids holidays are banned, and to shut their curtains on their way out the door so you can sit in the dark and grumble to yourself.

PS
I am not the OP and my children are most probably harder work than some of yours- Wanna bet? (weak, exhausted laughter)

Holidays are brilliant. I'm not bothered if it's a fancy hotel abroad, or a caravan at the British coast, it's a lovely change from my everyday life.

The kids are genuinely thrilled to be taken anywhere. They think Travelodges are AMAZING. A night or two in one of those in an interesting city is a holiday for young children, and cheap! Give it a go. Start small and work your way up to a week away somewhere.

static caravans have plumbing and everything fiofio

My daughter has severe sn and challenging behaviour youoldslag :o hence why i cannot do caravans I suppose. But tbh sometimes she is so much easier then the squabbling boys

I am not a misery anyway, i can't wait to go on holiday we have waited a long time for it! mind you we also lived on the coast for much of their childhood so I don't feel they have been that hard done by

Keep googling Fio. Like I said we had a house that slept 10 in August for 600. There were 9 of us so it was cheap as chips and had a massive garden.

If like me, you are tenacious and tight fisted enough, you will come good in the end.

youoldslag tell me your cheap caravan finder tips I have been looking our touring holiday has been cancelled due to a broken foot