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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Spending around £3.600 on holiday, flights only?

28 replies

Dorange · 28/06/2013 23:06

Hi

I am from a very far away country and last time I have been there was 2008.
I have been saving a lot to be able to go there, my husband has never been there and my daughter went with me when she was a baby, now she is 6.
Tomorrow I am going to an agency to sort out the tickets but I am freaking out.
If I am luck the tickets will not be more than £3.600 but although we will have accommodation, we will need pocket money to do some stuff.
Plus my parents are divorced and live in separate cities so we will need money for domestic flights.
So we will basically spend most of our savings on this holiday and start from 0 again...I have around 8K in the bank, should I keep it for a deposit on a mortgage??

We are working class but I am self employed so set my own hours and rates and save hard. I will be there for 30 days.

Dh is in a non professional career and looking to change jobs. He has only 16 days holidays left.

I will reduce my working hours from September because I am studying and and the work I do is affecting my mental health as I am not enjoying it.

We don't drive, we pay rent and don't have luxuries...should I go ahead and have this holiday anyway or just do something cheaper and keep the money?

OP posts:
Clearlymisunderstood · 28/06/2013 23:18

Where are you from? That does seem an excessive amount to spend, are you absolutely sure you can't get cheaper flights?

manicinsomniac · 28/06/2013 23:22

Is it South America? I go there most years and am always staggered by the cost of flights. I shop around and buy a long way in advance but it can cost not far off that for the 3 of us.

Personally, if you can afford it at all, even if it's a stretch I would do it. Travel is the one thing that I never resent spending money on or feel I am wasting it on. I will probably never own a home and my children have hardly any 'stuff' but they do spend most of every summer travelling in exotic places. It's worth it in my opinion. Especially as, once there, you can get away with spending very little.

Helpyourself · 28/06/2013 23:24

Where are you going? Post the dates and I'm sure we can find cheaper...

Original poster
Dorange · 28/06/2013 23:32

I don't want to say which country it is but yes it is South America.

I made a mistake on my OP, I won't start savings again from 0 as I won't spend the whole 8K, I am sure people will treat us but I want to be able to do nice things too, buy a few things...and take a few presents for family members...

I think you are right mani but I am get scared, I am so used to live frugally that spending this amount of money seems like a crime.

There are so many things i could do instead:
I could visit another country I have never been.
I could learn how to drive and buy an old banger which is my dream.

But I think it will be good all around for everyone involved...

and I don't even know how much savings I need for a mortgage, probably much more than 10K since I am in London and won't move.

OP posts:
flipchart · 28/06/2013 23:34

Have you been on Skyscanner and played round with dates eg go on a Thursday and come back on a Sunday. It tends to be more expensive (not all the time but sometimes) if you go say Friday to Friday.

bigfuckoffpie · 28/06/2013 23:35

Go. You've saved up, you've planned for this, and you're only alive once.

Original poster
Dorange · 28/06/2013 23:35

And that is why I am going to an agency tomorrow, so they can find me better deals.
I am flexible with dates but has to be within the school holidays.
And because we are coming back in different dates and from different cities I can do all by myself, I need a travel agent. I am not even used to go on holidays a part from butlins so booking everything myself scares me.

OP posts:
PoppyWearer · 28/06/2013 23:36

Agree that you only live once. This trip sounds important to you. Go for it.

flipchart · 28/06/2013 23:37

....or split your route and have a stay over somewhere can work out cheaper than flying direct. (Eg fly to Europe, cheap hotel and then pick up another flight with a different airline)

flipchart · 28/06/2013 23:38

You don't need a travel agent.
Honestly skyscanner is your friend with things like this.

TheSecondComing · 28/06/2013 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TimeofChange · 28/06/2013 23:44

Dorange: Go and see you family.

Your DD will meet her GPs and other family again and she is old enough to remember it in future years, especially if you have photos of it all.

I hope you get some bargain flights and have an amazing time.

Best wishes to you.

Original poster
Dorange · 28/06/2013 23:47

DH has only 16 days holidays, so we can't stop somewhere in the middle, since once there at the destination we need time to visit to set of families.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dorange · 28/06/2013 23:50

I need a travel agent because:
We want to go together on the same flight obviously to destination 1.
But Dh will come back alone from destination 2.
And i will come back later with dd from destination 1.

Would skyscanner give the option to do it all at once?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dorange · 28/06/2013 23:52

Thanks

OP posts:
karinmaria · 28/06/2013 23:52

Definitely go to a travel agent after checking skyscanner. I recently booked a trip which was £450 cheaper at the Flight Centre than on the Internet! (My flights are London to Hong Kong, HK to Beijing, Beijing to Bangkok and Bangkok back to London.)

I couldn't believe the difference!

And if the trip means a lot to you and your family then go Smile

flipchart · 28/06/2013 23:53

Go and have a look. You can play round with all sorts of options and see what suits you. Once you have picked which one you want it takes you direct to the airline website.

flipchart · 28/06/2013 23:55

I agree with KarinMarie. Once you have a price it's worth seeing if you can get a better deal.

MrsGrowbag · 29/06/2013 03:15

We have this dilemma too, DHs family live a long way away and we are going to see them this summer -£3400 for (4) flights alone, then car hire as they live in remote area. We shopped around but this is the cheapest we could do unless we had 1 night stopover in Europe each way which would cut down time with family. We only get 2 weeks holiday in summer, and prices are so expensive in school holidays. But worth it to see grandparents.

Original poster
Dorange · 29/06/2013 08:21

How often you do this Mrs Growbag?

OP posts:
Helpyourself · 29/06/2013 08:22

And although you don't want to 'waste' time a route via Europe could save you thousands- you literally change planes there, it doesn't mean you have to pay for a hotel or have fun.

KentishWine · 29/06/2013 08:25

Agree with others. Do not use an agent. DH and I travel to South America to see his family and we book ourselves on ebookers. It's always £100s cheaper. Also look directly on the websites of the airlines that fly to your home.

KentishWine · 29/06/2013 08:29

And yes, ebookers gives you the option of picking 'multicity' travel so you can fly into place A and out if place B. They have an advice line in case the booking process becomes complicated!

VigourMortis · 29/06/2013 08:48

Dorange I have flown to S Am quite a lot and often get it cheaper by buying an easy jet / ryan air flight to Madrid and then flying on from Barajas. I agree skyscanner should be your first port of call.

minouminou · 29/06/2013 08:52

Watching with interest.
I second the flying from Europe advice.....you could spend a couple of days in a new country as well as see your family.....bargain!