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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that this is too much money for a school trip

276 replies

aquariel · 01/10/2014 20:31

Hi all,

Eldest son (13yrs) brough a letter home from school for a trip they are planning to Iceland in October 2015. Cost of trip is £790 and will take place during October half term.

I run a very tight budget (currently clearing off all credit cards etc aiming to be debt free by 2018 - just in time to help him with fees for university no doubt!) and while we could stretch to it if pushed this seems like an obscene amount for one child (although I guess at his age he's probably charged as an adult on international travel). School has said they'd like a £50 non-refundable deposit to secure a place to be paid immediately (I couldn't pay till payday anyway - mid month for us) so probably wouldn't be able to commit to the trip.

I really don't want to disappoint my son as he rarely asks for much and he seems really excited about the (possibility of) this trip. We have in the past paid up for trips to London and Belgium for him so I'm not worried about him missing out on that side of "the experience" (although I appreciate Iceland is a totally different kettle of fish) but the most either of those trips cost me was £350 including his spending money.

So .. what do others think? Reasonable price or unreasonable?

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 01/10/2014 20:34

not a bad price for a trip to iceland. however, yes it is a lot for a school trip.

TheTrueVoiceOfReason · 01/10/2014 20:35

That is about the same price at my DCs school. That included 4am flights and 1am return Hmm; it also pro-ratas out flight costs for staffing plus food, accommodation, admissions, transport, guides etc. Looking at it like that, its quite cheap. In reality the trip will only be for 40 pupils plus staff because very few will be able to afford it

TheTrueVoiceOfReason · 01/10/2014 20:37

Cost of living in Iceland is higher than the UK so you also have to actor in a completely different economic structure

www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries_result.jsp?country1=Iceland&country2=United+Kingdom

CrohnicallyPissedOff · 01/10/2014 20:37

I think it's fair enough given that it will be during half term, it's clearly extra curricular and therefore won't be subsidised by the school. But at least your son won't be 'left behind' or missing out by not going- unlike if it was during term time when staff and other class members would be noticeably absent.

Celticlass2 · 01/10/2014 20:37

This is a very reasonable price. Paying just under 1000 for a week in Italy next year for my DD.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 01/10/2014 20:38

I dont think it is overpriced. And it would cost a lot more for you to take him, however you really are not obliged to send him. And there is absoloutley nothing at all wrong with saying no.

How old is your DS? If he really wants to go, he could use birthday and christmas money, wash cars, run errands for others to help raise the funds.

Smartiepants79 · 01/10/2014 20:38

Well, it is an awful lot of money and if it not for any educational reasons ( a friend takes sixth form to Iceland to study glaciers etc) it is a luxury and only you can decide if its possible.
I remember going to Egypt over a half term when I was about 17. It was just a 'holiday'. Even 18 yrs ago it cost about £600-800 so I not sure the cost is excessive for what they're being offered. But in the end that's not really the point. It sounds like this is simply something your family cannot afford right now.
I can't believe you are the only ones who would struggle to pay this kind of money.

LadyLuck10 · 01/10/2014 20:38

It's not a lot if this was a family holiday but you would be able to work out the price for yourself.
How do they put this on kids, there's probably many who cannot afford this. Puts pressure on parents, the kids themselves and so unnecessary..

Tadla · 01/10/2014 20:39

Noooo way, really? Would never expect a school trip at that cost. Fine for a planned family holiday but not at all reasonable for a school trip. We are by no means on the breadline but id have to really think about a trip at that price.

threepiecesuite · 01/10/2014 20:39

Iceland is very expensive.
Our school said in the offer letter to parents that max cost would be £700 but fund raising by the students would bring it down.
They did a few bag -packs and sold items at break times and got the cost down to £500.

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 01/10/2014 20:39

I think it's a reasonable price for the type of trip it is. I also think as they are running it in half term then children who aren't able to go are less likely to feel left out than if it were during school time.

Itsfab · 01/10/2014 20:39

Do the staff have to buy their own tickets on school trips?

AnyFucker · 01/10/2014 20:39

it is a lot of money, and tbh I don't think he will be disadvantaged for life if he doesn't go on the trip

just say no

exexpat · 01/10/2014 20:41

DS did a school geography trip to Iceland a couple of years ago and I think the price was similar. It is an expensive place, flights aren't cheap, and they do a lot of moving around to see different geological features.

You can't blame the school for offering it - it is a great trip - but if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. I presume it is not a compulsory part of a course?

TeenAndTween · 01/10/2014 20:41

Iceland is an amazing place with loads of geographical features.
It is also very expensive.

So as an optional trip for y10/11 GCSE geography it is not unreasonable for them to offer it, if they have enough parents willing to pay.

For a child with an interest in geography/geology it would be a fantastic place to visit, and not one where most families would consider or could afford en masse.

I think the price is probably reasonable for what the trip is.

I don't think you should feel guilty about saying no, but I don't think the school is unreasonable for offering the trip for the families who can afford it. I would be surprised if more than about 20 kids go.

notagainffffffffs · 01/10/2014 20:43

Oh god that is so much money :( I dont think yabu but maybe you could take him to alton towers or something during half term to take his mind off it

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 01/10/2014 20:44

It's a fair price but like anything else you can either afford it or you can't.

It's tough but life Sad

TheTrueVoiceOfReason · 01/10/2014 20:45

You DS is 13 so Y8 or Y9 at present. Has he taken his options? Is he intending to take GCSE geography? Is this part of the GCSE course?

iamsoannoyed · 01/10/2014 20:46

I think it is a reasonable price for a trip to Iceland, so no I don't think it is too pricey.

However, whether it is a reasonable price is neither here nor there- if you can't afford it, then you can't afford it. You're not obliged to send your son on this trip, and as it's during half-term it is clearly extra-curricular and he won't miss out on essential work.

If you did really keen to send him, is there any way you could put money aside every month? Is there any way he could put some money towards it (birthday/christmas money? Does he have a paper round or something?).

WooWooOwl · 01/10/2014 20:47

It's a lot of money, but the school aren't profiting from it. That's just what it will cost, probably with group discount as well. It's not about reasonable or unreasonable, they are charging what it costs, and it's up to you to decide whether you can afford it, or whether you think it's value for money.

I think it's great that schools offer trips like this. They proved an option, and give children a chance to see things that would be unaffordable and possibly undesirable for a whole family.

TheTrueVoiceOfReason · 01/10/2014 20:49

Also you do say Eldest son - how many more have you got, would they attend the same school, would you be in a position to afford similar trips in the future? I make that point in the interest of fairness and equality.

PhilomenaCunk · 01/10/2014 20:49

I've got a degree in geography and managed it without a trip to Iceland. Wink

Although the cost is probably fair it does seem a huge amount for a school trip.

WooWooOwl · 01/10/2014 20:49

Do the staff have to buy their own tickets on school trips?

They usually get free places, and they don't pay any more than anyone else who travels for work.

mamapain · 01/10/2014 20:53

It is a lot of money in general but it is not a high price for this sort of school trip.

You've been very lucky to have so far only had trips up to £350 including spending money.

HamAndPlaques · 01/10/2014 20:53

Do the staff have to buy their own tickets on school trips?

Not in my experience. Either the tour operator offers a free staff place for every 10 children (or similar ratio) or the teachers' are absorbed into the cost for pupils.

I appreciate your quandary, OP. It's an ambitious destination and it is probably the cheapest that the school can offer it but YWNBU to say no.