To not want to spend £5000 on a holiday?

[roland83]

There's only me and my partner, we both earn 30k a year each.

When we look at holidays I hate the idea of going Turkey / Spain etc for £500-£1000, but everywhere I want to go such as Las Vegas, Canada etc are just ridiculous money! £5000 for around 10 days, not including food and drinks.

We are savings for our first house, so it's not really a big issue as the choice between house deposit and holiday is obvious.

I've been Turkey, Egypt, Spain and similar and I find it a bit crap. I don't want to sit by the pool/beach all day getting a tan, I want culture.. but all the day trips are rubbish and crowded. I want to go to Las Vegas and visit the Hoover Dam, Area 51, Grand Canyon but when you work out a realistic price it's astronomical!

So, is it me? AIBU to think all the decent holidays are overpriced and now I'm in my 30's £5k on a holiday seems crazy when I could get a lot more for my money on other things?

Because its a daft question! Seriously daft. "I've been Turkey, Egypt, Spain and similar and I find it a bit crap". How on earth are you going to help someone who starts from this vantage point.

A bit like saying "I want to go out to eat but I don't like MacDonalds".

Obviously I don't think Mumsnet is only for talking about children, otherwise I wouldn't have stuck around for the last 9 years.

Daft in your opinion Mintyy.

MN is full of questions that posters may consider daft. I never, ever thought I'd say this to you - normally I agree with everything you say and you've offered a huge amount of helpful advice over the years - but what's the point of coming onto a thread and offering something unhelpful like that? I mean, honestly, wouldn't it just be better to walk away than to call someone useless and question other people's willingness to help?

Sorry - helpless, not useless

5k is a bargain. Our trip to California and Vegas was more than 10k

Just some other suggestions for you:

Hire a camper and drive across Canada or through the USA. Friends did this in a camper where the sleeping part detaches and you drive a little truck thingy around leaving your bed at the campsite (rather than driving the whole lot around). The did all down the West coast of the USA, just stopped where they fancied. Their only constraint was to get the car back to the departure airport (they arrived in the North and flew home from the South). DH and I want to do this through Canada.

DH and I have been to Prague and it was lovely, very short flight, most people speak English, although I got a phrase book and had a go. Admittedly it was 13 years ago, but it was lovely. We could have gone further afield on the metro if we wanted to. We were right in the town and just went for walks every day, ate out etc. Was really relaxing.

We've done a couple of holidays (with another couple) in France. Our favourite was the Dordogne. We flew down and hired a car, hired a gîte with a pool and got some books out of the library (and upgraded our sat nav to have French maps plus bought a good map). Just went out each day wherever we wanted. It was quite easy to drive in France, especially in a left hand drive (as you're on the right side for any tolls and to see to overtake). The roads were quite quiet outside of the big towns too. All parts booked separately and was very reasonably priced. Basic French will get you through.

Have you tried this website. It's for booking apartments etc instead of hotels. It might just give you a different experience than a generic hotel, probably cheaper and maybe in a more cultural part of town.

Definitely get yourself to the library and get some travel books out. The Dorling Kindersley ones are particularly good, but there's lots out there plus they'll have loads of hints and tips about where to stay etc.

That's fine. You are welcome to disagree with me at any time! I'm not going to be in the least bit worried about that.

Believe me I don't post on hundreds of threads where I can't find anything relevant to say.

I'm not the only one on this thread to have found the op rather . Does she honestly think there is nothing to do in Turkey, Spain or Egypt other than lie round a pool? I think that's a rather hopeless case myself!

Can I just recommend Trip advisor. I went on their forums last year, and posted some ideas of where we wanted to fly into and some things we wanted to see - an was basically given an itinerary and some great suggestions. And told whether what I was suggesting was too much driving or not.

It also suggested a great hotel for us in Vegas a few years ago - not on the strip but ideal for a family of 5 arriving jet lagged - the pool even opened at 6 am (ideal with jet lagged kids).

Nope, with Mintyy.

Don't like package beachy holidays.
Spain, Egypt and Turkey has no culture or sites but I want to go to LV.
Is Rome good for a weekend?
The culture and different language etc puts me off.

really?

I have to agree there is no culture in Vegas. Unless by culture you mean overweight zombies with missing teeth staring dead eyed at slot machines.

didn't think you'd be concerned for a moment, I'm just surprised! And hey, it'd be bloody boring if we all said the same thing.

Fwiw I can think of nothing worse than a package holiday to Spain/Egypt/Turkey where most of the time is spent in a resort and any excursions are "bog standard". I'd far rather mooch around and explore, see different things not on the tourist trail, but I have the same problem in terms of language as DH doesnt feel comfortable going anywhere where he can't communicate easily

Also op stated that she didn't want to "just" do LV but to use it as a base to visit elsewhere.

Anyway, that aside, even if it is a daft question, why is it any less deserving of help than one that is deemed to be a sensible question?

I have to say I join all the others amazed that you couldn't find any culture/alternatives to sunbathing in Egypt. Then it turns out you are a surveyor and diver, and I have to wonder how you missed the pyramids and red sea...

It does sound like you have gotten used to overpaying and may have high expectations. Have you ever done anything cheap or backpacking? I only spent £10k on a whole years round the world trip and have done a number of short backpacking trips since. I would look away from the states if you want it to be more culturally interesting, and also if you want to save money... India, Africa, Asia, south America. The number of amazing places would fill up this thread. Or if you do stay closer to home, Prague, Morocco, anywhere really as long as you don't book a package resort. First world countries like usa/canada/ Australia are always going to be more expensive, but can still be done more cheaply than that.

Were the virgin flights economy?

It does change when you have kids, you are less inclined to go long haul, the cost doubles for the extra people, then doubles again and again and again for travelling in school holidays. Why not take your £5k and have an adventure now, while you are young and free... Taj mahal, macchu picchu, Serengeti, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, sand dunes, there is an amazing world out there, go see it!

No way is it £5000 for 2 people to got to Las vegas.

3 years ago dh and I paid £2400 for flights and hotel center strip for june.
last year we paid £1880 for flights and hotel in june,
were going this june and paid £1625 for 8 nights center strip.

not a place I would say is cultured but it is bloddy amazing we love las vegas and theres so, somuch more to do the gamble.

After our 1st trip in 2010 we refuse to go anywhere else Europe just doesn't quite do it now, our trip after vegas in june will be new york with dd1&2

Oh and the major resorts in France and Switzerland are THE most expensive places to go snowboarding too. Try further east, like others have mentioned, Bulgaria, Slovenia etc, or just smaller resorts in France, or Andorra, Austria etc.

And while you are young and free try booking last minute. We have gotten Crystal and Neilson packages for between £100 and £300 half board or carered chalets. Lift pass and ski hire cost more than the holiday!

I would look away from the states if you want it to be more culturally interesting

Did you mean that comment?

if so gobsmacked at that

Seriously, why do people on here like to pick on one little phrase on a post and take it out of context. I am clearly not saying there is nothing cultural in the states, I am saying that if she wants to have an amazing experience she should look further afield than the states. Culturally interesting in the sense of different. India, Asia, Africa. All much cheaper than America if you aren't looking at package holidays, and amazing adventures to be had, amazing things to be seen.

America can be done later, with kids in tow.

Thanks for the helpful advice by most people.

No idea why I've been targeted by some, but there you go. I'm a very honest person, I'm not a bullshitter, maybe I've been too honest on my opinions and should have been more brief.

Like I said, a lot of holidays to Turkey, Egypt etc have been family holidays when I was late teens/early 20's, so I didn't get a chance to plan anything, it was a package deal that suited a group of 8 people, generally quite cheap per person too, so not near some major places of interest.

I've said plenty of times now that I used the wrong word of "culture" in my OP. Funnily enough though, not everyone appreciates the same things as everyone else. For example, I don't have a lot of interest in seeing the Pyramids, I'd rather see modern structures such as high rise buildings and bridges.. does that make me stupid and uncultured?

I've also been to more than just Tignes snowboarding. I've been to Zermatt, Les Arcs, Mes Menuires and Tignes. I'd love to go Canada, but the same problem with costs.

It's not that I'll be out of my comfort zone, I want value for money. As some have agreed with me, no-one wants to pay £5,000 for something they aren't sure they will even enjoy. Still doesn't stop me wanting to find somewhere that I would enjoy.

Some fantastic advice by everyone else, thank you very much, I'll be going forward with much more ideas now.

I don't think I'll post again.

We have had many different amazing experiences in the States and still have lots more to see.
Lots of culture, amazing diverse cities, over 50 national parks, world heritage sites, wildlife, volcanoes, glaciers, deserts, festivals, art and sooooo much more.
And you can do it on a budget, cus we have and Canada too roland83 .

Don't be put off posting roland - I know we've got a reputation as a bunch of vipers but it's not all deserved!

Anyway, I'm going to be really nosey - I want to know when you book something, where it is and how much (so that I can add it to my retirement travel plans )

Hope you do post again.id like to know where you decide to go. I love hearing about people's travel plans.

You need to step off the package holiday wagon and go to some European destinations independently.

Flights are reasonable. Buy a guidebook, hire a car and spend two weeks travelling a bit in a given region. Do your research.

You sound very naive to me of you really think that a country like Spain is just pools, beaches and day trips!!

Don't be silly OP, you did post in AIBU afterall! I don't think you were treated too harshly tbh.

Being interested in high rise buildings and bridges doesn't make you uncultured or stupid no.

I agree that the Far East is fantastically interesting but if you want to go to the States then go to the States, equally as interesting but probably easier to travel around if you aren't particularly confident.

The problem is of course that you cannot ever guarantee that you will enjoy a holiday whether you spend £500 or £5000 on it, in fact a lot of my cheaper back-packing adventures were far more fun than staying in 5* hotels but that just comes down to preference.

Canada doesn't have to be an expensive. You can easily book cheap flights and there are plenty of budget chain hotels. I've been probably a dozen times, visiting Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Restaurants are cheap. I found the people to be very welcoming and friendly.

Montreal is quite European in style, with interesting buildings - have a look at St Joseph's Oratory - a huge church built on a mountainside, which bizarrely has escalators inside. Ottawa is worth visiting for the architecture - particularly the parliament building. Nova Scotia has some fabulous scenery... the list goes on.

I have to say, though, that while Niagara Falls themselves are spectacular - well the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side are - the town itself is pretty grim. A bit like Blackpool to be truthful. That said, it's nice to sit and have a meal overlooking the Falls.

And then there's Tim Horton's Coffee and Dairy Queen Ice Cream!

Oh, and you can pop over to the US while you're there.

Wow! I did 9 weeks travelling Australia 2 years ago and only spent £4k! UK - Singapore - Perth - Melbourne - Sydney - Queensland - Gold Coast flights were £1,700.

We did stay in cheap hotels and 3 gorgeous back packers, one awful one too, some small B & B's which were lovely and a few weeks staying with friends. We did many trips while we were there - whale watching, Rottnest Island, fairy penguins, zoo's, blue mountains and caves, islands in North sydney, theme parks, kayaking, surfing lessons, 5 day boat trip around the Whitsundays, we ate out most days and bought many a souvenir!

You don't have to spend a fortune for a fabulous holiday, just search around and use trip advisor.

I haven't read all of the thread, but I can't believe that you can dismiss Egypt, Turkey and Spain and found them 'a bit crap'. Does this include the Pyramids and Karnak and Abu Simbel, without even venturing into Turkey and Spain. I think you must be the biggest philistine I have ever come across on MN! Whatever money you spend will be wasted because you won't appreciate wherever you go.

Can I suggest Blackpool, plenty of casinos, and a tower based on the Eiffel - also much cheaper than the USA, and the donkeys are very friendly.

I think what's winding people up is blanket statements like
'I don't like museums'

What , all museums ??
They're all totally differerent

A sweet / toy museum is completely different to a Roman history museum

A museum in Amsterdam or Las Vegas would be fascinating !