AIBU to think there seriously needs to be something done about holiday prices?

[TokenGinger]

I don't have kids so I've never noticed how much prices actually go up! I start a new job in September so I'm looking for a short 3 night break in August before I start for DP and me.

I'm disgusted!!! Last year, my mum, cousin and I went to Salou for 4 nights, half board, flights included for a total of £361 (for all 3 of us) in September! To book this same holiday in August is £1021.

There seriously needs to be something done about it! That's only for two of us! For three nights! How can parents afford to pay for summer holidays for their kids alongside the cost of every day life?!

Hardly on the top of the government's agenda, but I really think this needs to be cracked down on!

Sadly TTWK all I think that would achieve is 6 times of the year where travel companies will up their prices!

I'm not saying it wouldn't be more expensive during school hols than not, that will always be so, but by spreading it out, it would mean lower school hols prices than we have now, and maybe higher off peak prices. If would reduce demand in the summer by spreading the opportunity to travel abroad more evenly.

It won't be perfect but an improvement.

Arf at the government should do something.
Prices don't go up during peak times, they go down off peak.
It's supply and demand and good business practice to make up for the leaner times.
Who do you propose should do something about it and what should they do?

I think it's the package type holidays that tend to do this. And hotels/villas in tourist resorts - which I think might often be on a package anyway.

I have children and am a teach so it has to be summer for us but we just get a flight and then travel around using youth hostels. I think that kind of holiday is similarly priced year round (flights probably more but not significantly so, I don't think).

Why not try doing something like that. You can see amazing places on a shoestring if you don't go with a company.

I agree Noodle. I like the idea of longer half terms but think the reality will be that it wont work out any cheaper. At least with a 6 week holiday the prices do fluctuate and you have more wriggle room to travel mid week which is often still cheaper.

We often use French and Dutch companies for accommodation and go away mid August for 2.5 weeks. I can save many hundreds compared to qoutes from British companies 2 weeks earlier.

It isn't because of the tour operators really. The hotel & flight prices are higher when demand is high and lower when not. The operators need to make money at some point in the year and this is easier to do in high season. When people say they make a loss they aren't lying, I priced package holidays for 4 years and it really is a balancing act. In Nov / Early Dec the loss could be as much as 300pp but in VERY high season the goal was only £90pp margin and that was just a goal and not on all destinations only those that were popular. Events can affect how destinations are priced as unfortunate as they are. For example Tunisia won't be selling so to make up shortfall something needs to be done so for example a £10 'profit' pp is added for all other destinations. Its not done maliciously but everyone needs to make money. It also works the other way on low season, extra discount is loaded for hotels / flights that aren't selling... that is how / why you get great deals.

My sister books a year in advance to get the best deals, last minute is not the way to get a bargain!

Our holiday this year, booked 2 weeks beforehand = £1300
Same flights, hotel etc., price checked today for next year = £2600

Last minute can be cheapest, but you have to hold your nerve.

I have just booked a trip in August, my friends (childless) are getting married and haven't really understood that they have booked the most expensive time of the year!

However my desire to go has outweighed the cost and I have just shelled out a small fortune, I am going alone as the cost for the whole family would be crazy.

I think that it sums it up tbh, how much do you want to travel vs the cost. I was in the travel industry 25 years ago, it hasn't changed and it won't.

No. Going on holiday is not a right.

Exactly, what an entitled post OP! I can't afford to pay those prices, so my family no longer go abroad on holiday. We suck it up and enjoy ourselves as cheaply as possible, camping in the UK. A holiday is not a right!

Ah, the joys of mumsnet and peoples' total inability to read a post. It does make me smile.

Hardly "entitled" when my gripe is about PARENTS and asking how they're expected to afford holidays and I've clearly stated that I am NOT a parent myself. Nor have I said it's a right - if you look at another one of my comments, I've said that holidays are not essential.

So well done on practising the new word you've learnt, but sadly, you've used it in the wrong context and therefore made a completely redundant statement.

I was told a few years ago that the prices don't go up in the holidays, they go down outside the holidays.

Now do you believe it?

The government could cut air tax, which makes up a huge amount of fares, but is it ethical to cut tax on such an eco-disastrous way to travel?

I'd agree with taking weeks away from the summer holidays in England and adding them to May and October half term (Feb will only really help those who want to go ski-ing). But surely then the holiday companies will put the prices up in those other weeks too?

Token no sorry I pretty much agree that it's an entitled attitude to have, you can capitalise 'parents' all you want, it's still entitled to believe the government should step in to get parents cheaper holidays holidays are not a human right and companies have no obligation (and nor should they) to offer cheaper holidays at times of high demand.

It's supply and demand. That's all there is to it. Like if you go to a theme park, or get a train ticket..

I doubt £361 realistically reflects the price of a foreign holiday for 3 people.

Entitled - "Believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment."

I don't believe that I should be deserving of privilege or special treatment. It actually suits me for the holidays to be cheaper outside of school holidays, as then is when I go away. My post was focussed on how expensive it must be for parents to take their children away. Definitely not "entitled".

I said it's an entitled attitude. The premise of it is entitled. I didn't say you were entitled.

Waffly - no, you're right. I accept we got a good deal with that. It was only four nights, but regardless, it was a good deal.

I've recently been to Tunisia for 12 days and that was £566 each. Which is about average price for Tunisia and a more accurate reflection of the cost when not getting a "good deal".

My comment about the government stepping in was somewhat flippant - of course I know they'll do nothing and can't do anything, as such. I guess I just finally "understood" why parents have so much gripe about the costs of holidays and where many resort to taking kids out of school. Alas, I do agree that holidays are not a "right" and you can either afford it or you cannot.

It's just economics. Difficult for the government to get involved - they don't dictate to other industries how much they can sell a dress for, for example.

We're not at the school age stage yet, so don't know - but is the price hike as dramatic if you avoid package and do easy jet + private rental instead?

I disagree that a holiday isn't a right. I believe one holiday a year is a right for children although it does not need to be abroad.
There are many charities who would agree and either subsidise or provide free holidays for disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have a holiday at all.
This is why I disagree passionately with HT being unable to authorise term time holidays.

However op yabu , it's not the governments issue to reduce prices . They should let parents be parents though.

It is the package holidays where the prices really go up, if you book your own travel and accommodation the difference in price is not so stark although undoubtedly still exists. But rather than this week in the holidays costing more than last week in term-time, there will be a cost for July so it doesn't matter if you go away on 16th in term-time or 23rd in holidays, it will cost the same.

B&B prices are generally the same all year round although some might have low, medium, and high season prices, but again they don't double their prices from one week to the next because it's the school holidays.

I'm not sure about flights, sometimes there's no correlation eg I was looking at flights between Southampton and Jersey in August, and then in September when my son has an INSET day and the August bank holiday flights were cheaper. So I don't know if there is some event that the airlines know about and increase the prices.

Really andnow? I never had holidays as a child and don't feel like I went without. A holiday is not a right. Having time to relax and play is a child's right. A holiday isn't

Agree with most - YABU.
It's a free market, with supply and demand (and I speak as a teacher, so, even before I had dc, I was still restricted to the expensive times).

Your break was so cheap because it was subsidised by those of us that have to pay the price hike if we choose to fly off on holiday. That's the key - it's a choice. Your world doesn't fall apart if you don't. Life carries on. there are ways to minimise costs if you work at it.

It's the same as saying 'something needs to be done about the price of a designer handbag,, or even the price of a take away coffee. Yes, it's always nice when the thing you would really like is affordable, but life's not like that. You choose what's important to you / your family and spend or save accordingly.

Oh dear OP, you are getting some pretty robust answers here.
I agree personally. It does suck that prices are so high. I totally understand why and don't expect it to change, but on a personal level it does still suck. It's a bit rubbish that parents have to be the ones who make the profit for the companies, and non parents who get the discounts. Especially when as a family you generally have to buy more places, before kids it would have been 2 adults at off peak, now it's a family of 5 in peak times. That makes the holidays cost a whole shed load more.
I'd love to be able to show my kids lots of great places and have those memories, but I can't afford it yet. Hopefully I will in time, until then it's camping round England instead where I'm sure they will still make some great memories. Thems the breaks when you decide to have kids.

I disagree that something should be done. Having gone through having to have holidays that were more expensive when my son was younger, I'm now able to pick and choose when I take my holidays and am glad to be able to go at a quieter time when it's cheaper and there are less likely to be hoards of kids there too.
A holiday isn't something that you NEED, it's something that you WANT and, as such, you need to be prepared to pay extra at peak times.