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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I just want a bloody holiday!

96 replies

radiorentals · 04/07/2017 14:55

I am struggling to find anything. I have modest standards, I've stayed in many a Premier Inn or similar, happily eat at a Beefeater, Brewers Fayre et al...yet there seems to be no choice at all, places are either super expensive or £££s.

DP and I have had a tough year, as have my DC who have just finished their exams. We have about £3k to spend. I want a weeks holiday in the Med, all inclusive, in a reasonable hotel with a pool near the beach and town so my DC (16 and 18) can go off on their own a bit.

I honestly thought that wasn't asking too much, but the choices seem to be awful run down hotels (judging by the reviews), or ones miles away from anywhere, including the airport, or spending £5k plus.

Am I just expecting too much? 🙁

OP posts:
Barbie222 · 04/07/2017 17:17

Bulgaria! Just choose the resort carefully. Clean, well organised and cheap.

SapphireStrange · 04/07/2017 17:17

I'd look at Airbnb. Why would you be the only one cooking and cleaning? Why doesn't your partner do his share? And are the kids old enough to do a share?

Tell everyone you can have a nice holiday in a rented house/villa/flat as long as everyone pitches in with cooking and cleaning. (don't say 'helps out' like it's your appointed job and they're doing you a favour if they cook a dinner!)

TrollMummy · 04/07/2017 17:20

We book flights and accommodation independently to keep costs down. This way you get accommodation with much more space and you can eat out all you like to avoid cooking. I personally don't like the idea of having to eat dodgy AI meals if the restaurant ends up being rubbish (bad past experience).

babycakes1010 · 04/07/2017 17:21

Have a look on Monarch...ive just managed to get 1 week all inclusive for 7 of us at just over £3000

Coffeeandcrochet · 04/07/2017 17:21

Try Croatia - great weather, great food, often loads of watersports available near the bigger resorts. OK the beaches tend to be shingle rather than sand, but everything else is so lovely!

WillRikersExtraNipple · 04/07/2017 17:22

Croatia is expensive these days though.

daimbar · 04/07/2017 17:23

I can highly recommend this hotel in Crete. Me, Dp and DD stayed in a deluxe bungalow 2 weeks half board and it came to £3.5k including flights from Gatwick. Plenty to do in Malia for the teenagers but the beach, spa and resort is so lovely you don't need to leave:

www.ikarosvillage.gr

imjessie · 04/07/2017 17:26

I need 2 rooms and if you look and look some places offer you two rooms in their price but it's a case of going through first choice website for hours and hours . Where are you flying from?

BarbaraofSeville · 04/07/2017 17:26

This looks nice in Playa Blanca Lanzarote, jet2holidays package for just under £2800, All Inclusive, 2 rooms, luggage and transfers, 1st September from Stansted, LABRANDA Suite Hotel Alyssa. 4.5/5 on Trip Advisor

www.jet2holidays.com/beach/canary-islands/lanzarote/playa-blanca/labranda-suite-hotel-alyssa?duration=7&airport=99&date=01-09-2017&occupancy=r2c_r1c16&gtmsearchtype=Hotel+Search

YourHandInMyHand · 04/07/2017 17:29

Eden resort in protugal has 2 bed self contained apartments on an all inclusive resort. Think you can get a shuttle bus (or short tax ride) to the centre of town.

We booked here as wanted son to have his own separate room rather than a fold out bed and having a whole apartment rather than all being crammed in one hotel room was too tempting to pass up! We booked via Jet2.

SwedishEdith · 04/07/2017 17:30

Look at Portugal. This is self-catering but you could eat out a lot

It's difficult when one of your kids is over 18. We couldn't book a family room in a Premier Inn once as it didn't recognise the eldest as our child.

SquinkiesRule · 04/07/2017 17:31

Have a look at Thomsons last minute deals. Lots on there.
Late deals Just filter by the airport you can fly from.

imjessie · 04/07/2017 17:31

This is just after a quick look but Salou is a great shout for teens as it has the theme park right near by and the beach and town is very close .. this is for 2 adults but if you get the travel agent to book two separate holidays and link them it will be £2k !

WillRikersExtraNipple · 04/07/2017 17:32

Eden resort is nice but its not very lux. I was there on B&B basis but I remember thinking the AI wasn't impressive. Lovely breakfasts though. Not handy for the beach either.

TheSnowFairy · 04/07/2017 17:33

We were on holiday once and a Scottish family had booked to fly to/from Birmingham as it was cheaper for them.

However, they spent most of their holiday trying to change the flights back to Scotland, couldn't do it, then were faced with a 10 hour journey home.

So not worth it for a few ££ Wink

frenchfancy81 · 04/07/2017 17:35

£1500 last week all inclusive in Menorca. Lovely hotel. 2 adults and a baby. British Airways Holiday Finder.

Friendzone · 04/07/2017 17:39

I've just seen some very cheap flights Manchester and Glasgow to Corfu at end of August on skyscanner

BaronessEllaSaturday · 04/07/2017 18:01

We were in Turkey last summer and loved it. I wouldn't bother about a central location as there was plenty at the hotel to keep the older teens with me happy. For 3k you should get something really good.

BarbaraofSeville · 04/07/2017 18:10

OP also, some hotels have free shuttle buses to the resort centre if they are a bit of a way out.

£3k is a decent budget, I'm sure you will find something lovely, especially as you can go the first week in September. There might have to be a little compromise from your absolute ideal holiday, eg on location, proximity to resort, flight times, but if you can get over that, you'll find a lovely holiday within budget. Good luck!

lanouvelleheloise · 04/07/2017 18:15

I'm Shock by some of the prices you guys are paying for resorts!

I had flights, a top end private villa overlooking the mountains in Crete with two private pools (and by private I mean just for me and DH), car hire, entry into everything I wanted to see, plus eating out twice a day for under £2k. (Food prices are often so much cheaper in local restaurants out of resorty areas, and the food was absolutely delicious). I think I got a really good deal on the villa, though as the company was new to Airbnb - it's more expensive now! Such a wonderful memorable break - I remember swimming all on my own while looking at snow-capped peaks, and watching an eagle soar down the valley.

reetgood · 04/07/2017 18:17

I've been browsing teletext holidays (yes they still exist!) www.teletextholidays.co.uk/ and I like that you can sort by tripadvisor rating as well as price. Just did a search and you can get 7 nights in a highly rated all inclusive in Rhodes for £481 pp at the beginning of August, or £533 pp in Crete. There's LOADS in your price bracket!

imsorryiasked · 04/07/2017 18:43

First choice have lots op - search for four adults rather than 3+1

I just want a bloody holiday!
Brittbugs80 · 04/07/2017 20:03

Find a hotel with a travel agents then see how much it costs with the hotel direct. I'm surprised people still use travel agents, they are such a rip off.

Sunnydays365 · 04/07/2017 20:10

I work for an online company and we could definitely get you a holiday within budget. we use major tourist operators and also do hotels and flights separate. we use quite a lot of accommodation only suppliers with good rates. Yourholidays.com ask for joanne :)