To ask how you actually afford to go abroad

[lavenderpekins]

Aibu to feel fed up? Not going away again.. nearly everyone I know is going on a family holiday to the med this summer holiday.

Sort of lighthearted I know we're very lucky to live in this country, able to buy good/nhs/school.. I'll get over it too..

It is partly about how much money you have overall (if your holiday budget is £300 you aren't going very far) and partly about priorities. Holidays are by far our biggest luxury and we wear cheap clothing and drive old bangers to afford them. And save for big ones (am now 1 year into saving a holiday we hope to take in 2020).

But no use pretending that foreign holidays (any holidays) are within everyones reach if they were just more canny about it. The cost of passports alone!

Going abroad, to somewhere of similar standard would cost us over £3000 for accommodation and flights alone.

Our holidays don't cost a grand and noones shown me a holiday abroad for 4 for 500-600 !!

You said your paid 400 for a cottage in Cornwall. Are you trying to tell us that for another 100 pounds you got your travel costs, food costs, entertainment as well? Come off it!

BrieOnAnOatcake
I hope to be helpful not judgemental but groupon has some deals from 50pp accomodation and flights within the EU. Keep an eye out for a good deal. You still have food and spending money to consider but if you buy a few months to a year in advance putting away a tenner a week (if you can - I'm sorry if you can't I'm just trying to be helpful) will get you most of the way there/a good start.
Plus if you go to cheaper countries or cities you can easily have some entertainment or touristy things on the cheap.
Wouldn't be 5* glamour and if not your thing fair enough but I think you could definitely do a nice little break in the EU.
To get it even cheaper (sometimes) keep an eye out for cheap all inclusives too. Then you just need spending money and if you go somewhere cheap won't need much.

We can't afford holidays, either. It's just the way our life is. It's a shame but never mind.
The only thing that irritates me is DP's brother in law who is so rich they (him and his wife) go on multiple (into double figures) holidays a year and then send pictures. 😠

I think we are all different! I would prefer a quality house/hotel in the Uk, no stressful travel/ ins etc and plenty of things to do. We, including teenagers are active and do enjoy walking along the coast for a few hours and then wild swimming, cycling, gym etc all possible in the UK.

Our idea of hell would be scouring the internet for a year looking for cheap, this and that to be at an AI resort. I just wish everyone on this thread would stop portraying 'abroad' as the Holy Grail of holidays - it really isn't to some of us!

Cornwall at Easter will be cheaper than summer because the weather is unreliable. You won't get anything like that in the summer. The cost of holiday accommodation in the UK is extortionate, much more expensive than the equivalent in other European countries. Travel costs will make a big difference of course, so Cornwall could work out cheaper if you don't have to drive too far.

Yes but Cornwall isn't the only place to go on holiday in the Uk. Infact I would avoid it at all costs!

our idea of hell would be scouring the internet for a year looking for cheap this and that

It's not really hell. It's just not accepting the price increased slapped on by Travel Agents or holiday chains.

It takes half hour to book a holiday with Thompson. For an extra 3.5 hours work at home, we can get the same holiday for almost half the price. I don't understand people who pay a price given to them straight away, when it can be done much cheaper going straight to the source.

The original post was how do people afford it, I explained how we did it and then get lots of sneery comments back about scouring the internet for a year is hell, that people who holiday abroad are kidding themselves it's cheaper.

Point is, a holiday abroad can be affordable if you know where to look. If it's hell on earth and you can't be arsed to do it to save money, don't belittle those that do. Every holiday I've taken in my life has worked out cheaper abroad than in the UK.

We do plenty of outside the hotel activities and again, food and drink is free as they include food and drinks to take on day trips as part of all inclusive. We do plenty of walking and exploring as well as a day by the pool or on the beach to relax.

Going abroad, to somewhere of similar standard would cost us over £3000 for accommodation and flights alone

Have you tried booking with a hotel you like directly? And booking flights direct with airline? And depending on age of children, you can pay for a larger carry on and no baggage which is cheaper. I got return flights to Cyprus for £80 each with hand luggage only.

The cost of passports alone

Get one passport at a time. An adult one lasts 10 years. If you then save £6 a year, you will have enough to renew it in 10 years!

no stressful travel/ ins etc

I find it more stressful driving on the motorway for 2 hours plus than sitting on a plane for 4 hours.

Admittedly America is a knackering journey but not stressful.

And Insurance. It's hardly a hassle and takes 10 mins!

Look I think most people are savvy enough to book themselves a holiday without the need for travel agents. I just don't understand the freneticism to holiday 'abroad' it is as if to stay in the UK(in the summer, Easter in Cornwall is somehow acceptable! ) is beneath them or something. I think some people need to rediscover their own country and put some money back into our economy and lesson our carbon footprint as we go about it.

calli Its not a stealth boast. It's my reality. I'm fully aware that others have a different reality and there are some who can't afford to go away at all.

My point is that it's about choices for many. We could fly on a private plane when we go back to Denmark each year and I researched the cost because SAS wouldn't let our autistic DS sit in a business seat. He has a really hard time in economy with the noise, closeness of others etc.

The vast majority of people will never have the choice to consider flying private. In my life that is an option for my family. By not taking that choice we have been able to do other things with that money.

Not everywhere is Cornwall. Those saying they can't afford a holiday - these chalets below are right on the beach, and in a nice little village. In between the delights of poncey but £££ Southwold and the traditional seasidey Lowestoft and Gt Yarmouth. Max price is £420. Bargainous for August. I said upthread we have done the Isle of Wight for £400 in August (but you have c. £100 ferry to pay there).

www.knightsholidayhomes.co.uk/

I just don't understand the freneticism to holiday 'abroad' it is as if to stay in the UK(in the summer, Easter in Cornwall is somehow acceptable! grin) is beneath them or something

It's not beneath me (and I'm guessing others feel the same) its just that we don't want to. I don't want the same language, the same food, the same sights and sounds, the same weather as I have all year. I don't want rain and damp and cool breezes. I want sunshine and swimming and beaches and hot breezes and different art, culture and foods to explore.
The thought of cooking english food in a holiday cottage in England when I could be barbequing or eating out on a warm terrace with unusual food.

Don't you see? There is nothing wrong with it, if you like it then good for you. But I don't like it, I'm not interested and wouldn't see it as a holiday of any kind.

Well, we are having tiger prawns and moules on our sunny campsite in Cornwall today, followed by a whole smoked chicken for dinner later. Kids have disappeared with friends, UK holiday feeling pretty good right now. 😂

Brittbugs, what was your experience of all inclusive like, because I've tried it and it's not something I'd like to do on a tight budget partly because of the quality of the food. There are good places for all inclusive, granted, but those, in my experience, have been at the higher end of the price range.

I just don't understand the freneticism to holiday 'abroad' it is as if to stay in the UK(in the summer, Easter in Cornwall is somehow acceptable! grin) is beneath them or something

Not beneath me at all. We stay here for hols and have long weekends here but for us, the main family holiday works out cheaper abroad.

I think some people need to rediscover their own country and put some money back into our economy and lesson our carbon footprint as we go about it

We put plenty back into this Economy and support plenty of small and local businesses. We avoid chain hotels where possible and shop local rather than chain supermarkets when on holiday.

But it's an amazing world out there and I intend to see as much of it as I can. We experience different cultures, different foods, attempt different languages, meet different people, experience different weather etc.

Sounds good, witsender.

What happened to the person with the £1400 castle caravan in Wales? They never did clarify.

toosexy How incredibly entitled the Brits have become! You wouldn't get any enjoyment out of a UK holiday - me thinks you protest too much. Is it because it is now the default of Western success to say you are holidaying on foreign shores for a week, anywhere else is just not impressive. But flying here, there and everywhere is just not sustainable long term surely?

Brittbugs, what was your experience of all inclusive like, because I've tried it and it's not something I'd like to do on a tight budget partly because of the quality of the food. There are good places for all inclusive, granted, but those, in my experience, have been at the higher end of the price range

Honestly not bad at all. The food has always been tasty and a huge variety. I have a fussy eater for a child (won't eat chips or anything in batter or breadcrumbs or melted cheese) and even he found plenty to eat that he liked.

When we went away in May, you could pay extra for a wider range of menu, but the only difference was that they ate in a separate part of the restaurant, they had table cloths and they could choose branded drinks such as Stella or Smirnoff Vodka etc, they still had to choose their own food from the same counter as everyone else.

Season , I don't get much enjoyment out of a UK holiday. Haven't for years! That's whyI don't go on them. I absoloutely love going abroad, whether it's for a city break forc a few days, a road trip around the US, or a med beach holiday.

Going to a cottage in Wales doesn't do anything for me.
Different strokes and all that..

We don't holiday in the U.K. now as we don't find it good value (we won't ever camp!) £800 for a small cottage for a week and then over priced entry charges into everywhere, expensive cafes, paying a fortune for parking

After our last week we did in Norfolk DH said it was his last. For the same money we spent in a week (and we are not extravagant) we could go somewhere abroad where we know have to worry about rain.

Ironically, considering we live abroad, we love spending time in the UK on holiday. DH is Danish and summer holidays are spent in a summer house. Lots of family time and great fun to be had no matter the weather.