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..

We go once every two years abroad and save up. We will always get self-catering apartment near a beach in a less built up area and have lunch and breakfast with food bought from supermarket. Dinner we will have out.

I'm sure the kids love their holidays supermum Sounds like hard work having three kids under six on holiday,- any holiday..

It sure is. The flight over is the worst but worth every moment of hell it takes to get us over so the family have time together.

Personally my experience is that it takes all sorts to make the world go round. I got my holiday wishes 18 months ago when I insisted that we go to the Turks and Caicos on Boxing Day for a week. The total cost of the trip was $2000 because flights were on points, accommodation was self catering found via vRBO and the car rental was DH sorting via a friend of a friend (I was 7 months pregnant and nearly wet myself laughing at the talking Japanese instructions!).

The irony is that we did all these things with the DC but the three things DD remembers is the pool right outside the door, the supersized starfish which was about a foot in diameter and the chips (which were the best chips I've had while on the North American continent). They didn't care about the trip to the plantation, conch farm or the sailing around the different islands!

We plan to stay smart with our holidays and incorporate stopovers when flying back to Denmark each year. Flying with the different airlines you can pick different hubs.

We use Amex credit cards and their travel desk for our flights. Their points system is ok in terms of how quickly you earn them. What is amazing is that you can use the Amex points on nearly any airline. It makes it easier to spend them!

I live in SE Asia and am fortunate to have several holidays per year. We keep the cost down by using airbnb whenever we can and driving rather than flying, if possible.
We are holidaying in the UK right now and apart from a few nights in a hotel, we are staying with family. But we seem to be spending a lot of money on food , transportation and entertainment. It is not a cheap holiday!

As I said up thread, we live in the South East, it's far easier to get to France or even fly to Spain than drive to Liverpool, Blackpool or Scotland (I have visited these places). I had the most miserable week ever in Norfolk- quite happy never to return.

Credit card debt , mortgages, loans, savings, cash?

For me, lying by a pool in the heat is like pressing the pause button on life, its the only time my mind really unwinds

Never go out and save like crazy.

I wouldn't drive to Scotland from the SE! Flights I think!

Yes, but then you might as well go to Rome or Barcelona as Edinburgh.

As so many have said, it's all about priorities. I was born with a wanderlust which is only increasing the older I get. I don't need or want any more "stuff". Any spare cash we have goes on "memories". I know for certain that I won't be lying on my death bed thinking how nice the latest pair of curtains looked in my living room, but rather the things DH, DS and I have experienced together. I don't have a mobile phone or a credit card either.

We prioritise it over other stuff - drives the kids mad as we don't give them much for clothes etc , other stuff during the year ! We have a 40k combined income and probably spend 2k on a hol - for 4 of us ..usually France or Spain . My brother has a very small income and uses dirt cheap flights and Airbnb but luckily his kids are tiny and he can go out of season . We budget it into savings & spend less on other stuff but if we didn't have a holiday we would probably divorce !!

Yes, but then you might as well go to Rome or Barcelona as Edinburgh.
Scotland is equally worth flying to. Not sure what point you're making.

Wanttobesupermum that is a wonderful part do the world actually in north west. Conway is gorgeous small town! Magical on the harbour can't believe some one would find it boring. Chester and all round there is lovely.

Personally whilst I am very keen to explore Scotland more, having been to Edinburgh, Rome and Barcelona there is no contest in my mind. The food in Barcelona and Rome is, the incredible culture, I adore the culture of eating later, tapas, music... Stunning aritecthure child friendly... Sunny...

We used to be able to afford a holiday or two every year but since having two more babies in quick succession that hope has gone down the window.

ATM, we have about £3-400 leftover after food and bills are taken into consideration but after birthdays, and entertainment that quickly dwindles down to not anywhere near enough for a holiday abroad.

We have just accepted that camping will be the way forward for us for a few more years. I love going abroad but to be honest I wouldn't go without my children yet and going with them is so stressful at their ages so it would probably ultimately be a waste of money for us anyway

Yes, I'm very familiar with Rome, quite different from Scotland. However, just because a plane is involved doesn't mean you have to go 'abroad' domestic flights quite different, usually much cheaper.

Sorry propertyvirgin. You're not the poster my original comments were aimed at, just with you replying...

I've just booked an apartment in torremolinos for next July for £530. Have to wait for cheap flights to be released but should be able to get return flights for around £100 each.

A holiday cottage in The school summer holidays in the U.K will cost £6-700.

I think it helps if earning adults equal or outnumber dependent children. On holiday, DP and I take turns paying the bills, buying ice lollies etc. If we had more than one kid or if I was a single parent it would be so much harder.

I once went on holiday with DP and for some reason the arrangement was that he paid for flights and accommodation and I paid for all spends on holiday. It was a bloody eye opener. My purse was never closed for more than ten minutes and we never used that system again. I felt robbed (unfairly, but it was just agony paying for absolutely everything).

A holiday cottage in The school summer holidays in the U.K will cost £6-700.

I think 'can' cost, rather than will is more accurate It can also be much cheaper, or more expensive...

We live in Scotland too and as I'd said up-thread, will often fly in preference to driving as UK flights generally very inexpensive if you book in advance - ditto car hire. Plus Newquay airport is so cool - it's a hut in the middle of nowhere and reminds me of airports of my youth and consequently not stressful at all to go through.

This time we're driving down and DS and I are flying back, leaving DH to drive on his own ( which he much prefers) and spend a night with his friends on the way.

Cost of holidays also depends on the age of the DCs involved.
Until recently DS was happy on a beach holiday to spend a lot of time round the pool and join in some activities with the kids club. Last time he was too cool for that , but too young for the all age activities so we spent a fortune on Segway trips and excursions.

Therefore for our next abroad holiday we're doing sight seeing in Italy - Sorrento and Rome - can't wait - if I'm going to spend money on activities I'd rather they were things I wanted to see as well.