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..

Haven't done this for a few years but this was our strategy to get the best holiday for the money.

If you don't have kids or they haven't started school yet try a break to the Canaries during December but not Xmas or January after New Year. These were the cheapest weeks for flights and accomodation hire as everyone else wants to go for Christmas and New Year -same weather, silly money!

The weather was great in the main, though we have had rain but was always warm but not hot. Self catering keeps the spending money to a minimum. We used to get a great holiday for a fraction of the price it would have been the rest of the year.

Another point is to take all the costs into account.

So I'd always thought cruises were expensive, but our neighbours love going with their DS and they are quite frugal ( but well off as we are). They said that because food and entertainment were included, they had very little additional costs.

Also as we live in Scotland we often fly somewhere then hire a car in preference to driving and taking ferries. People always think that taking their own car is cheaper but then don't take petrol costs etc. into account. Last year we flew down to Newquay and hired a car for 3 of us for around £300 in total. Our friends drive down and back up which involves an overnight stay one way, 20hr round trip drive and a lot of petrol. I know which I'd rather do.

Anyone else googling this mysertious campsite I have come up with berny riverie is this the one confused?

Only 2.3 hrs drive from calais and also near ish DLP?

We save for it like most of our friends. We put aside money each month for our 'holiday fund'. Holidays are a priority for me. I'd hate to be stuck here all summer.

The site I was talking about is La Croix du Vieux Pont in Berny Riviere

link

It is a great site, we have been 4 times & I have recently converted a couple of RL friends to it too

Xpost with blowing You are correct! We have used it as a base for Disney but we now actually prefer Parc Asterix (loads for all ages & can use Tesco clubcard vouchers for a day ticket)

I love travel so go without in other areas. Older car, cheaper clothes and not buying new stuff for my house all the time. Oh, and no kids probably helps too Seriously though, I'm single and paying off a mortgage on below average wage yet still manage to do a ski trip most years.

Abroad is a big place. Not everywhere is expensive, especially if you go out of season.
I don't have much money but we go away every year. My mum has a place in France that we drive to every summer, so we only pay for crossings and petrol. We did another holiday to Malta in February which is really cheap at that time of year.
I think UK holidays always look more expensive whenever I've looked.

We don't earn a lot but have a few savings accounts and try to save £500 between us a month (£200 is for our wedding next year), we see how much we've got when we want to go and book whatever's in our budget pretty close to the time (was less than two weeks before this year). We've gone to Ibiza all inclusive for less than £500pp the past 2 years.

We and most of our friends don't go abroad because of a combination of cost (in some cases) and family members who wouldn't cope or would hate it.
We do spend a reasonable amount on suitable uk holidays helped partly by ds's special school authorising a few days in term time.

We have used it as a base for Disney but we now actually prefer Parc Asterix (loads for all ages & can use Tesco clubcard vouchers for a day ticket)

OK Brilliant, am currently checking out the safari tent option, 4 nights for £300 I think dc will love camping glamping element...Also you reminded me of Park Asterix!! Been wanting to go for a long time. In Return I give you The Efterling, in Holland, gorg park and accmd. However this year will be third year running and much as I adore it want to try new pastures next year

There are a lot of people who don't go abroad every year on holiday - I was one of them once when the DC were very small so I wasn't working, DH's earnings weren't what they are now, and our mortgage was a big expense to us.

For those few years it was much cheaper and easier to stay in the UK. Having said that, now we do go abroad it isn't actually much more expensive. Being somewhere either with a lovely beach or pool or lots of places to explore (with guaranteed good weather) can mean you spend next to nothing during the days - compared with the UK where you have to 'buy' your entertainment if it's raining constantly...

confused did yo ever try the other two eurocamps near paris> one is coming up cheaper and yet only 12 km from paris - am suspicious

Last year I was so sad because we never go on holidays (espite having a reasonable income) and all our friends were. We seemed to have nothing left at the end of the month.

So i opened up a separate holiday account and started squirreling money away whenever I could. So I would make my own lunches and put the savings in etc. That worked so well that it became a bit of a habit and I found that I could then just transfer £150 per month to the holiday account direct, plus whatever else I saved.

This year we are going on a short cruise, and I can't wait!

Easily. And I'm quite poor.

I don't understand people who say they can't afford to go abroad but then have a week or more somewhere in the UK....it's more expensive most of the time.

We've been abroad twice since dd1 was born nine years ago. Paid for using dh's bonus and a bit on a credit card.

For most people I know, they either go in term time, put it on a credit card, or go away with their parents who are paying for it.

Haven't been away since having kids.Flying with 2 under 2? No thanks! What we used to do was save a little throughout the year and then see what last minute deals we could find on teletext holidays website.

Well for the most part I'm fortunate enough to have disposable income from an inheritance. Although travelling has always been my passion so I always prioritize it.

Blowing we have tried one other near Paris, about 30 mins drive from Disney & Val d'Europe shopping centre (can't remember name though). We liked it but it is a lot smaller, swimming pool not covered & not as much to do at all. Was fine for us in summer but wouldn't recommend put of season & only opens in summer I think.

I find that if I book a holiday and have that commitment I can find the motivation to pay it off before we go. If I um and ah about booking something I never save in advance of booking so it becomes a mythical prospect. It just shows that I could afford it but usually don't because other things come along and seem more important at the time, so we end up in a caravan for a week and only go abroad every few years.

Definitely looking to book a few days away in October though for DH and me. Just feel guilty about leaving DS at home.

I used a bonus i got from work this year. Prob won't be able to afford another for a few years. Much cheaper if you can go anytime of year and not just school holidays too.

Blowing fairly sure it wasn't Champigny if that's where you are considering

In terms of leisure spending we prioritise travel over everything else and we manage several trips a year. Some of those are overseas, others in UK. We're experienced travellers and we know how to get good deals. We use skyscanner for flights, make a note of when airlines release their tickets so we can get the cheap ones, book SC and use Air BnB, drive our own car if that's going to be cheaper, and we cook, make picnics or eat simply. We drink the local wine/beer and, most importantly, DH earns a decent wage and we also have generous families who help us out.

We spend maybe £3-4k a year on holidays. Every few years more. That doesn't include city breaks.

No mortgage, no kids, £90k combined income.

We save up and make sure we keep other days out/treats to a minimum or don't spend a lot on them. We also live quite frugally in regards to food/going out. DH and I rarely go out or away and we don't spend a lot at the supermarket. DH does own his own business so earns a good wage and I work, but we still have to budget. We even have our coppers and 5ps tin which actually ends up at about £150 average over the year -no, it won't pay for a holiday but it does help with spending money!