Is ds spolit? How do people get away?

[getourwings]

Ds is 11 and it seems all his friends are going away every holiday to far flung and exotic destinations. We are off to France in the summer, and sometimes visit family in other parts of the UK, but other than that don't do a lot. I'm even bored myself of local days out...

Ds has been a grouch this holiday, and I'm sure a lot of it stems from jealousy, and I don't blame him when I hear where all his mates are going. What do I do? I'm constantly googling flights etc, but it seems the 3 of us (he has a younger brother) can't get away for less than a grand for a few days, and that's without spending-money.

How do people afford to be going away all the time? Dc no longer like walks/the library etc,, so it's hard. What do others do?

Last year we booked a train to London for the 3 of us. It cost £50 return altogether as it was so far in advance. We stayed a few nights in a travelodge/ premier inn near Covent Garden. From memory it was something like £70 a night for a family room.
I downloaded the city mapper app, and told DS how much more money he would have to spend in the shops if we walked a mile and not use the tube.
The hotel breakfast kept us going most of the day, with sandwiches from Tesco express/similar sort of shops.
We did eat out in the evenings though.