Am I deluded or have holidays become almost unaffordable for many families?

[Tractorprincess]

Looking at holidays and everything is so expensive.

We usually pay around £1200 for a very very nice holiday flat in the UK right on the beach but we're all getting a bit bored of the same place. I always thought £1200 was quite pricey but I'm starting to think it's an absolute bargain.

I can remember going abroad a few years ago with ds1 for around 1k, now I can't find anything half decent for less than 3k.

Thought about doing a few UK weekend breaks but nice places for the dc, the Legoland hotel is £700! I know you can go to cheaper local ones but having done than previous years I was thinking about making it extra exciting.

Centreparcs is extortionate too.

Dh and I are both on ok salaries, hardly rich but above the apparent UK average.

I don't know how people afford to go unless they're very well off or go in term time.

@Lifestyle - apologies, I meant I'd be back to searching, not you! My wording was very poor!! Thank you for the tips!

Also agree that self catering in a Eurocamp type place just wouldn't feel like a holiday to me. You still have to keep you space clean & tidy. Still have to shop for groceries. Still have to cook meals and clear away after. Too much domestic drudgery, just in warmer weather.

We have just come back from a week Euro camp. The site had a lovely patisserie and we had fresh bread every day. There was a good restaurant that did great take away pizza. We barbecued the rest of the week. The pool complex was fantastic. Indoor splash, indoor slides, I indoor pool, outdoor slides and pool and splash, playground, beach 10 min drive. Kids went to bed at around 730pm and then we had the rest of the evening.l together. It was lots of fun and we have some amazing video and photos and the kids loved it. The getting there and back wasn't too bad. Kids loved the ferry. Kids are both pre school. Going back next year and going to do a couple of different sites.

I wouldn't say it was relaxing but it was loads of fun. But I don't expect holidays at this stage to be relaxing.

I liked eurocamp - but I agree that having the reps coming round all the time saying ‘ keep it tidy and clean - clean the already dirty bbq’ was a bit of a downer at times! Plus it’s always harder work self catering - sometimes I thought i May as well be at home! Still - out camp had a nice spa and the bits loved it so it had up sides.

Boys loved it!

Yeah I don’t want anyone to think I am putting it down but of course i think it’s obvious most people go because it’s in the budget it’s not really your ideal holiday!

Which one did you go to, sun?

the80s no one came round saying that to us? The rep stopped by twice. Didn't see or hear from her at all other than that.

scipio we went to Le Littoral in the south vendee which is a Yelloh Village site. The euro camp element was quite small. This was our second year. Really straightforward drive aswell. We are going elsewhere next year and probably further south but will likely stick with Yelloh village. The 5* resorts have Spas and aqua bikes and aqua treadmills and adult only sections so I think can be quite nice. But to be fair le littoral was excellent. Always spotless.

I do the Eurocamp to Italy and book the flights very early. We bbq and eat out. I rarely cook. We rent a tentlodge so still use the fabulous facilities on site. I love it. No cleaners coming round every day, no rules, same old buffets etc. BUT I agree if I could save £8k per year I would go to Florida in Disney. Instead I save £4K a year which is still £333 a month which as a single parent is a lot to save from my net salary each month in order to Eurocamp for 15 nights.

I will say that off peak it is really cheap but in August for the 5* resort it is €200 a night give or take if you stay one of the cottages/vans. So it it still can be expensive.

we can't afford package holidays and prefer to be a bit flexible anyway so we book our own flights and stay Air B and B. We are going to Poland - again - as really interesting country and very cheap for eating out and trips. Can't wait - roll on noext week.

This was the south of France in 2012. We had four visits in one week going on about keeping it clean! We did / but the bbq wasnt great when we got there so we just cleaned the ashes out and gave the grill a rinse best we could. They checked up the day we moved out as well! I can see why etc but they were strict.

the80s that's a shame as it would be off putting. We might not stay with euro camp next time as I think there are better companies but the facilities are much better than a hotel with just regular pools I think.

The facilities were good - better than it would be in the U.K./ I think it’s France though , they are very strict about how you leave things! I can see why but every time I saw the reps I felt like I was back at school! 😀

I always took dc on family holidays, as a single parent it was cheaper to go camping (no surcharge for being only adult) and got ferry to France then drive south for better weather. Picked campsites with pools and took books

Recently had a message from eldest - now in her twenties- so loved our holidays mum they were the coolest and such great memories.

Getting away and doing something different doesn’t have to cost a fortune

We are camping for 5 days. OP do you mean that luxury holidays or holidays abroad are unaffordable? They always have been for most people.

I’very booked ferry’s midweek at random times to get a better price in school holidays, not booked places and jyst druve inland and pick quite places that aren’t as expensive. Travel after 21 August and the campsite fees are much cheaper, buy an Asis book and get even better deals

Take store food with you and get ice creams out insteadon days you eat by the tent ⛺️

I have worked for a well-known airline and holiday company for years. It makes no difference to the fact I still don't have the means to take a holiday abroad (or in the UK for that matter). Just too expensive, plus single person supplement. My reward is to send other people on holiday, plus their overfilled designer suitcases. Knobcunts.

Flo, that must be horrible having to be all jolly and helpful while the punters mull over which AI to go on ( especially if its an expensive place) Its a shame they dont waive the supplements as you work for them.
I'm getting old now and the thought of hot crowded and very busy airports puts me off - the queues for customs or check in - the hanging around you have to do, not to mention having to spend an entire day getting anywhere ( even Europe) puts me off these days!
I've become more impatient I think and the whole experience is much more time consuming than it was years ago i;'m sure of it!
I was even bored going by car to France the one time we did that and i am not a fan of hot weather either! ( not cut out for holidays really)
grumpy old woman here.

I’ve never found the self catering bit hard. Croissants etc for breakfast, cold meats, bread and salad for lunch and bbq for dinner. The most cooking I did was some bacon bits and pasta for a change and boiling new potatoes. Get everyone involved in washing up etc. Found hotels much more stressful with young kids. Sharing a room with them, trying to keep them reasonably quiet before breakfast time when they woke up early and making sure they behaved in the dining rooms. Could be much more relaxed in a caravan.

I agree with Blobby. Self catering is much less stressful. If DC want a drink or snack, you can just fix one for them in seconds instead of sitting in a cafe waiting to be served and paying 3x-10x the price for a cool drink. You have much more space in self catering, not all cramped into a family suite, but a proper living area, outside space etc, all for less money, usually. We always go for massive, centrally located airbnbs which are cheaper than a squashed room in a 3* hotel in a similar location.

I also find sc less stressful. My dc will quite often get up early- before the breakfast starts at AI then want to eat.
Lunch is just a sandwich from the pool bar and dinner there are loads of restaurants to choose from - DC pick pizza and pasta every night but me and DH can have something authentic while they do!
I find it easier but I get why some people like AI

You still have to keep you space clean & tidy

No you don't. Just leave things in a mess. You're going home in a few days, so you just pick it all up then. The only thing that needs doing is a quick shake of the bed clothes and keeping the kitchen ususable and everyone except very small DCs does their share so the work is minimal. If you're cleaning bathrooms, tidying or much else at all, you have to ask yourself why.

Self catering only involves significant cooking and cleaning if you choose to do that. We eat out at least once a day, usually twice (one main meal and one snacky meal like a slice of pizza, some chips or a big ice cream) and other meals are barbecues, or easy food like bread, ham, cheese, olives, crisps or breakfast. Couple of trips to the supermarket or local shop to pick these things up and then lots of sitting around relaxing and enjoying the sunshine.

I don't particulary like hotels because they always want to come in and service the room at the least inconvenient moment, eg when you've just come back for a few minutes despite being out all day.