We have been going on self catering holidays to Europe for the past few years and have budgeted £100 per day. We have found this to be fine and in fact, sometimes come back with change. Don’t get me wrong, we do keep an eye on what we spend, but we don’t feel it’s a struggle. We we a family of 2 adults with children aged 8 and 6.
Here is what we do.
Stock up in food in the UK. We pack lots of snack for our children, like tubes of Pringles, individual packs of crossiants, cereal bars, bottle of squash etc. Our children tend to go off food in the heat, so we take stuff we know they will eat.
We have breakfast and lunch in our room. We find a local supermarket and stock up on bread, cheese, milk and ham. I know some people don’t like to cook or clean on holiday, but I don’t mind making a sandwich or a bowl of cereal. Lunch in the room is a good excuse to get the children out of the sun. Hotel supermarkets can be expensive, but there are cheaper ones locally.
I pack a box of ice poles for the freezer so the children can help themselves.
We buy water squirters and pool toys from the pound shop, much cheaper to buy over here. In fact, some of the pool toys, we have had for a few years.
We don’t really do the excursions, as the children don’t like the heat, but it can often be cheaper to hop in a cab or bus than to use the tour company for excursions.
Me and OH will take some music along, buy a bottle of alcohol to share and chill on the balcony when the children go to sleep.
We honestly don’t struggle for money whilst on holiday. We eat out in the evenings, sometimes lunch as well if we feel like it. The children get spending money for the evening, we buy them ice Lollies and ice cream during the day (if they don’t want an ice pole), we get to buy souviners for friends and family, plus a few bits for ourselves.