To be sad we're not going abroad this year

[Paraparanoid]

We go abroad on holiday most years. This year we just can't afford the 4k plus it will cost our family of 4. Instead we've booked week in a cottage in the UK plus a few nights either side in Premier Inns, so will be away 10 nights at a cost of around 1k for accomodation and allowing 1k for spends. DD (13) unimpressed and I admit I feel a bit worried about crap weather etc although have done loads of research on things to do to keep us entertained. I'm now worried I could've done better with our 2k budget and perhaps could've gone abroad afterall. It would be school summer hols.

AIBU?

Yeah, cos these days there’s no sun in the UK, it wasn’t 28+ for weeks on end last year and the year before, oh no.

Take the positive out of this, OP. Take some pride in the country that you live in and pass that onto your children. If your child grows up expecting that going abroad is just a typical holiday, then she may end up sitting feeling sorry for herself if she can’t afford it, when she grows up. Pull yourself together and do your research on the area. I’m sure there are hidden treasures and experiences that you will find, if you make the effort. How about you let each person pick an activity that everyone has to join in, even if it’s not normally their cup of tea? No one is permitted to grumble about the other person’s choice (unless it’s an activity that instils fear) as they get their choice catered to.

Further away does not automatically mean better. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are all beautiful. Lots of places abroad pale in comparison. Just because you need to get a plane to get somewhere doesn't make it good.

weeping idk where you are but it certainly wasnt 28 for weeks on end here

I enjoy our holidays and save like mad all year to afford . Kids came with us until they were adults .
I usually trawl the internet and try and be flexible on both dates and where you want to go. .Usually some flights will work out a good deal
Have you thought of holiday camps abroad?
I hope you do enjoy your holidays and it is better than you hoped for .

Where are all these cheap holidays then if you want an actual holiday and it being in a tent?!

We do Spain, 4 adults, one teen, for around £1700/1800. We book flights direct and accommodation via Holiday Lettings/Home Away etc. We've also done Portugal and France that way.

We also enjoy breaks closer to home as well. Time together as a family is priceless wherever you go.

London, it was fucking insufferable. Got to Devon and 22 degrees and I was so bloody happy, first decent night’s sleep in about 3 weeks. Heated up again a week later!

"DesparateDino
Our holiday is costing £1500 for four of us all inclusive to Spain.
2k is a lot for a UK break.
You still have a holiday booked though."

2K seems very cheap for the 6 weeks holiday AI.
£375 each all inclusive? Is it a week?

Dd13 is unimpressed

My reply to that would be a brisk and sarcastic “Phone Childline; I’m sure they’ll be hugely sympathetic”.

Seriously. If you asked my dd19 what her favourite holidays have been, she’d say the Peak District and Dorset. The UK is beautiful and it’s only because I’m disabled that we haven’t managed Cornwall or Scotland yet.

You’re incredibly fortunate to have £2k to spend; choose your holiday cottage wisely in an area where there’s plenty to do regardless of weather and enjoy.

If we go abroad we usually drive to france and either camp or hire a caravan. We usually go for 10 days and its about £1800 all in. Dd (12) would love to go to majorca but we havent found we can do it within a similar budget.

*Shockers

I want to know how to side hustle 4K!*

Me too!! I dont think if i ebayed everything i own including the car i'd get that much!

Least you’re being more green by not flying.

I’m not sure it’s easy to sort a £2k holiday for 4 in school holidays abroad (all inc or allowing for spends as that’s what the OP is doing).

I think it could be done if you did a short city break but your choice of 10 days in the UK is fine. Your daughter will be fine. Or at least as fine as a 13 year old away from friends can be.

I bet when you do finally go away she'll be looking forward it. I think with teenagers it's all about keeping up with the Jones's and looking cool because they've gone away somewhere nice and hot etc.
FWIW as a kid we could only afford Weymouth every year. It was 1.5 hours away by car so not exactly tropical. I can't remember what the main road is called and i know they changed it all a few years ago because of the olympics, but i used to get so excited as we descended from the top and you could see the sea. I have some fantastic memories and when I'm back home (UK) i always make a point of going for a day.
She'll be fine. She's lucky she's going anywhere a i bet a lot of people she goes to school with aren't able to afford anything this year

2k budget? Jesus wept.

Get your spoilt DD to do some volunteering locally and develop gratitude.

Oh, and that will be you that spoilt her.

We always airbnb and still pay about £1000-£1500 for a flat for a week when we go abroad and flights are not much cheaper. Amazed how cheap some of you are getting holidays, do you only have 1 child (we have 3DC) and live close to major airports (2 flight to get anywhere from our local airport) or something? Or do you take the 6am flights?

There are so many cheap allinclusve deals out there,it annoys me so much when people stick there noses up at it (not saying OP is) holidaying in UK is actually more expensive for me anyway even though I love holidays in UK especially when the weather is right. I've only ever stayed at 3 or 4 star hotels buy have seen 5 star hotel deals going for 200/300 PP all in and for two weeks. BuT obviously it depends on the time of year and destination. Turkey is a great place for affordable prices.

looks like the change is the thing here.its different its not your much loved tradiotion and so it doesnt quite seem right/good.
but you can make it so.
as they say mind over matter.and thats what you need to get your head round right now.this could be a really great holiday but your already thinking the grass is always greener and comparison is the thief of joy!

i think with a bit of researching you perhapscould have done it abroad.but you havent.and thats ok and it will be fine.
if its one of the holiday cottage sin the lovely parts of the uk it will be bliss.ive been on many a website fawning over these places hehe.

your dd is 13.she would be starting to do this at most holiday i wreckon. but maybe have a word with her.tell her how thing lie at tthe moment with finaces and so changes had to be made this year.

really though you are lucky.so go for it.itl be ok if you make it so.it really will

You'll get people banging on about first world problems, but I empathise. We usually holiday abroad 3/4 times a year some just last minute city breaks, but DS is five months old, I'm on mat leave with terrible pay, usually in the higher earner and my car blew up when he was three weeks old and wet had to replace it, so we just won't have the spare cash this year. I'm just making the most of some time to plan for next year and we're renting a friend's holiday cottage in Devon for a week in early September.

For several years we did home swaps with homelink.org.uk, it's a great way to cut costs and also get more, e.g. swapping cars too, getting bikes for the kids, board games etc. We did some in the UK and also France, Belgium and Germany. Would very much recommend it.

I must be the only wierd person who don't like to holiday abroad with family. I've done some and I can't see how it's fun nor worthwhile unless it is entirely kid-free. When they are old enough to not be a pain they won't want to travel with you. Do you want to travel with your mum? I certainly don't. She can't even swim.

What's wrong with UK holidays. Beautiful coastline, national parks, charming towns and nobody is French.

We can't leave the country even if we want to, because we would need our visas reapproved for re-entry, so we have been stuck in america for the last 6 years. We just do road trip holidays, sometimes camping, sometimes hotel or this year we found an air bnb for a week. We are splitting it with our next door neighbours as it is a big house, with a local clubhouse with variety of pools, swimming lakes and wooded areas and rivers... cost $550 for our family plus food. It isn't about the cost or the sun or the exoticness, it is about family time without daily stress, good food and fun memories for the kids. yes, I feel bad I can't give my kids the wonderful trips to Greece, Spain, Portugal etc I enjoyed as a child back in the UK, but it doesn't mean they aren't still getting a vacation and learning things. If anything England is far better for that. We are stuck with limited history here, relying on caverns and an occasional Amish farm for entertainment. You have a whole host of museums, landmarks and scenic places to see. You might even get a bit of sun too if you are lucky.

Was it? I travelled abroad a lot as a child, and I have to say it was one of the best things about my childhood. I absolutely loved it, and have loved travelling ever since. So do children suffer if they don’t go abroad? Perhaps not. Do they miss out? IMO yes.

Jolly good for you. I never went abroad as a child, never felt like I missed out, after you don't miss what you never had. I had some fantastic holidays in the UK as a kid.

Stop making parents feel guilty that they can't take their kids abroad.

one of the best for us was calais to france in car and then driving down through different parts ot the loire valley which was devine.it was one of the best holidays stopping of on the way in F1s and campsites/mobile homes/gites.managed it in under your budget.
might be worth doing some digging for next year so you can make it work if you really do want abraod.