Wibu, summer 2020 holiday?

[sailorcherries]

I know that IBU for even mentioning summer 2020 holidays when it is still 2019 summer but, as we're Scottish, our summer is finishing next year.

A bit of background context - married couple, two children who will be 9 and 3 when the holiday comes around.
One is a teacher, cannot take holidays before the official school holiday starts and one is going to retrain. Due to teachers wages increasing, PT work and bursary for retraining partner (and a slight council tax reduction) we are only around 200-300 worse off than we were before retraining. We aren't scrimping or on the bread line, can afford to save and have days out/Christmas/birthday but a holiday would require more thoughtful saving. One partner has a fear of flying but is slowly dealing with this, long haul is out. Not booking anything in October next year as not too sure if training dates and school holidays will match.

Person A wants to do something similar to Eurocamp or a self catering apartment somewhere in France or Italy, for a week to 10 days. Somewhere with a pool for the kids but a nice local area to see. Person B agrees this is cheaper than AI but has a fear that the pound will plummet following Brexit, particularly a no deal, and even if accommodation is cheaper the total cost of extras over there might not be. Person A agrees this is a worry but doesn't think that should stand in the way of booking.

Person B wants to take inspiration from the NC500 and travel the route staying in two or three different key places using a mix of hotels/b&bs/air b&b/cottages to sight see and enjoy the area. Plans to spend around 10 days to fully explore key places, possibly tying up with some events like Highland games. They suggested tying this up with a stay at a caravan/lodge resort either a few days either side of the trip or a longer stay at the end so kids could enjoy pool and we could relax. Suggesting around a 2-2.5 week holiday instead. Person A thinks this does sound good but worries the children will become a bit bored and also if the weather isn't brilliant then activities are limited. A also worried that cost if petrol and food could add up but acknowledges we could probably shop around for lodgings and have more knowledge of the area.

Person A thinks we will spend a similar amount regardless of what happens with exchange rates after Brexit, due to rising costs here too. Person B thinks that, although neither will be cheap it makes more sense to stay in the country.

Neither person is entirely opposed to the others idea but want to see which idea people would go for, given the current economical uncertainty following Brexit.
Which idea is better A or B?

My only concern would be driving from Scotland to France/central Europe!

We're just back from our holiday, drove from Ayrshire in the West of Scotland to Folkestone, then Lake Annecy in the French Alps stayed at a Eurocamp. Then down to a villa in Tuscany via a night in Genoa. And same in reverse. Great fun and been doing it for 10 years, ours boys are now 11 and 17.

Laguna have you used Eurocamp before? What is the accommodation like? We've never know anyone to use it and so can't get reliable information on accommodation or park recommendations.

We are currently in France and finding it a LOT more expensive thus year (we SC in a villa every year somewhere in the south west).

Funnily enough we are already booked for Spain in 2020 for my mother's 70th birthday and my father booked and paid the deposit for a luxury villa last year. As the exchange rate has plummeted since he booked, he is seriously considering cancelling it because before we have bought any food or flights the cost has already increased 30%.....

So, I'm not sure what I would answer, but I would probably be looking outside the Eurozone completely next year......

sailor used it loads of times, various sites and differences in caravans. Either booked direct with Eurocamp or through the Sun Holidays which come out in January time I think.

Last year we had a week at one on Brittany and then drove down to the Dordogne for another week. That was through the Sun and worked out at only £170 each for a week. I will look up the names. Its usually the basic caravan you get through the Sun deal, small but perfectly adequate. They upgraded us to an air conditioned 3 bedroom at the Dordogne one which was fab! This year we could only get 4 night holidays through the Sun offer, would loved to have stayed longer but 4 nights was only £90. Again small caravan but it had decking and outdoor furniture and a BBQ.

We really want to stay near Lake Garda next year for various reasons so have just booked a week direct with Eurocamp, it was a more expensive caravan the Azure, think its working out about £650 for a week but can't wait already! Now looking for a cottage with a pool on France for the second week. Please give me a PM if I can help with any more info!

We stayed here last Summer, it's on Brittany. Fab big campsite with lots to do and kids clubs.

This was this year's in the French Alps small and just the pool but was still great.

Our schools finish really early next year June the 24th in our council, I suspect a rush in holidays on the 25th or even earlier 😀

Thank you Laguna.

We are also the 24th sweetkitty but we obviously cannot go earlier and then leaving it later pushes the prices up. We even looked at the new Centreparcs Ireland, hoping it was outside their holidays, only to realise they stopped a whole month before!

Ah I just read you have a teacher - snap so am I. I’m not going on holiday until the 21st July next year (long story) so no cheap holidays for me but already know people booked for the 25th

I have 4 DC and when mine were babies I wasn’t working so we went to Center Parcs taking them out of nursery or out of school for a few days. Last time we went was just in May just after I finished my PDGE as I knew it would be the last time.

Person A,person B option sounds more expensive, and boring .

Person As idea sounds more appealing but I would maybe wait and book it nearer the time if you’re not sure? In case any late deals grab your eye

Person A's idea is better, even if it is vulnerable to exchange rate changes, because if you're SC you just buy what food you can afford and bread, cheese, ham, salad and fruit is never going to cost the earth. Person B's idea could be very expensive if the weather is crap (and the weather is often crap in Scotland + you get midges in summer time so even if it's sunny you'll likely be bitten to death trundling round the Highlands). Plus, DC get really bored with long car trips, particularly ones that go on day after day. From your DC's POV the Scottish option sounds dullsville.

If you're worried about Brexit-induced currency changes then book a package that locks in the exchange rate at the time of purchase.

Definitely A, last year was glorious for much of Scotland but remember the highlands can have its own little micro climate (sometimes better or in my experience cold wet and windy while the rest of the country basks) we found ourselves driving dc a significant distance to a small village swimming pool last year after we ran out of enthusiasm for the 'get the rain coats on and enjoy it anyway' and don't forget about the midges!! Spending extra money on indoor activities wasn't really an issue though like a pp mentioned as there were none bar that pool (or pubs) but accommodation can be v expensive.

On the other hand that route looks absolutely beautiful and I imagine my DC would love it in the absence of constant rain and midges - its a big risk

Head down to Cornwall? English schools don't break up until about 17 July. Cheap break for you