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AIBU?

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Original poster

The cost of UK summer holidays this year [shock]

115 replies

redglobox · 14/02/2021 18:55

Is it just the places I am looking at or have prices gone sky-high? Week at a Parkdean holiday park in Devon last summer £2,080, this year £3,180!!

OP posts:
OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 15/02/2021 09:50

It is sad really isn't it uk holidays have always been expensive. We've tended to alternate abroad and UK but it doesn't save money.

This summer I think it's going to be hard, prices will be up, demand up. Its going to be bloody difficult to find somewhere affordable. And frankly, the crowds are likely to be terrible on the beaches,I wouldn't be surprised if they were worse than last year.

Provided of course that we are allowed to travel within the UK which isn't a given.

Laiste · 15/02/2021 09:54

Last year in Jan (before covid kicked off) we booked our Dorset caravan holiday for July and, although it was touch and go for a while, in the end restrictions lifted in time for us to be able to go on it. All good.

This year in Jan i had a peek at the camp website and it was already booked up for the whole summer this year!!

So i started to look at holiday cottages in the same area. 90% of dates were already booked! I did find a suitable 3 bed holiday cottage (for a bit less than the caravan cost us last year) for dates we can do in July and i've booked it! If we can't go then we can't go. But i'm bloody glad i looked in Jan.

I've not told anyone outside the family yet because it's seen as wrong to try for a hols this year. But the booking situation shows we're not alone and 'waiting to see' would have been way too late.

RaspberryCoulis · 15/02/2021 09:55

@redglobox

Is it just the places I am looking at or have prices gone sky-high? Week at a Parkdean holiday park in Devon last summer £2,080, this year £3,180!!
Are you aware of the basic concepts of supply and demand, OP? Hmm
Shelovesamystery · 15/02/2021 09:56

We booked early in January. 4 nights at Butlins with the most expensive dining plan for last week of the summer holidays. It was £850ish. We will book a hotel or airbnb for a night or 2 at a nearby seaside town to make it 5 or 6 nights away. I'm getting quite glad that we booked early now.

We would like to get away somewhere else earlier in the year as well but what with not knowing what restrictions will be lifted when and price hikes I think we will have to scrap that idea. Maybe do a couple of overnight stays for zoo/theme park trips instead.

Laiste · 15/02/2021 09:57

Oh i meant to add for info:

Last year's top of the range caravan in Dorset cost us apx £1,000 for a week in July.
Don't know what they are charging this year cos all booked up and no prices showing now.

This year's beautiful thatched 3 bed cottage is 800 and something pounds for roughly the same week in July. Just down the road from campsite.

Hollyhead · 15/02/2021 09:58

Ultimately it's good for the economy for us to spend our money here, I think demand for overseas holidays in 2022 will do the opposite effect - overseas will be £££ UK prices will come down a bit.

Laiste · 15/02/2021 10:02

Would be interested to know how many people will feel confident going back to flying abroad when we can.

We want to take youngest DD (6) on her first hol abroad but DH is saying he wont do it for a couple of years yet. If it was just up to me i'd probably risk it next year if it was allowed.

Tullyjune · 15/02/2021 10:11

I’ve just checked the cottage in North Yorkshire we rented 2 years ago. It’s available for most weeks in August and about the same price (under £700) for a week.

The big tourist destinations like Devon and Cornwall are so expensive. But I guess if people want the beach and all the touristy stuff it comes with an inflated price. Especially this year when the people who normally do Mediterranean beach holidays are staying in the U.K. and trying to replicate it.

I’m lucky we all enjoying hiking and castles and are not adverse to bad weather, saved a fortune over the years!!

Laiste · 15/02/2021 10:16

I don't think the prices have been inflated where i've been looking either. (is the point of my ramblings)

Dorset. Pretty much booked up now though it seems.

stclair · 15/02/2021 10:17

The best thing about UK holidays is not having the flying stress with kids. That always takes the shine of holidays abroad for me, and knowing we have to do it all in reverse to get home! Last year we spent two weeks away on the trot, one in Suffolk then one in Norfolk. It was the best holiday ever! Just throw everything in the car and go as we pleased. We would normally spend one week abroad and one in UK.

BiarritzCrackers · 15/02/2021 10:20

Changechangychange I agree with SoCrimeaRiver: the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (not at the harbour - about a mile into town) is lovely for children who are interested in steam, engineering or rail. DS was 9 when we went there, loved the shed room.

There's affordable accommodation still in the part of Wales I'm going to (rules permitting). Maybe because it's around 15 -20 mins drive from the beaches that it's less popular, but around the Aberteifi/Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn areas there are still lovely cottages available for £800 or so.

Stirmecrazy · 15/02/2021 10:21

@laiste I have booked flights for December Costa Rica flights and accomodation for 2 weeks (multiple hotels mostly high end incl 5 days in a all inclusive all cancellable or movable until late November) for less than £2800 for 2 people
I personally wouldn’t have booked this summer overseas as think it is too risky still but I think in 10 months time with the vaccination programme things will look very different and it’s worth a punt for us and if we don’t go I will go 2022

Exhausteddog · 15/02/2021 10:22

Im surprised at everyone finding abroad is cheaper in school holidays. I guess if you know the right time to book.
We normally spend about 1k on a s/c holiday (cottage or caravan) for 4 people in the uk. I know we have to add food, fuel and activities but I've never been able to find a holiday for 4 abroad in summer holidays for less than about 2.5k and thats usually a studio, or all in one room.

partyofsixteen · 15/02/2021 10:23

This was always going to happen. To be honest it’ll be good for the uk holiday industry. We’ve booked several trips for later this year. Didn’t need to pay deposits so if they don’t go ahead it’s not the end of the world.

After a year in lockdown even being able live “normally” at home will be holiday enough.

Nancylovesthecock · 15/02/2021 10:25

This is why I booked my holidays (only ever holiday UK anyway) for the next two years in advance last August. Booked with Haven under their covid guarantee and pay in installments. Bargain and so easy.

Exhausteddog · 15/02/2021 10:26

The only holidays we do abroad are camping or caravan in France, which we noramlly do for 10 days.

idontlikealdi · 15/02/2021 10:31

I got a quote for 6.5k for a caravan in Cornwall in August...

Holiday companies are trying t recoup costs, get cash flow, rebook people from last year and then all the people who would go abroad now booking U.K. I booked a couple of weeks back in January I can't imagine there's much availability left now

Laiste · 15/02/2021 10:33

This thread is relieving my holiday booking anxiety Grin

I mean i knew i wasn't the only one because of how little choice there was even back in Jan, but it's all a bit taboo in our wider circle here.

Laiste · 15/02/2021 10:35

idontlikealdi Mon 15-Feb-21 10:31:40

I got a quote for 6.5k for a caravan in Cornwall in August...

Shock

Bloody hell! I'd want a 6 bedroom caravan with a private heated pool for that. And a naked butler service.

TheLuckiest · 15/02/2021 10:44

Bloody hell. These prices are crazy!!

We've just been looking at Cornwall and there were plenty of places still available in August around the £1200 - £1500 PW price range as of last week.

Not sure where some of you are looking!! Are these all Grand Designs-style architect designer all-inclusive right-on-the-beach places?!! Bit further inland are usually much cheaper.

Having said that, we've sacked off Cornwall not due to inflated prices but because it's going to be absolutely rammed this summer if restrictions are lifted. Imagine Padstow or Newquay on a nice warm summer's day....Shock

So we've booked a beautiful cottage right on the beach in the back of beyond in the Scottish Highlands instead. Glorious scenery and under £800.

Freetigerking · 15/02/2021 10:52

I think I will just stay at home this year, buy new garden furniture and hire a hot tube. Keep my money for next year.

Changechangychange · 15/02/2021 10:55

@idontlikealdi

I got a quote for 6.5k for a caravan in Cornwall in August...

Holiday companies are trying t recoup costs, get cash flow, rebook people from last year and then all the people who would go abroad now booking U.K. I booked a couple of weeks back in January I can't imagine there's much availability left now

You need to post a link to that one! I hope it has gold-plated taps, or a bed made of unicorns or something to justify it Grin
Parker231 · 15/02/2021 11:34

We normally always go abroad, usually long haul. I don’t think holidays outside the U.K. will happen this summer so have started looking at the U.K. - expensive!

Menofsteel · 15/02/2021 11:38

Looking at these I’m glad we have a motorhome! All I need is a pitch or level ground if off grid. As for 6.5k for Cornwall, buy a camper van for 5k and have ALL the holidays 🤣

LakieLady · 15/02/2021 11:41

@Signoramarella

Depends where you go. I've just booked s campsite in Suffolk for a week in july, 120squid.
As I was reading this thread, I found myself wondering if now would be a good time to put all my camping stuff on Ebay!