AIBU to wonder how anyone with kids can afford to go on holiday?

[stilltiredinthemorning]

My husband and I both work. We're not huge earners, but both professionals earning above the average wage. We have 2 kids (3 and 6). I know this has probably been raised many times before, but honestly, how to 'normal' people possibly afford to go on holiday??? Just for giggles I just had a look at Centre Parks for either half term or Easter - it's £1800 for 4 days!!!! Even bloody Butlins in Skeggy is over £600 for 3 nights. Cheap package holidays seem to be at least £1000 (but at least feels like your getting a bit extra for your money). Even if we had £1800 sitting about, which we most certainly don't, I really don't think I could bring myself to spend it on 4 nights in a very average log cabin in Suffolk (especially since pretty much everything else costs extra). I'm honestly thinking that we just won't be able to go on holiday again until the kids are finished at school. I mean we could save up the money over a year or so, but the pressure of spending that much would undo all the pleasure of the holiday I think???

Hire a cottage somewhere. Or there's a nice little place called Hengar Manor at Bodmin in Cornwall that's very good value.

Well I certainly can't afford a holiday
I don't know how people do it who aren't on big salaries

I know quite a few parents who will take their kids during term time this year. It seems the pandemic has made people thing that whilst school is very important, so is having a bit of a life.

I’m too poor for a holiday at the minute but maybe towards the end of the year.

No holidays again this year. Prices have always been bad, but they are even worse now. Triples in the school holidays.

Hiring a cottage your still looking at £800-£1200 easily, before food and spending money plus petrol!

Center Parc is a rip-off.

We never did any kind of entertained holiday in the UK, so no Butlins or similar. We got a cottage and did our own things.

I am a teacher but would otherwise take my kids out, I promise you 2 weeks if you are an engaged family makes very little difference

There is not just Centre Parks though...there are other options like Air B and B.

Camping 🏕

We go camping. I can do 2 weeks in France for the same price as that 4 night break in centreparks.

How about camping?

Go camping. I love it! It'not for everyone but it can be great,if you do it right.

We a have a bell tent, comfy mattresses, a barbecue and go to some terrific places.

Not every holiday has to cost £s.

Take the kids out of school. I'd never pay that for center parcs.

You can pick stuff up really cheap second hand.

Single parent - 3 kids - I do camping and Eurocamp - got 8 nights in Dordogne Whit week for £300 this year!

Centre Parks has always been expensive.

To answer your question; some people use credit cards, some go on Sun holidays etc, some will book for term time. Last minute deals used to be popular - I had a couple of friends whose parents would take them on last minute trips; so they wouldn’t know where they were going until a day or so before. I think that’s less of a thing now, though. Then there will be people whose circumstances help - who get work trips that the rest of the family can pay to tag along on, or use a credit card for work expenses so get points, or have family or friends with a holiday home somewhere…

For some people a holiday is a priority so they just save for it, it’s worth the cost. For others, they’d find the cost diminished the enjoyment of the holiday. If you’re in the second camp, your best option is going to be finding something cheaper. I don’t think there’s a big secret; though.

And costs seem to have risen as a result of Covid, and Brexit, probably. Europe isn’t quite as cheap and easy as it was.

Center Parcs is crazy expensive if you look in the holidays. But a long weekend at one end of a school holiday (so just as they break up) is usually much more realistic. I’ve paid £700 for one this year. We always have a great time. You don’t have to spend loads when you’re there if you take food / kids bikes and just use the pool and playgrounds.
Also booked a cottage in the UK for a week in the summer holidays and that was £1000. We’ll mainly self cater and hang out at the beach (hopefully, weather dependent!)
I think you just have to look for things that suit your budget and save for them year round, that’s what we do. Can’t really afford an all inclusive abroad like some of my friends do because that would be more like £3-5k but we still have a good time each year.

Eurocamp is our usual Holiday it’s fairly cheap too

I.paod £700 over 7 months for caravan holiday enclused wristbands for 4days with thr rides bowling and golf we have the best one with a hot tub it's tight but it can be done x

When is your half term? Ours is 14th - 18th and we got Bluestone (which is like CP but in my opinion nicer) for £549. 4 person lodge.

I agree with the point you make though!

I agree. We didn't have holidays for years when we had kids. Even now with one still in education we can't afford to go away in school holidays.

I've not been abroad for donkeys years.

Of Feb I mean!

We hire a safari tent in the South of France usually- if you look around, you can find some good deals. This year we have found some that even have their own bathrooms, which will be nice.

We also own a caravan which gives us short breaks in the UK for not so much, especially as we can take our own breakfasts etc, which tend to add a lot to the cost.

Our winter holiday is the expensive one- about £1000 each as DS is on adult rates. That is something we all really look forward to, so it's worth the cost we feel. Both work in schools- I'm teacher and DH is a deputy head.

Center parcs is renowned for being expensive.
We never went abroad, while the children were young, and found the best value were self catering holiday cottages. Over time we knew what to look for, (parking, some outside space, etc)
One year my DH was out of work, and desperately job hunting. I took the DC (aged 10, 8 and 5) camping, and borrowed a tent, sleeping bags, etc, which I did on my own, as DH had some job interviews that week, which when out of work, you cant possibly decline. So, I still went on my own. So, holidays can be done, if you lower your expectations.

We either go up to Scotland for a week at the end of August (Scottish school holidays end mid Aug), or we book a very basic cottage down south somewhere.