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???

Oh dear

@QueenofLouisiana

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.

I would like to hear more about the safari tents

@Gymrats

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

We hire a lot of cottages and never pay more than £700. For example, had a fantastic lodge in Scotland in August for £600.

Agree with pp and was coming on to say this. We have booked flights and accommodation for half term and have saved a huge sum by booking separately.

I took mine to Haven, paid it off monthly as a single mum.

Save in the credit union every week.

When you have a bit in your savings, take out a loan so you're not using your own money for holiday.

Pay back over the year and save any extra you have on top.

Its paid back by the following summer and repeat.

Family friend accountant man told us, never spend own money for leisure. Be saving all the time, but use small loans for holidays.

Agree with pp and was coming on to say this. We have booked flights and accommodation for half term and have saved a huge sum by booking separately.

Also agree with this. We buy our flights as soon as we can by just budgeting that month or two really well. Then book accommodation on booking.com where you can choose free cancellation and pay on arrival.

All spends and accommodation is covered by the credit union loan we pick up just before holiday.

Check holiday list far in advance if you have a random inset day or out if step half term jump on it.
Cottage, book diy flights and own accommodation.
DD had a 2 week October half term in primary saved us thousands over years as we had our main holiday then plus better for our employers as we didn’t want summer leave.

Do you have high expenses, high mortgage? How much money could you save, if any each month? Could you save £50 or £100 if you really tried.

We've had a caravan in Dorset for many years so a basic holiday is only £150. Plus food, which we would spend anyway.

Once we saved and saved for a very very expensive holiday in Tenerife. This year we are going for a cheaper, an Easter week all inclusive in Majorca for £1k.

@Oblomov22
Could you please share the link for the all inclusive in Majorca?

https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/sensity-chillout-triton-beach.en-gb.html?aid=311076;label=sensity-chillout-triton-beach-4eONN0xfDH5H0kRXXHfGLQSM392692238577%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atiaud-1110454565467%3Akwd-297687957741%3Alp1006623%3Ali%3Adem%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YSNxgVPQVI7AT3fx1WXiwSU;sid=d9470efecb4499d867d417928963ead4;destid=-374978;destttype=city;dist=0;groupadults=2;grouppchildren=0;hapos=1;hpos=1;norooms=1;reqqadults=2;reqchildren=0;room1=A%2CA;sbbpricetype=total;srr_order=popularity;srepoch=1642763973;srpvid=a3324fa2d806015e;type=total;ucfs=1&

Hotel Triton. Through cheekytrip.

Hmmmm, I think a fair few people have DEFINITELY not read the full thread...
To answer a couple of questions, we do have quite a big mortgage and various other expenditures. There is NO WAY we could afford to save £300-500 a month as some have suggested, but to be honest even if we could we'd have to have a lot of savings and much, much more disposable income before I'd feel comfortable using that amount of our household income on holidays. We don't spend our money on clothes or cars or going out etc. (we don't actually have that much money left over) but there are lots of things like work that needs doing on the house etc. that I would prioritise if we could afford it.

I might take my eldest out of school for a couple of days, but certainly not for a couple of weeks. I think it does matter and I think it sends the wrong message to both my kids and the school about our commitments. My daughter has some additional needs and we've spent some time pushing for her to have extra support to reach her potential. I think taking her out of school would undermine this, but maybe I'm wrong?

After all the great advice on here I think we're going to rent a little villa on the coast near Barcelona and get flights separately. I've found some pretty good deals for the Easter hols when it's a bit out of season and won't be too hot. We'll save hard till then and put the rest of it on interest free credit card to pay off monthly afterwards.

You gave us some great ideas, thank you!!

Not for everyone, but we bought a cheap, second hand touring caravan when our kids were tiny,and we've had some amazingly cheap holidays! Holidays that we'd never been able to afford otherwise.

@hookiewookie29

Not for everyone, but we bought a cheap, second hand touring caravan when our kids were tiny,and we've had some amazingly cheap holidays! Holidays that we'd never been able to afford otherwise.

We did that. Then progressed to a bigger newer van when another child arrived. Caravanning is an amazing way for children to grow up imo. They get the freedom of a 70s childhood in a safe environment. Mine still love going caravanning and the eldest is 20 now.

@copernicium

I booked a nice little cottage for a week I don't think all schools have, for £700. Reasonable-ish.

I've just cancelled it, as 3 months after booking it, they decided the price was "an error" and asked for £395 more or they would cancel the booking.

@copernicium

Pity you cancelled. I think you could have argued that it was a binding contract and not possible for them to try to renegotiate

@Notimeforaname

Family friend accountant man told us, never spend own money for leisure. Be saving all the time, but use small loans for holidays.

@Notimeforanametime

That sounds strange advice

I would say holidays are a luxury that you should save for, and if you have to borrow, then better to go without. I would never borrow to pay for a holiday

House swaps are a great option for a cheap holiday. We have occasionally swapped with family. We self cater, visit local beaches / attractions, all for the cost of petrol to get there and back

I’m a single parent working PT and I’ve taken my 2 dc to France, Thailand, portugal, USA, Spain, as well as lots of U.K. holidays.

I am the ultimate bargain Hunter when it comes to flights, I book short haul on the day the flights are released, and long haul I do through skyscanner and monitor the best prices. And I always book accommodation separately, through Airbnb or booking.com, and have stayed in some amazing places very cheaply. Forward planning and shopping around is the key.

@bluelines81 how do you know when flights will be released please??

[quote surreygirl1987]@bluelines81 how do you know when flights will be released please??[/quote]
I get email alerts from easyJet, Ryanair and travel republic of flight sales

@surreygirl1987 it’s been a little bit all over the place since covid, it used to always be pretty much the same every year, eg summer flights were released in October. If I know I want to book flights for the next year, I’ll regularly Google ‘easyjet summer release date’ for example, and you’ll find the information, or at least good guesses which are worth checking out. And then on the day of release I’d stay up until the early hours of the morning and book as soon as they were released. The price literally increases by the hour on that first day, so by the time people are waking up and going to book, the flights will already be a lot more expensive.

Of course you can also sign up to emails from the airlines, but by the time they email you the flights will have already been live for a few hours and you’ll have missed the best deals. It will still be cheaper than leaving it until nearer the time of travel though.

Camping! we go in the school holidays. camping in a haven sight so your still getting some entertainment/ swimming is very cheap.

www.easyjet.com/en/schedule-release

I do agree holidays have gone really exorbitant. I am going with ds just 4 days Barcelona in the summer half term.

Next time we can go off peak as he is leaving college.

It does seem to be turning into a total privilege to travel anywhere these days.

I think next time we will try to book last minute in case any special deals exist. We can but hope!