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???

I had almost an identical conversation to this with DH the other day. We earn ok (not masses but certainly above average) and we pay the bill ok, but we can’t afford a family holiday. It sucks!

Your kids are the ideal age for camping. If you book a pitch in the line of sight of the kids playground you will sit down and relax like you never have before. That was the realisation I had when we were persuaded to borrow a tent and try it out for the weekend. We immediately bought our own kit and have enjoyed many camping holidays over the last ten years. If you can find another camping family to enjoy it with it's even better.

Eurocamp was also excellent for us. Every now and then I'd find an absolute bargain. We once paid £350 for a 7 night break at Easter in a really nice static caravan in Normandy including the ferry cost. We took the kids to the Normandy beaches, had a day in Honfleur, saw the Bayeaux tapestry and also Mont St Michelle. One of my favourite holidays ever.

We also did the Loire Valley for a week at May half term for £650 - that was a great holiday too.

We got a great bargain one Easter to Duinrell in Holland which is fabulous for young kids.

Our plan was always a two week camping trip to Cornwall or similar in the summer and then grab any bargain Eurocamp holidays that came along at Easter or May half term.

We have older kids and more money so have more exotic holidays now but we still camp in the summer for two weeks every year because we love it so much.

Look at Pierre et vacances, Normandy we particularly liked

I wouldn't pay the prices at center parcs and I work thei4lr its a rip off have to pay for everything but swimming if you got some money to throw away going their. Somewhere near the beach always cheap places u just have to look and not be too pickey

We've been looking at UK cottages 3 grand for an OK cottage in the summer holidays. I reckon prices have doubled since Covid. Greedy bastard owners.

A Villa in France with a pool is cheaper than a standard one in the UK. Ridiculous.

We find Holland and France cheaper. I'm looking at Center parcs France and Mon-Fri in summer hols is £900ish.

We go to Duinrell in Holland. Usually stay in a canvas caravan. Duingalows are still cheaper than a UK holiday.

Huttopia do lovely Glamping tents with toilets & decent beds.

Landal are good value and similar to Center parcs.

Canvas holidays are cheaper than other companies and they have mobiles as well.

We used to have main holiday May half term when it's cheaper.

We're both teachers so do get longer off but we're limited to school hols (not complaining). So it's always going to be more expensive even when our kids are older.

We are going in term time in June. We haven't had a holiday in 2 years- dd has had a shit year at school, so we've decided this year we will just go.

It was £1800 for 3 of us for a week AI - 2 bed appt, on a beach with a water park.

We didn't have a holiday until dd was 8- we couldn't justify the cost. There was always something else to pay for.
Then we booked a holiday abroad and paid monthly.

We used to do term time holidays but now my eldest is in secondary I don't want him to miss school.

We tend to do Butlins, Haven or a city break and stay in a Premier Inn. Or camping.
Every few years a Eurocamp in France.
I normally book a year in advance and pay in monthly installments.

@TheVolturi

😂😂😂 The teachers will not care. So many kids are in and out of school with covid and isolation etc what difference does it make? Our mental health and general wellbeing is more important than what a keyboard warrior on mn says.

The teachers do care, you are talking to one. We work hard to ensure they catch up. So if your mental health is important you won't mind if your child's teacher says the same - as theirs is important too (apart from working extra to help your child of course).

This summer lots of people did Travelodge & Premier Inn in coastal resorts.

Skegness is a winner love it their or Cornwall

OP if you want to go to Center Parcs, go through the school holiday dates with a fine toothcomb and compare it on a wekk by week basis to the Center parcs prices. We used to have one week at May half term which was out of kilter with most other parts of the country so we went 2 or 3 years on the trot at "term time" prices.

@Isthatthebestyoucando I’m interested you say you’re going to Netherlands in half term. We’re due to go in the first week of our Easter hols (not Easter hols in Europe or it seems most of U.K. - my children’s schools are not private just seems to be having weird hols this year - so it’s affordable). I’m worrying the Dutch will still be making U.K. travellers isolate for 10 days, even vaxxed, as they are at the moment. Are you more optimistic?

We went to Tui Blue Playa flamingo Lanzarote in Oct half term, cheap flights with easy jet and around £55 a night for an apartment with one bedroom and sofa beds in the sitting room.

I can't understand why anyone goes to Centre Parcs, especially in the school hols, I think it's a complete rip off.

@MamaTutu2

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

The trouble is thought most people only get around 25 days holiday a year so if you use 10 during term time, it leaves you very short for covering the holidays once you’ve also taken into account having to take a few emergency days as holiday for child sickness etc

Airbnb instead. That's what we do.

I used to go in term time too, but I have to say even though our holidays in the school holidays are camping type places having kids my sons age there makes for better holidays for us. When we used to bunk school for a week in Center parks it would be full of toddlers and couples, I felt more responsibility to be good company and less relaxed. Maybe because ds is an only child and I’m a single parent. When he makes friends and they can go to the playground together it makes for a more memorable holiday.

Centre parcs in Europe. You get a whole week for cheaper than 3 nights in the uk. Use Tesco vouchers for the eurotunnel.

When our kids were young and we were relatively poor, we had lower quality cottages, caravans, camping and used the Sun vouchers. Our best holidays abroad came courtesy of Tesco vouchers. Unfortunately the same amazing deals can’t be had nowadays.

Last week in august is generally cheaper in Europe as many schools have gone back by then.

we used to love Center parcs and went a few times a year but it's just not worth it anymore. Swimming is limited to two swims per break (mon to Fri holiday, 1 if you go for a weekend) you can't check in until later afternoon Monday and have to check out first thing Friday so you're paying a fortune for three days basically. All the activities are expensive but stay the same. Our daughter got fed up because the owl experience, pottery painting, science etc are all just formulaic so you go once and it's just the same every time. I know they can't change every week but once a year seems reasonable to mix it up a bit?! Food is expensive, Chinese take away was £90 for not much and not that good!
Maybe we'll try again in a year or so but we are very over it!

Agree with @ghostyslovesheets about Eurocamp in may half term. Last time we went abroad was a late deal to the dordogne in a may half term and it was an absolute steal. We had a static caravan which was as near to camping as I'll do (it is just not restful otherwise, or at least, not with my DC). As long as there's a pool/playgrounds for the children and a bit of decking and a bottle of red for us in the evening, everyone's happy. Kept costs down with an early foray to the hyper market and a couple of takeaway pizzas.

Eurocamp also have a fair few sites in the Loire valley which often have availability as people use them as stopovers when travelling further afield. We had a lovely week a few years back, though weather can be more changeable.

Haven't been abroad in the last two years and it's cost us a bloody fortune. Including last year when we stayed with family .

Another one recommending certerparcs europe. I read about it on basically the same thread as this about four years ago. Looked online when i saw it mentioned. Phoned them within the hour and booked. We went to eindhoven. We went half board, with daily ski lessons and a lift pass for dh. Theres lots to do onsite. We even stayed over night in the city in a hotel before out week started. Flights. Was all still cheaper than going to centreparcs Cumbria the same dates.

@NYnewstart

Last week in august is generally cheaper in Europe as many schools have gone back by then.

Yes to this too. We always go this week now as it is cheaper and costs dh leas holiday days as there is a bank holiday in there.

And depending whete you are, flying from scotland when their schools are back also makes it a bit cheaper.

@namechange30455

If you and DH both earn above average then presumably you could transfer £100-150 a month in a savings account for a holiday so that you had £1500ish a year for holidays if you really wanted to prioritise it.

We prioritise that over other things we could spend money on (e.g. only run one car when it would make things easier sometimes to have two, don't get takeaways or go out to eat very often etc), but it's a perfectly legitimate choice not to if you think you get more value spending that money on other things.

This!! I have friends that moan that they can't afford holidays yet can afford to lease 2 new cars, fund home improvements, lots of meals out.., It's about priorities - if you would begrudge spending the money on a holiday yet would be happy to spend ££ on the latest phone or gadget or whatever then clearly holidays are not a priority for you. Not saying that's the case for you but you get my drift.

For what it's worth we usually go away three or four times a year. Some combination of a caravan in Devon, camping, Butlins, cottage in Whitby and a log cabin in the lakes. Go abroad every two or three years.
We run two old bangers though and don't spend much on our house!