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???

A number of European countries do not have a holiday week in May, though they may have some holiday days, so that can be a good option as some other posters have mentioned. The Netherlands is a good option and as well as Center Parcs,Landal (who also have sites in Belgium, Germany and some other countries) there are Roompot parks. From the Eurotunnel at Calais it is about 2 hours drive to the Netherlands unless you get stuck on the Antwerp Ring. Belgium has some holiday parks on the coast and from there you can easily do day trips to Brugge and Gent and First World War sites plus a tram runs all along the coast so it is easy to explore. The different coastal towns are not that scenic but have playgrounds, museums, bikes to hire and lots of good food options.

I'm taking dd5 out of school for 10 days to go abroad this year. She'll only be in primary 2 so shouldn't miss too much. Its costing 1150 for 3 of us all inclusive. But my parents are coming and she's on their booking and we have the baby on ours so both holidays cost exact same.

I've been paying it monthly by direct debit and only have 495 left to pay.

It all depends what you spend your money on if you both earn above the average wage many could and do afford a holiday in that
But people have different size mortgages , debts , maybe fancier cars or no car , childcare costs of no childcare
So its all about your other outgoings as well

We booked an AI week in turkey for May half term last april its our first holiday in 5 years and we've only managed it due to a bonus. It's now £1000 more expensive than when we booked it prices this year are crazy

Centre Parcs are tests.

I had a falling out with a friend a few years ago who said ‘it’s alright for you, going on holiday abroad we can’t afford it.’ Their 5 days in Centre Parcs in October half term cost more than our 10 days in Spain in august (she really pissed me off as she’s a high earner so I did a spreadsheet - I know petty!)

We book our accommodation and flights and car separately. Takes a while but as years have gone by it’s for easier. Partly as the kids have got older so requirements are easier and partly because we are more practiced.

Centre Parcs aren’t tests - they’re twats 😬🤣🤦🏼

We haven't taken our kids abroad yet but we do short trips in the uk. So in February half term will be going to Sheffield. At Easter we will go to Liverpool and do Chester zoo and Gullivers world. In the summer holiday we will go to London and see family and go to lego land and in July we aim to go to drayton manor. We stay in Premier Inn or holiday Inn express. Once I'm back at work I will start saving for holiday spends as we are wanting to go abroad for a week in 2023. Dh will most likely get a bonus which will pay for the holiday.

Wow, thanks everyone! I really just came on here for a bit of a moan (for the record, we drive very old cars, rarely go out - but that's mainly young child related, don't smoke, rarely drink etc.) as it just seemed a bit bloody depressing!
BUT you've given me some really good ideas and tips! I'm feeling quite inspired .
I know CP is notoriously over priced. I guess I just wondered who the Hell is going there, as surely if you have that kind of money to throw around for the half term break you'd spend it on somewhere better??
I think we probably could afford to save £100-£150 a month towards a holiday if we really tried (though definitely not £500!!!) so perhaps we should aim for summer 2023!

Airbnb or camping.
Share with another family so that you can split costs.

We camp so it keeps the cost down, there are 5 of us so if we tried to book a hotel it would be double as we would need to pay for an extra room.

This year we are doing- few days in wales in air b and b - was about £90, 4 days in wales in a caravan (was about £350), 2 weeks in Cornwall camping and a youth hostel - was about £500, long weekend in wales - about £150, 3 days Lapland -£5,000. The Lapland one wouldn’t normally be happening, it’s definitely a one off ! The rest of the time our hols are cheaper, then would rather have more hols cheaper than one fancy holiday in a whole year.

For those saying take kids out of school, no judgement but uou need to factor in that you will be fined. Both parents. Per child.

I don't know where you are looking but I've just booked five nights in a cottage in the Lake District for £400 at Spring Bank. We don't need set activities like at CentreParcs, there's woodland and forest right on the doorstep. Beyond travel costs we have full catering facilities so don't even have to eat out if we couldn't afford to.

I should say, before everyone jumps on to say I'm clearly a moron if it hadn't occurred to me to save.... It wasn't that, just that I didn't think we'd be able to get much for what we would be able to save, but these ideas have really inspired me. Saving that much a month will require a few sacrifices (and we're not exactly living it large as it is!) so it has to be for something that I think we will all really enjoy.

Camping.
In the U.K. (but I’ve quickly out a stop to that), in France, Germany …. When we could still travel easily enough.

Otherwise, AirB&B can be cheaper and very good value for money.

Basically anything but a hotel!

The direct debit for our holiday comes out on payday so is paid before I even notice which is the easiest way for us to save/pay.

And someone mentioned fines, we don't get fined in Scotland.

We camped for years and now have a camper van. That combined with camping means that we can take a load of stuff and set up a proper home from home. We've been to loads of places with the van - it goes on the ferry which also isn't too expensive.

I'll stay in a hotel when they have all left home.

We’re going to centre parcs for four nights in May. It’s actually the cheapest place we’ve found close to where we need to be (for other booked activities!)
Even travel lodges and premier inns were more expensive.

I don’t think we could afford to go abroad or do anything beyond ‘same shit different location’ for a good few years though.

I have just booked a 4 bedroom cottage on the site of a working farm in Yorkshire for £600 for a week in the summer holidays. It’s not luxurious but that’s ok. Last summer I took the kids camping in Norfolk, in a bell tent that was already set up; cost £350 for 4 nights.

Guess which day is the start of half term? I didn’t bother looking at the return flights. Even with the school fine we would save £100’s by going on the Tuesday and we’d be back in time for the Platinum Jubilee….

Camping/glamping in the summer holidays... kids love it! Best times ever and you really feel like you're a million miles from the daily routine. There are some wonderful campsites in stunning locations with excellent facilities.

For a spring/autumn/winter break, a self-catering cottage or apartment at home or abroad.

Centre Parcs is overpriced and over-rated!

You just do what you can afford - get a second hand tent and go camping in the U.K.

Or buy cheap flights and book an AirBnB - miles cheaper than a package, Center Parcs or AI resort.

A holiday is whatever you want, it doesn’t have to fit a “week in Spanish resort” box.

I wonder the same OP and we earn above average. Our holidays are always visiting friends or family so get tips on cheap rentals/mates rates or occasionally stay with people. Even then with travel, contributions to costs, gifts for hosts, holiday activities etc it is hundreds. When we have rented full price accomodation it is thousands. Last couple of years have saved us a fortune!

We had intended to do a "proper" holiday this year as a treat but it's eye watering. Just can't justify it.

We bought a second hand caravan. Ours has bunk beds which convert to a table and chairs and the two other bunks convert to a double. It has a shower and end bathroom and we got a microwave and TV for it - it's like a second home.
Ours are two big for the bunk beds now so we will sell it this year and perhaps get a two berth just for me, DH and the dog.

We either just take the kids during term time or go in the first 2 weeks of the Scottish holidays before the English schools are out.

No way I'm paying those prices.

We went to centre Parcs in term time and got a 4 bed for £600 that was costing £2000 in the school holidays.

Canaries in the first 2 weeks of the Scottish summer holidays is half the price that's charged when the English schools break up.

No fines up here in Scotland. Although I've spoken to many English people who factor in the price of fines to the holiday cost.

It's absolutely ridiculous. We booked a weeks holiday yesterday (5 of us) and it cost us 5k!! Eye watering x