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???

We're a family of 7 - the last time we went abroad was 8 years ago when we didn't have to pay for flights for the youngest two.

Since then we've been glamping in Devon at Crealy Meadows which was £975 for a week for 9 of us (took the PIL as well) and included access to them theme park every day and evening entertainment. Kids loved it so we did that for about 6 years. We also rented a house in Devon for a week which was about £1k for a week but again PIL came and my DB and SIL. We've also stayed at Ready Camp in Devon a couple of times. Friday - Monday for us all was about £300.

Isle of Wight in 2020 was £1k for a caravan for a week including the crossing. In 2021 this went up to £2k without the crossing so we went to Skegness on a caravan site for £500 that we booked through the owner. Wouldn't rush back to Skegness but the kids enjoyed it! Our kids are not happy round a pool or the beach all day so wherever we go there needs to be lots to do. We did go to Center Parcs in October but it was an afterschool on Friday and drive back in time for school Monday morning which was £600.

We are trying to go abroad this year - looking at going to Croatia camping - I've managed to find flights for £700 for all of us. Just looking into camp sites now. And I'm lucky that my mom moved to Wales 2 years ago so we have a free week there each year in the summer.

Eating out and activities puts the cost up for us so we try and save on the holiday cost so we can do more when we are there.

Use Skyscanner to check for flights, most of Spain is very cheap to travel to, and use trivago or vbro to look for accommodation.

Flights to Spain in august are coming in at about £80 per person at the cheaper end and there are so many apartments with pools you can get for just a few hundred a week. Then it's up to you for spending money, eat in and save costs or go out for a couple of meals and spend more. So many restaurants near where we go do tapas for €1 a few of them equate to a full meal.

@SuitcaseOfWhine

We are hiring a cottage with a hot tub. Really lovely (not on the beach but half an hour drive away and near a national park) and has a nice private garden. This cost us 1k for a week at the end of June, so we will be taking our eldest out of school as it goes up by 1.5k in the summer holidays. It is cheaper to get fined. I know people are passionate about kids being in school and will debate that it is damaging children, but I think never travelling or experiencing a holiday is also quite bad for a kid too. Until prices become fairer and people less greedy that is the only way to have an affordable holiday.

We have also looked at glamping and even that is ridiculously priced too. I can't wait for restrictions to lift (or there to be less faff travelling) so it becomes cheaper here in the UK again.

I used to do this when mine were little.....only once got fined....when we took them out for 4 weeks at Christmas( 6 week holiday) ....only got a fine for the older one at high School though.....they tried to fine my partner too but in those days if you weren’t Married you had no PR so we saved ourselves £50 🙄

[quote GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing]@Isthatthebestyoucando Have a look on the gov website but it seems to be the case. I’m hoping they’re going to remove it before Easter but who knows?[/quote]
Or downgrade us to yellow would be good, you can go from a yellow country and not isolate.

www.canopyandstars.co.uk/ we've stayed in some great places with this lot though don't know what COVID era prices are like. Have done cabin in Scotland, converted bus in wales, 40s showman's train carriage all fun for the kids when smaller

Just for giggles I just had a look at Centre Parks for either half term or Easter - it's £1800 for 4 days

We are going to Paris (late spring) for the same amount of money. 4 nights, and there are 6 of us. This is why DH refuses to entertain any holiday in the UK (I quite like UK breaks, but he will always prefer to use that cash to go elsewhere)

Shame you won't camp, OP. That's what we did every year for ten years until I wanted to go to North Wales to climb Snowdon with the kids, as I know it rains a lot in North Wales. You can get a good price on a cottage if it doesn't have a dishwasher or heaps of fancy cushions on the sofas, or is in the middle of nowhere, rather than walking distance to the pub or nearest shop.

I won’t camp either. I want a holiday, not to cook/sleep etc in somewhere with worse facilities and less comfortable than home. And I don’t mean lying by a pool in a AI resort (although there’s nothing wrong with that), I just like some luxuries on holiday!
But that’s why we prioritise saving for holidays.

And I don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere either… part of the fun of going on holiday for us is being able to eat at lots of different restaurants.

TBF I thing most people talking about camping are talking about resorts rather than pitching up in a field.

I prioritise holidays and have never worried about taking the kids out in term time. I earn 27K and we go away 2-3 times a year, although some are weekend breaks Also don't drive so save money there, and I look for deals for the holidays

We save a bit each month into a holiday fund, and have a nice holiday every other year rather than every year. The in between years we either do a load of day trips, or go and visit friends and family. We stayed at my brother's one year to house sit while they went away and it was one of the best holidays we've had!!!

I've never even contemplated those types of places.
I could get stunning holiday in beautiful places for that amount.

Holiday doesn't mean center parks just as new mattresses doesn't mean dreams or new sofa sofa world. Think outside the box.

I know there will be people who dont have a choice, but we also priorities holidays if we can.
This year will be difficult as we need to sort out some things in our house but generally, we make savings as much as we can in general day to day living so we can spend money on days out and holidays.

Re camping - yes we are talking about nice quiet camp sites with high standard shower facilities ( similar to private gym shower facilities) The Mumsnet camping topic has given us amazing recommendations over the years for great campsites.

Personally I prefer ones with no clubhouse or entertainment as they tend to be noisy ( not always but we are careful to read the reviews to make sure)

Our favourite one in Cornwall has a beautiful pool area that on a sunny day feels like you are in a nice but small hotel abroad. Gin and tonics served poolside and fantastic home cooked takeaway food available every night ( casseroles , slow cooked beef chilli and various pies and pasta dishes - not your usual burgers and pizza offering ) Pubs and towns nearby if you want to eat out and a stunning beach 5 mins away in the car.

And our tent and camping set up is very comfortable.

I genuinely find camping far more relaxing than any all inclusive resort I've been to.

@Isthatthebestyoucando

TBF I thing most people talking about camping are talking about resorts rather than pitching up in a field.

depends what you mean - we don't camp in random fields - you can't really do that as farmers don;t like it - but we do camp in a tent with gear we bring with us - to campsites with varying facilities - although I do tend to have electric hook up - such luxury!

I have quiet a large tent collection depending on who's coming etc

It was in response to the post above mine where the poster said they don’t want a holiday in the middle of nowhere because they like going to restaurants, camping doesn’t equal leaving civilisation.

@Isthatthebestyoucando

It was in response to the post above mine where the poster said they don’t want a holiday in the middle of nowhere because they like going to restaurants, camping doesn’t equal leaving civilisation.

And when I said I didn’t want to be in the middle of nowhere, I was responding to this point by a PP…

You can get a good price on a cottage if it doesn't have a dishwasher or heaps of fancy cushions on the sofas, or is in the middle of nowhere, rather than walking distance to the pub or nearest shop

We’ve found that all inclusive sun holidays are cheaper than U.K. holidays by far. We go at the very end of summer and save all year.

It does bother me how much holidays cost but then again I love holidays so just accept it and pay it!

We aren't a massively high income family, joint income region of £85k (before tax)but manage to spend around 3-4k most years on a summer package holiday and then probably a couple other grand through the year on other trips. It always bothers me how many jobs I'd like done at home and that they would last for ever for the money that is gone in a fortnight on a holiday, but then again I'm sure when my kids are older they will remember the amazing holiday memories more than the slightly dodgy bathroom tiles or badly decorated utility room...

Camping, Airbnb, Travelodge. Ryanair flights or a ferry for Europe.
Just don't do package holidays.

@Desmondo2021 I think many would think that is a pretty high income when average income is something like £23000

Ha ha that's made me laugh that someone on £85000 income has posted on a thread not understanding how people afford to go on holiday!

We rent cottages, usually by the sea, often Scottish Highlands. Not too expensive and lovely people. (When you see any) There's also plenty of cottages in Ireland or Wales too. I find Scotland the most value and the people we meet are great and we often rebook when we find a good one. Never booked one that wasn't good in 20 years.
Plus there is little to spend if you are remote, other than food and drink.
Lots of boat trips and ferries if you want to make it extra special.

@purpleme12

Ha ha that's made me laugh that someone on £85000 income has posted on a thread not understanding how people afford to go on holiday!

Because their outgoings dont allow for saving for holidays?