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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holidaying abroad is not an option for most people - is it???

343 replies

Heyduggee123 · 14/04/2022 11:22

So looking for next year - looking at Ibiza in June for 10 days AI - costs for a half decent hotel, not in the middle of nowhere are coming up at nearly £4k!!

By next year I'll have 4 year old twins and haven't been on holiday outside of the UK yet. This isn't even in the school holidays. How on earth does anyone afford this?

For context yes there are cheaper options, but anyone wanting anything other than just a room with separate bathroom for 4 of us with half decent reviews the costs just spiral.

I think I'll have to stick with our annual 2 weeks in Wales for a few years longer

OP posts:
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girlmom21 · 14/04/2022 11:25

People don't generally go to Ibiza with young children, to be fair.

A family holiday won't normally cost £4000, even AI, and people spread the cost over monthly payments. It's completely unaffordable for some families but not for most, I wouldn't say.

With the rising cost of UK holidays you might find that two weeks in Wales in school holidays isn't much cheaper than 2 weeks in Spain.

Traumdeuter · 14/04/2022 11:26

With kids, no - because you lose the flexibility of travelling solo/with partner/with friends, and gain the requirement for more accommodation, plane seats, AI and accompanying stuff. It’s rubbish, but it doesn’t last.

Original poster
Heyduggee123 · 14/04/2022 11:26

I've been told that old town ibiza is absolutely beautiful and not at all to be associated with the clubbing and hedonism that most people associate it with

OP posts:
undermilkjug · 14/04/2022 11:28

We did camping / eurocamp for many years which is self catering so we got to choose how luxuriously we ate.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 14/04/2022 11:29

Where are you wanting to fly from?

Numbersarefun · 14/04/2022 11:29

We’ve mostly always holidayed in the UK - either holiday cottages or camping. I usually did as a child as well. We always have a great time so I don’t think you have to go abroad for a holiday. (It might depend on what you mean by a holiday though.)

bellac11 · 14/04/2022 11:29

I hear people saying that holidaying in the UK is much more expensve than going abroad, I do wonder what they are comparing as I have never found that

I think they dont take into account travel insurance, travel to the airport/cost of car storage, transfers to accommodation abroad and loads more costs.
We do self catering, in the UK and would abroad, I hate hotels so our cost is just the rental of a cottage and cost of petrol to get there

BlueSpottedGiraffe · 14/04/2022 11:30

@girlmom21

People don't generally go to Ibiza with young children, to be fair.

A family holiday won't normally cost £4000, even AI, and people spread the cost over monthly payments. It's completely unaffordable for some families but not for most, I wouldn't say.

With the rising cost of UK holidays you might find that two weeks in Wales in school holidays isn't much cheaper than 2 weeks in Spain.

Ibiza is a pretty standard family holiday destination I thought, we've been loads.
Duracellbunnywannabe · 14/04/2022 11:30

@Heyduggee123

I've been told that old town ibiza is absolutely beautiful and not at all to be associated with the clubbing and hedonism that most people associate it with
This is true but it’s not child friendly either. However lots of places in Ibiza are very child friendly.
MarianosOnHisWay · 14/04/2022 11:31

Can you let me know where you can find two weeks in Wales for less than £4k in the school holidays… Grin (semi-light hearted but the point remains that I don’t find U.K. school holiday holidays much cheaper than going abroad)

SushiShopSearch · 14/04/2022 11:32

We're spending holidays in the UK on purpose. We need to stop flying plus it's good to support local economies.

Thatswhyimacat · 14/04/2022 11:33

4000? My 3 week honeymoon hotels cost less than that!

FridayBluezzzz · 14/04/2022 11:35

But if your children are 4 you can go out of school holiday times and save money that way? Or are you tied to school holidays yourself. Personally I’d go earlier when it’s not so hot anyway.

Original poster
Heyduggee123 · 14/04/2022 11:35

@MarianosOnHisWay

Can you let me know where you can find two weeks in Wales for less than £4k in the school holidays… Grin (semi-light hearted but the point remains that I don’t find U.K. school holiday holidays much cheaper than going abroad)
oh god I've never looked for the school holidays, I daren't look now lol. We stay at the same place every year so we always just book for the year later. We're in a cottage on a farm and it's cost us £1400 for the last 2 weeks of June.

My DT's start nursery in September so next year is really our last opportunity to take them in non school holidays.

OP posts:
Original poster
Heyduggee123 · 14/04/2022 11:36

@FridayBluezzzz

But if your children are 4 you can go out of school holiday times and save money that way? Or are you tied to school holidays yourself. Personally I’d go earlier when it’s not so hot anyway.
that's my whole point - the £4k was outside of school holidays

Maybe we'll try April or start of May instead

OP posts:
m00rfarm · 14/04/2022 11:36

Try Algarve - and go onto the facebook pages advertising properties privately (you can check out reviews online using google, then book direct with the owners.

ZenNudist · 14/04/2022 11:37

My friend is going to lake garda for 12 days including travel for 5 £1200. In August. Staying in a campsite in a lodge. Got to pay fir petrol and food yet .

AlwaysaLittleBitTired · 14/04/2022 11:37

There are much cheaper alternatives, but flights are (and should be) expensive.

Can you broaden your search criteria perhaps? Try other countries/islands... Are you wedded to AI? We used to SC when our DC were small (still do actually) as it felt easier to accommodate fussy tastes/timings - particularly for breakfast. Half board as a compromise?

The following link has 2 options with one bedroom apartment/suite so at least you can put DCs in a room and you have some space in the evening. A couple of these come in at under £2500.

www.jet2holidays.com/free-child-place-finder/results?airport=98_99_3&date=10-06-2023&duration=10&occupancy=r2c4_4&destination=149&sortorder=1&page=1&starrating=4_5&feature=3

I'm sure the DC would have just as much fun in Wales as in Ibiza. They really won't notice where they are, just what you get up to during the time you are there. I hope you find something suitable for your budget.

Original poster
Heyduggee123 · 14/04/2022 11:37

@Duracellbunnywannabe

Where are you wanting to fly from?
East Midlands, Birmingham, Doncaster -

Manchester if I'm really really desperate but would prefer to avoid

OP posts:
FridayBluezzzz · 14/04/2022 11:37

Ah okay. I would still try May anyway as it’s a bit cooler and quieter.

CaveMum · 14/04/2022 11:37

My kids are 8 and 5, this year will be their first holiday abroad (Spain), though granted it is one we originally booked to go on in 2020!

I (born in the early 80s) didn't have my first trip abroad until I was 15, and that was a school trip to France! I've never been abroad with my parents as they just couldn't afford it when I was growing up. DH had several EuroCamp holidays in France as a child.

I know four families that have gone to Disney in Florida over the Easter holidays (I know one was paid for by grandparents, and one of the families own a villa in Florida), it all depends what people can afford I guess. We've booked to go to Rhodes next year but it is only affordable as we got a free child place, I guess you just have to cut your cloth accordingly.

shabbalabba · 14/04/2022 11:40

God that's crazy we are going to New York for 5 days and then Orlando 8 days for and it cost us 3.5k for flights and hotels. We still need to get the tickets for universal and obviously there's a food budget too. But I reckon you could do a package holiday for 2-2.5k!

HardbackWriter · 14/04/2022 11:40

I'd try a bit earlier in the year, even earlier in June - you might be falling into the time when lots of other country's children are on holiday, even though you're outside of UK holidays. Though I don't really know, I'm married to a teacher, which means I was tied to school holidays for years before even having children and am used to it. I never, ever look at term-time prices, it's too depressing!

bellac11 · 14/04/2022 11:41

@MarianosOnHisWay

Can you let me know where you can find two weeks in Wales for less than £4k in the school holidays… Grin (semi-light hearted but the point remains that I don’t find U.K. school holiday holidays much cheaper than going abroad)
www.sykescottages.co.uk/search.html?country=wales®ion=&location=&location_long=&locationdist=10&num_sleeps=4&num_pets=-1&startlabel=05%2F08%2F2022&start=05%2F08%2F2022&periodStart=&periodEnd=&duration=14&fuzziness=3&features=&distance_to_sea=-1&beds_single=-1&property_type_id=&num_bathrooms=-1&rating=-1&min_price=&max_price=&coordinates=&sort=price_a&show=20&page=1&min_offer_value=&max_offer_value=&_hsearch=2204146257f9fee1ea1

pages and pages of them, cottages in Wales for 2 weeks in August starting at 1k for 2 adults and 2 children

cigarettesNalcohol · 14/04/2022 11:41

@Heyduggee123

I've been told that old town ibiza is absolutely beautiful and not at all to be associated with the clubbing and hedonism that most people associate it with
This is correct. Some parts of Ibiza, like the old town are very child friendly. Perfectly fine for a family holiday.