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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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5
Whammyyammy · 14/04/2022 16:30

Also ibiza is fine for families, would probably avoid the clubbing areas, went to Portinax many years ago with my children

yellowsuninthesky · 14/04/2022 16:31

@Whammyyammy

I'd rather not have a holiday at all, than a UK holiday. Crap weather, overpriced accommodation, rip off tourist trade...
well only if you go in August. Go in late July or May half term and the weather is usually pretty decent. You can be lucky at Easter (where I am the weather is fine this week, not hot, but fine and sunny intervals and would be absolutely fine if we were out and about on holiday somewhere) and in October half term as well.

The problem is the August holiday doesn't fit in with the best of the summer weather.

pastaandpesto · 14/04/2022 16:32

We have booked a (stunning) 4 bed private villa on the coast in Morocco which has a beautiful pool and a private chef. £1500 for the week. Flights are around £1000 for the 5 of us and and car hire will be around £300.

There is a whole world of holiday possibilities beyond AI resorts!

ghostyslovesheets · 14/04/2022 16:40

AI are expensive - especially post covid

We are going to France at Whit - Eurocamp - £310 for a basic caravan - £180 for the tunnel - £300 for hotels there and back plus fuel and food - fairly low cost holiday

I've managed as a single parent driving and staying cheap - I have done AI but it always cost more

Hortensiateapot · 14/04/2022 16:44

@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
Ibiza town is nice but no nicer than any other “old town” type place in Spain. Food /drinks more expensive than other parts of spain. If you’re not up for clubbing I’m not sure i’d choose there with kids.
Mybestyear · 14/04/2022 16:45

@Heyduggee123 HRTFT (on the bus) and I can’t quote your post as you quote another post! I wouldn’t go to Ibiza April / may as the weather could be pretty poor. The Balearics are quite ‘north’ compared to the canaries for example. We went to menorca one year in mid May and it rained the whole day 5 days out of 7. When we got off the plane, the rain was bouncing off the tarmac and soaking us on the way up! We had 2 DC 4 and 6 and spent nearly the whole week indoors as the rain was so heavy!

thethoughtfox · 14/04/2022 16:47

@shabbalabba

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!
That sounds amazing. Can you post links ?
Bonkerz · 14/04/2022 16:47

Our family doesn't own passports.
Always holiday in UK.
This year we are having 2 holiday park trips next week and July costing just under £500 for 4 of us.
Spending money inc food and petrol will be £500 each week so total on holidays this year is £1500 for 2 weeks. Not sure we'd get anywhere abroad for 2 weeks for that for 4 people.

Soozikinzii · 14/04/2022 16:48

We also did keycamp when ours were little .they loved it in the static caravan or tents ; there was swimming and kids club .I think eurocamp bought them out . Or Turkey is reasonable. My friend has a takenher family there cheaply .We like croatia, especially as the flight is only just over two hours .hope you can find somewhere!

Workyticket · 14/04/2022 16:54

Family of 3.

£4025 booked via Jet2. Exact same holiday is more now - just priced it up here

Holidaying abroad is not an option for most people - is it???
QuinkWashable · 14/04/2022 16:55

I'm currently at a french centreparks halfway down, now I know some people would rather chew their arm off, but all in, including ferry and petrol, a week is costing me 2.5k for the 3 of us, and that's in the VIP cottage, with things like a golf buggy, bikes, half board.

And the weather is already beautiful - it's about 23 degrees in the shade, the pools are great, the food is amazing, and we're in a cabin so there's also the possibility of self-catering, cocktails on the patio in the evening while the kids sleep etc. In June/July I just checked one in Belgium, and it's a grand for a week in the budget cottage, or 1500 in the VIP, add in ferry/petrol food, and you're still going to be within 2500

RedRum27 · 14/04/2022 17:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pitafalafel · 14/04/2022 17:06

Plenty in Ibiza in Airbnb for £1500 -2000 for two weeks. But surely Ibiza is the most expensive destination in the whole country during the summer months. There are dozens of other beautiful Spanish destinations where you can get great accommodation for £1500.

Lilac57 · 14/04/2022 17:09

Eurocamp in France with can be done for less than £1.5k, even in the summer holidays, that's what we usually do. A week in one of their cheap vans is about £1k, the Eurotunnel is less than £200, then with petrol, tolls and a bit of spending money it's about £1.5k all in. We've done holidays with flights/hotel to southern Europe rarely, about once every 5 years. We couldn't afford that every year, but by taking our own car to northern France we manage to go abroad pretty much every year.

Pitafalafel · 14/04/2022 17:09

Yeah, Ibiza is small - 500sq km, with a population of a big town but a big reputation. And in summer you’re competing for nice accommodation with tourists from all of over Europe and quite a few in Asia, too.

JinglingHellsBells · 14/04/2022 17:11

I can't understand your wish for 4 year olds to go abroad. They don't understand and would be happy with any holiday where there were things to interest them.

As a child myself, my parents were poor and my first holiday abroad was when I was 25 and working. That was a long time ago and it wasn't seen as a necessity to take children abroad.

There are lovely places in the UK, as long as you are happy to take your chances with the weather. Granted, it's not always sunny if all you want is sun and sand, but there are lots of very interesting places. Young 4 yr olds don't need anything special to amuse them and I'm sure the holiday is more about what you want for yourselves.

JinglingHellsBells · 14/04/2022 17:12

What is AI?

Never heard of it.

skybluee · 14/04/2022 17:14

Maybe try booking flights and accom separately. The last holiday I went on was in 2013 so would be a lot cheaper but I got the flight v cheap via ryanair and had spoken to places directly in Lanzarote and got somewhere for 20 euros a night. it would have slept four, it was huge! I think some packages can be very expensive.

Patented · 14/04/2022 17:15

I love UK holidays. So much landscape and diversity and culture all within a day's drive top to bottom. I go on multiple UK holidays per year, all different & quirky & stunning scenery. Load of snobs on Mumsnet going on about how terrible it is Grin more for us in the know!

HardbackWriter · 14/04/2022 17:15

Young 4 yr olds don't need anything special to amuse them and I'm sure the holiday is more about what you want for yourselves.

Why shouldn't OP and her partner book a holiday that they'd enjoy?!

JinglingHellsBells · 14/04/2022 17:18

@HardbackWriter

Young 4 yr olds don't need anything special to amuse them and I'm sure the holiday is more about what you want for yourselves.

Why shouldn't OP and her partner book a holiday that they'd enjoy?!

No reason at all, but if you read her first post she makes a point about her 4 yr olds never having been abroad 'Yet' as if that is some kind of parental failure.
Babyroobs · 14/04/2022 17:19

@Whammyyammy

Also ibiza is fine for families, would probably avoid the clubbing areas, went to Portinax many years ago with my children
We went to Portinax a few years ago with our kids, we loved it.
JinglingHellsBells · 14/04/2022 17:19

I am assuming she means her kids haven't been outside the UK rather than she hasn't- post's a bit unclear.

bumblefeline · 14/04/2022 17:20

Stay away from package holidays. We spent years driving down to France/Spain, you can camp, get a cheap hotel there are loads of options. We have even got the train to Spain. Brittany ferries is a good option.

Last time we went to the USA our flights were £250 in 2019 in a Virgin sale. We stayed in cheap motels.

Year before two weeks to LA including flights and hotels was £3500 for four of us.

Flights are a bit more expensive this year but if you shop about you can have some great deals for abroad.

Aphrael · 14/04/2022 17:23

@Gwenhwyfar

As a single person who doesn't drive, holidaying abroad is MUCH cheaper. This is because of the cost of flights compared to trains. I can see how camping in the UK might be cheaper for a family with a car. I get fed up of people making out abroad is always more expensive.
I agree, it's also worth checking out locale's that are a little way out of the main tourist hotspots. For example, Cala Gracio in Ibiza is around 2-3 miles away from San Antonio, quiet and you'd never think there was clubbing going on 15 minutes away. San Antonio Town/Bay are also fantastic in the daytime and a world away from the nightlife. We always used to go away in April, you can pick up amazing deals in late April and be able to soak up plenty of sun.

By the way, can Drizzt have his panther back? Grin