To go on holiday somewhere expensive but live frugally?

[Esoverina]

AIBU to want to go on holiday to an expensive destination without having heaps of money. What I mean by that is, to somewhere really far away like Fiji or the Caribbean and rent a normal standard airbnb, self cater, eat at local restaurants etc.

I know the usual idea of a ‘holiday’ is to go and stay in a luxe hotel and be pampered. But I’m bored of doing that. I’ve done the 5* resorts in Egypt/Spain/Thailand which cost next to nothing for what you get. I want to go somewhere exotic but can’t quite afford hotels when there.

I think it's fine as long as it's in a 'safe' location.

Why on earth would this be unreasonable?

Go where you want and do what you want.

To be honest with you my mother did Disney on a budget with my brother when he was about 12 and frankly it was a bit shit. Whilst of course he was grateful to be there they couldn’t do a lot of the things that makes Disney what it is. If perhaps they saved up for another 6 to 8 months maybe the holiday would’ve been worthwhile because I think is the flights are the most expensive part of the trip

What you're describing is just a normal holiday where you don't buy an AI package. A lot of people (inc. me) do that for every single holiday they go on.

I am doing exactly this next year. I've wanted to go since I was a teenager but flights are so expensive I'll be living cheaply. I'm staying in hostels (some have family rooms if you are travelling with kids/a partner), using public transport or walking, and limiting meals out as I can cook a bit in hostels. I'm going to pay for museums etc and have two nights in once in a lifetime experience places but every other night will be cheap. I think this is the best of both worlds.

I have done this lots of times. You just have to do your research.

We always do this, and AirBandB has made it an easy peasy choice. The only time we’ve stayed in a resort was when we went to Hurghada specifically for snorkelling and poolside relaxation in the sun rather than to experience anything else about the location.

You just have to plan a bit more some destinations in terms of knowing which areas can be riskier for tourists or women generally, and hire a car as you won’t be able to rely on resort shuttles and taxi infrastructure often isn’t great.

I know the usual idea of a ‘holiday’ is to go and stay in a luxe hotel and be pampered.

Is it?

You realise people go on all sorts of holidays that don’t involve staying in a ‘luxe hotel’.

Have you never heard to Airbnb?

I know the usual idea of a ‘holiday’ is to go and stay in a luxe hotel and be pampered

Is it? Aren't people usually more interested in the specific culture, attractions, wildlife, activities, watersports etc of that country? After all, with the luxe/pampering aspect, you could be just about anywhere.

That is what we always do! Book flights, find an apartment on Booking.com and Google how to get there from the airport. Job done

This.

Have only done a package holiday once, no desire to repeat it.

Airbnb rocks :)

Just choose a safe location where you can blend in, not the equivalent of an East End back alley.

Not Africa 😬 you need the armed hotel guards unfortunately.

And holiday apartments were a thing for years before AirBnB even existed.

I go on holiday lots, but never been on a package holiday in my adult life. I've also never spent a holiday being pampered either - I'd find it boring!

There's no one 'usual idea of a holiday'!
I went to the Caribbean (albeit not an island known for its fancy resorts, but quite expensive in terms of flights and food costs etc). Stayed in an Airbnb that was a lovely wooden house that the owners lived in part-time. Much cheaper than some soulless big hotel, and in a gorgeous and friendly area.

We've done this in the Caribbean. Do you research first. Tobago was great and st kitty. St Lucia not so much it seemed to be really set up for All Inclusive and didn't feel as safe. We might just hsve been unlucky...

Isn't that just a normal holiday? I know people who have had very adventurous holidays, sometimes in quite exotic locations. They camp or stay in budget accommodation and see a lot of the places they go.

One concrete holiday resort is much like another.

The Caribbean isn't expensive when you get there and eat at local place / shop at markets - it's the flight that prohibitive

How about Bali? (Indonesia). We stayed in a villa with friends and it had a swimming pool. It was approximately 15 minutes walk to the beach so it brought the rental price down. I’m afraid I can’t remember which agency it was booked with.

It’s easy to find cheap places to eat (delicious street food too) in most of South East Asia - even Singapore if you go to the hawker centres - but accommodation is expensive there.

Also do research on Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - but do take note of the rainy seasons!

You'll all in love with travel all over again after you do it this way. It is so much more exciting and memorable than an AI hotel holiday. Enjoy !

• fall in love

We are reasonably well off and we have been to AI resorts twice in our whole lives (once for a wedding), it’s just not something we enjoy.
We prefer clean but basic accommodation and finding more local restaurants and things to do. It helps if you go somewhere you can speak the local language as well

Done it many times. Sri Lanka is my favourite, I love staying in tiny b&b's

I know the usual idea of a ‘holiday’ is to go and stay in a luxe hotel and be pampered.

I've never done this. I'd imagine that only a small % of people are in the 'stay in 5 star hotel and be pampered' category. Most people can't afford that (or don't enjoy that) so look at other ways of having a holiday in their location of choice

We always do this. Find a good deal on an Airbnb, go shopping the first day and buy breakfast stuff, fruit and snacks and some dinner bits. We have a few meals out, and eat in the rest of the time.
We Google all the free stuff to do and incorporate that into other stuff.

Go for it!

I prioritise travel over everything else. I’m far from rich but I have never felt like I can’t ‘afford’ to go to a particular country. I just make it work by travelling off-peak/cheaply and cutting back spend in other areas of life.

I know the usual idea of a ‘holiday’ is to go and stay in a luxe hotel and be pampered.

The what
can't believe all my holidays so far were that unusual . There is nothing frugal on accomodation, self catering and eating out!