About holiday costs

[Chippychipschips]

I always holiday in the UK because it’s what I can afford plus I don’t really like travelling.

For some reason this choice always warrants a big lecture from people about how holidaying in the UK is too expensive so that’s why they go abroad.

I am all for people doing what they want but just think this is bullshit.

If I have a budget of £800 to spend on accommodation for a family of 4 the UK is my best option. Yes I know I won’t get the guaranteed sunshine or cheap dining but the UK is all I can afford.

What people actually mean when they say things like this is you can get more for your money abroad. This is probably true but if my budget doesn’t stretch to £3/4k for a weeks all inclusive then it’s not an option for me!

It really gets on my tits that people imply you are spending badly when they don’t realise choices are obviously dictated by budget!

It does bug me that the UK is overpriced but I still want to go on holiday. I could save for years to go abroad but if I’m not really bothered why can’t I enjoy a UK holiday once a year?

I know this is not a big issue but I have shared my holiday plans with 2 people this year only to be told how badly I am spending my money (by people with a lot more disposable income than me)!

Just tell them you can't afford it. Dead simple.

I dunno, I got a week all inclusive in lanzarote for £750 for 2 adults, a child and an infant last summer.

I paid £500 for a week self catering in a caravan in the UK last year too.

"That's what works for us".

Rinse and repeat.

YABU. A week in a caravan in Cornwall in august costs around £2k. A caravan in France for the same week is 400EUR. The UK is not always cheaper.

People are just making conversation. You should try not to take things as a personal attack.

How much will you pay for travel, food and entertainment?

I do but they seem to literally think that I could holiday abroad for the same cost. It’s because they don’t want to actually admit abroad does actually cost more.

I’ll say “Abroad is too expensive, I have booked a caravan for £800”. They will say yes but for £2000 you could go camping in France for a week. It just makes no sense!!!! What they are actually trying to say is you should spend more money and have a better (in their opinion) holiday abroad.

For some strange reason people get really intense about holiday costs and choices and seem to take it personally. Also some people really hate the thought of holidaying in the UK. One of these people is my BIL and he is a bit of a snob!

Also why can people just pick up on things without me having to say. I do not have that kind of money!

You could get accommodation for a lot less than that in the canaries, you are pretty much guaranteed great weather, and it is a heck of a lot cheaper than the UK . We love lanzarote, always have a fantastic but reasonably priced holiday there as flights and accommodation for a week is around £500 for 2 of us.

Presumably this isn't in the school holidays?

@Galadriel90 that would be nice if they were just making conversation but it frels more like a lecture!

I’ve had this a couple of times this year; even people saying that we could rent a villa abroad for not much more and I said well then there’s the flights, renting a car, parking the car at the airport, etc etc and they still didn’t quite get it

If you simply respond with a short comment, and don't offer explanations or argument, they'll have to shut up.

Also If you are family who don’t go abroad then the initial cost of getting passports for a family of four is huge!

I just don’t get why people care. If I like holidaying in the UK and have found somewhere to suit my budget let me enjoy it!

I always think these people with great abroad deals cannot be going in the school holidays.

Yes I am only able to holiday at peak times in the school holidays. Like most people with school age children. Yes @Lkydfju there are so many additional costs to going abroad. When people share how much they spend they are often just talking about accommodation.

I'm always astounded at the deals some people claim to be getting to go abroad. I mean to be fair we're going at Easter and 3 nights in Porto was roughly the same price as a cottage in the Lake District but then we have to add on dog care and car parking, so it's generally going to be more expensive.

Just start lecturing them about their carbon footprint, and claim you're doing it to save the planet. They'll be delighted to change the subject instantly I would guess .

That must be a god-awful French campsite. We researched caravans in France this year and they were between £1200-£2k in our summer holidays.

The accommodation is about the same cost in the UK and France for caravans. Difference in cost comes from not having to pay for flights/ferry/travel insurance.

We have disposable income where we could afford £4k probably every other year quite easily. But I refuse to pay that for a random week somewhere. I'd much rather save up and go on a holiday we all can't wait for. A week in Lanzarote is a bit 'meh' to me. Yes, it's hot, but it's still same shit, different day when you have young children. £3-4k can be used on so many more valuable things imo (or £2k once you take away cost of a UK holiday).

Honestly I couldn’t care how much people spend on their holidays unless it’s how to get a good deal. But if you are posting on here to prove your holiday is much cheaper then you really need to say how much you are spending.

Where on earth in France can you get a week in a static caravan for 400€ in August? Standard rate for a decent site would be more like 1.5k

I'm unsure exactly what you're annoyed at....someone insensitively suggesting a holiday you clearly cannot afford or someone trying to helpfully make suggestions for alternatives that might be better value? The second I'd have no problem with your.
In your example you're comparing £3/4k all inclusive to £800....but that £800 is just for accomodation. You've then got food, drinks, icecreams treats entertainment, possibly paying for the pool or a show. If you're a family of four a week in Spain/Turkey can easily be cheaper than a week in Cornwall.

Next time someone makes a 'handy' suggestion you feel is inappropriate ask them if they're treating you.

Former travel agent here.

-don’t necessarily choose free child place, these can put the adult price up due to under occupancy
-clear search history and cookies
-don’t continually check prices - this actually drives them up!
-try changing airports
-check as a package or booking individually —ask for jet2 “rain cheques” on loca buy and sell sites etc.

@Sucessinthenewyear its £800 for a caravan in a quiet site in Devon that we go to regularly and love. It’s nothing fancy but it’s a pretty area. I will aim to save around £500 spending money. Then I guess it would be around £100 on travel.

I am sure there are great bargains to be found abroad but none that I could afford. We don’t have passports so would need to cover that cost as well.

The thing that bugs me the most is that holidays in the UK are seen as the idiots choice. Like we don’t seem to understand the bargains to be had abroad! I am just trying to stick to a budget.

OP, don't listen to people. Multiple people I speak to admit that the UK holidays have been the most successful for young families (or at least the kids prefer it).

It's different if you have money to burn but I think the judgement you're getting, when times are tight, is really insensive.

I've never thought it was an idiots choice to holiday in the UK. You're overthinking this somewhat.

@JudgeRudy well that’s exactly what driving me crazy. I am having conversation with people that don’t make sense. I tell my friend that I am spending £800 on a caravan and she is saying but for £3k you could have an all inclusive holiday in Turkey. But if I don’t have £3k how is that better! What she is trying to say is you should spend more money and have a better holiday. The thought of holidaying in the UK makes some people very upset for some reason.

Yes I know that £800 doesn’t include food etc but I still won’t be spending anywhere near £3k!