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)!

@UserNameSameGame well I admit I am having a moan on here but I am not the one criticising my friends and families holiday choices in casual conversation.

We were talking about holidays. My friend told me about hers and I listened and asked questions about what they like and what they do. When I told her mine I was told how I shouldn’t be doing that and would be much better spending my money on x,y,z. I just found it annoying! I did tell her that I liked the place we were going and was looking forward to it. Some people just insist you think the same as them on everything. I don’t begrudge her holiday abroad and want to accept I am happy with my choice! I feel lucky to afford any kind of holiday!

@CherLloydbyCherLloyd - has it not possibly occurred to you that there might be a reason that holidays to Turkey have dramatically dropped in price over the last week?

that holiday would have probably been double if you were booking it last week. That said, end of June/first week of July is Scottish holidays, but isn’t when the majority of German schools are on summer holiday, which is the big push up of prices in Turkish resorts.

@ilovesooty exactly

I don't know why you care so much about what other people think OP? Are you trying to convince yourself staying in the UK is a better option? I don't give a flying f**k where people holiday or how much they spend. We always go abroad, that's what we prefer to do. All UK holidays we have had have been expensive and the weather has been rubbish, not my idea of a holiday. That doesnt mean I think your holiday is rubbish, its just not for me. We all like different things.

I agree with you OP.
We've had many good summer holidays in Wales and Scotland since the dc were born, all within 4-5 hours drive door to door, never spending more than £2.2K for 4 including good accommodation, sc food, eating out once a day, kids clubs, entertainment, fuel etc.

We've got a bit of spare cash this year and thought we might go abroad. DH refuses to camp (scoliosis, hayfever), but unless we do, I can't see how we'd even spend similar. Looked at putting the van on a ferry to France/Holland - £800 return. Looked at flights for 4 to a few places - over £1000 return.

@Keepitrealnomists i don’t want to care and ultimately don’t really care that much as I love our holidays. I am trying to capture an experience I’ve had recently and also kind of wondering if people have experienced the same?

In the conversations this week I felt judged for my holiday choices. I wasn’t asking for advice so don’t know why I was getting told I should do something different. It wasn’t conversational it’s was definitely a “you should do this instead “! I admit it has got under my skin. I don’t know why people get so bossy about things!

Its not always cheaper we paid 800 for 3 of us for a static caravan and ferry in France last year. The same week in Cornwall we were looking min 1200 for a static

30th June is not the school holidays.

You will get lots of great caravans for a week for £400 in France if you go in the May half term as it doesn't coincide with European school.holidays.

Yes I've had the same. We go abroad sometimes, UK sometimes. Until the recent cost of living crisis we had a decent budget for holidays, and people have occasionally remarked that we have interesting holidays. BUT some people still comment negatively, including one person who told us what we were planning was crap and we should go to the West Indies so we could go to a swim up bar 🙄

It is in Scotland but that doesn’t count right?

This is £450 www.canvasholidays.co.uk/france/paris-ile-de-france/campsite-le-chene-gris.php?__U2fCa=1

It probably depends on what you call abroad. I looked last year for week in uk and even a Glamping tent was £800 for 4 nights in uk. You can stay in similar in France for £700 for the whole week with company like huttopia. Ferry is around £100 return. We also go to Duinrell in Holland & it's gone up in price now but when kids were younger we used to get a full week in May for around £450. We went house in Germany on Landal site a few years ago and it was £700 for a week in a nice 3-bed place in July. Site has swimming pool & sports pitches etc.

We can't afford a holiday with flights anywhere hot but do find those hols I mentioned cheaper than uk. Sites abroad just seem so much better too. I don't really like entertainment tbh but do like stuff for kids to do like a pool - but British people seem to want evening entertainment & it's hard to find affordable sites with things like a pool.

Where are these cheap holidays advertised/ online? Whenever I have looked, it's never been that cheap when I look. By the time additional costs are factored in, it's expensive.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Show me a week abroad in the school holidays for 800 (plus 100 for passports) and I'll show you rocking horse shit.

Center Parcs in Belgium or Holland would be around that price for a week - maybe not July. Landal is also a decent price.

OP I don't think it matters where you go though - it's nothing to do with them unless they're joining you on holiday.

Yes it is.

Scotland is but a small hamlet to the north of England.

I've already responded to that.

I think it’s subjective, I’d find £800 for a caravan expensive, by the time I’ve added all the extras I can go abroad for a lot less.

We are going on a cruise, 4 adults for £1550 for a week, coach to Southampton included, all food and some drinks included. This is at the start of September. Entertainment is also included. Booked through p and o directly.

You are not the only one to say it though.

In the school holidays though? You can get a whole holiday in lanzarote in the school holidays for 500??

I often prefer holidays in the UK if I don’t want to be travelling lots, spending time on planes etc. Was esp the case when my children were smaller.

I like going abroad too, and choose different types of holidays at different times, but surely everything has it’s pros and cons?

Scottish school holidays don’t affect the prices of travel abroad - or within England and Wales - much though. Because of the smaller population I imagine.

Most state schools break up 20th July though.