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Original poster

To think you can’t get a family holiday for £500

244 replies

Lalalawhitenoise · 26/04/2023 20:18

inspired by a thread of a woman who’s taking her kids to florida, one of the poster said It was obscene spending that amount of money and that some families spend £500, maybe £1000 max on a family holiday for a family of 4.

I read it got me wondering, can you really get a family holiday (not tent camping) for £500? If so where? That would really help us out as was maybe thinking we might not be able to get a hols this year, what hols can you get (summer time ish) for under that £1k mark? Is it even possible?

OP posts:
Dandymax1 · 26/04/2023 21:14

Absolutely not in reality. We paid £1200 + £600 in spends,for 1 week in an upgraded caravan in Northumberland in 2017. We then paid £1240 for a week self catering in Greece, spends were about the same. Both holidays were brilliant but being by the sea, a pool kids can play all day in, and not to worry about the weather was amazing.

HuggingtheHRT · 26/04/2023 21:17

Define a holiday. Camping or in a basic caravan in the U.K. (and not in school hols) then and it's possible. But it would be no frills.

NerrSnerr · 26/04/2023 21:19

We did Butlin for 5 days in Feb half term for about £500 which included food.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/04/2023 21:20

Why are you discounting tent camping? That's a holiday.

bellac11 · 26/04/2023 21:21

I think where a lot of people go wrong is that they try to book caravans or lodges on sites, the likes of Haven or Hoseasons are quite expensive compared to bog standard self catering cottages or apartments.

Bemyclementine · 26/04/2023 21:21

Also, we went to butlins for £120 just before Easter, 4 nights. Haven October half term 420 4 nights.

Hotvimto3 · 26/04/2023 21:22

HuggingtheHRT · 26/04/2023 21:17

Define a holiday. Camping or in a basic caravan in the U.K. (and not in school hols) then and it's possible. But it would be no frills.

Thats not true. I went in school holidays. Very nice resort. Carvan full sized shower, dishwasher, central heating, TV surround sound. Decorated to very high standard. It was far from basic
You just need to look around x

Hotvimto3 · 26/04/2023 21:22

WombatBombat · 26/04/2023 20:45

Normally get some decent bargains last two weeks of August in Scotland.

Oooh thanks

WideFootWelly · 26/04/2023 21:25

Norfolk, chalets (in holiday locations) can be under £1k for a week in the summer.
My parents own two, and although I've stayed in a grotty one in camber before, theirs are nice.

clary · 26/04/2023 21:27

I've just searched holiday cottages in Wales for a week, sleeping four in two bedrooms, at the start of the school summer holidays and found quite a few with availability for less than £600.

Yes they may not have a sea view in the perfect resort but if you have a car then this for example is in a very nice part of Wales - near castles, beaches and Anglesey.

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/crystal-river-cottage-uk6078?adult=2&child=2&infant=0&pets=0&range=7&nights=7&accommodationType=cottages&regionName=Wales&regionId=22217&start=04-08-2023&index=search&features=&siteFeatures=&page=2&sort=priceasc

Sugarcube84 · 26/04/2023 21:27

We paid £1300 for caravan in the lakes for 4 nights in July 2021,

I keep looking to get the kids away for a weekend but even a weekend is £700

Whatnowfgs · 26/04/2023 21:28

I have you looked at this kind of thing. https://www.canvasholidays.co.uk/france/languedoc-roussillon/campsite-dunes.php#t=2023-07-1557H4P2

Original poster
Lalalawhitenoise · 26/04/2023 21:28

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/04/2023 21:20

Why are you discounting tent camping? That's a holiday.

It’s not for us unfortunately, don’t enjoy it

OP posts:
Lasouthpaw · 26/04/2023 21:29

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz technically yes but I wouldn't choose to! I'd rather spend a week in my nice home with my own bed and my bathroom than a week in a tent.

I know camping is very popular but just not an appealing holiday for some!

SophiaSW1 · 26/04/2023 21:32

Center parcs outside of school holiday is £500 mon to Friday for 4.

OKwhatsNext · 26/04/2023 21:32

Yes we rented a lovely holiday cottage for around £400 for a week last summer in East Sussex. We used our nat trust passes (thanks for the Christmas gift granny) to do the castles etc down there and spent time (free) at the beach at Camber sands, Hastings. Food was the same as at home as we stopped at a Morrisons down the road. That was two adults and two under 5. Two bed cottage.

APurpleSquirrel · 26/04/2023 21:32

Just checked the 2-bed self-catering cottage in Cornwall we stayed in in 2021 (paid under £400 for the May half term week) - even in the summer holidays this year it's under £1k, about £600 at the end of August. It was basic & in the middle of the moors, but it was clean & we had a great week.

MargaretThursday · 26/04/2023 21:33

We do normally. We go somewhere like Kent, which is less popular with tourists, and take a last minute deal for a small self catered cottage or caravan, normally in early August. By being flexible with place, time and what, we normally get it reasonably priced. Although the year we did Pontins for £60 for a week, we concluded we wouldn't repeat. 😂
We then usually have most of the days on the beach or doing free things unless the weather is completely a problem. We take pack lunches, and if possible walk rather than take the car.
That's for 5 of us, and the older two are adults now and still enjoy it.

clary · 26/04/2023 21:34

Those who are saying - in February, or in a tent, or somewhere with no shower - I mean maybe you are joking but plenty of people have linked or noted cottages in the UK for around £500, yes in the summer hols, yes somewhere a family might like to go.

The one I linked to is near castles that are fun to visit, Snowden for a climb, plenty of nice beaches. All of those are free or minimal cost. Yes, the weather is not guaranteed but that's the UK.

Yes you still need to eat, but you would eat at home too. If you are on a budget maybe you don't eat out much on holiday. You need to drive there but if that's an issue, you pick somewhere not too far away. You'll need some spends for ice creams and the like but I think it is genuinely doable for a family of four to have a week in the country/coast and have some fun for about £1000.

daisydaisy21 · 26/04/2023 21:39

We have booked a week in Filey at the bay in august for £530. 2d 2c

It's a super lovely place and to be honest I did think we got a bargain

updin · 26/04/2023 21:41

Not a holiday I would want to go on anyway! Even a bank holiday weekend in a caravan a few years ago was more than £500.

Skybluepinky · 26/04/2023 21:41

Probably Pontins

Icannever · 26/04/2023 21:42

https://abnb.me/scsfqRZXjzb
I just did a quick Airbnb search for Scotland and came up with this is a minute or so, on the coast near st.Andrews and £742 for the last two weeks in august. Scottish schools are back so some places are cheaper

WordtoYoMumma · 26/04/2023 21:44

You'll easily get a week in a premier Inn family room for less than £500. If you want breakfast it might push you past the 500 mark but you do get to eat a lot of bacon.