AIBU to ask where the hell can I take seven people on holiday without bankrupting myself?!

[Whysomany]

Not really an AiBU but posting for traffic after weeks of research and coming up blank.

Promised the kids a holiday, specifically abroad, as they've never been. August 2024. Made the mistake of promising before fully researching and quite frankly I feel a bit fucked now.

I think they'd all like to travel by plane having never done so before and probably unlikely to again but blimey, flights for seven people. I severely under estimated. Looking at driving instead. This we can do but DH doesn't want to drive too far because his car is old and crap, basically.

Originally looking at South of France, Italy, Spain, etc. They all seem out now because of flights and hire car costs. And I don't think I could persuade DH to take his car that far. I have since looked at pretty much every destination in Europe...

All I've got at this point is a week in the Netherlands but honestly at this point, that feels a little disappointing after dreaming of a hot destination and somewhere a bit further away to the UK.

Am I doing something wrong or basically I'm right and it's just not doable? We were looking at Eurocamp and the equivalents.

No set budget. Originally looking at 2.5 - 3k plus food, days out, etc. Might be able to go a bit higher.

They go back mid August😄

Don’t look at the moment. It’s peak “let’s book for next year” time and prices are high because of it. Try easyJet package holidays and start looking around October time, you may find prices have dropped. Also Black Friday is worth a punt.

Have you considered a house swap? At least it saves on accommodation.

out of school holidays you can get easy jet flights for under £100 each then book an apartment - Portugal / Spain. You’ll spend a lot on tolls driving and petrol. Book as soon as flights are released. I mean anywhere with 7 people is not cheap, but I reckon if not school hols you can do it

Madeira is pretty cheap

That’s not a lot of money OP! Flights for my family of 4, including one baby for fortnight in Malta came to almost £700, and that’s before accommodation and other spends. I think you are realistically looking at £1k each all in including spending money. Is there any way you can save to afford this?

Landal greenparks was our go to go for that number.

Duinrell in the Netherlands is great. Theme park and waterpark on site with lots of day trips nearby too including Amsterdamso will have something for everyone. We have always driven but have met people who have flown easyjet to Amsterdam it is only about 30 mins away and easily accessible.

Loads on loveholidays in your budget: www.loveholidays.com/holidays/?nights=7&rooms=2-5-10%2C1-12-14&date=2024-08-05&flexibility=5&sort=POPULAR&f.maxPerPersonPrice=25000

I'm not a fan of flying - you don't get to see or smell or hear or indeed experience much of the country you are travelling through. With trains - especially the ones that are not super-fast - you get to see so much more, meet people from many different countries etc etc etc.

*This is a fascinating and very helpful guide to European train travel, country by country: https://www.seat61.com/

*Sometimes a multiple-use pass is a good idea. As previous posters have said, Interrail can be a bargain. Two free (under 11) children per adult, plus 25% off for any youth (under 27): https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/deals/free-travel-kids

You can also get UK family railcards https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/

Eurostar gives 30% discount for children, and has special offer 'book early' tickets:
https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/cheap-eurostar-tickets

*If you are simply going from A to B, a single ticket might be cheaper than an Interrail pass. There are a great many different discounts available - each country will have their own.

*There is a great deal of info readily available online. Here are just two examples:

For timetable information about train services Austrian Railways (OBB) has the most faboulous online website ('Scotty') covering most of Europe where you can plan your journey (and do a lot of armchair travel):
https://www.oebb.at/en/fahrplan/fahrplanauskunft/scottymobil

You can also research and buy tickets for European rail travel from the UK office of German railways (Deutsche Bahn: https://www.bahn.com/en ) - and they have special discounts for groups of six or more
https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/group-saver-fare-europe

*NB
As previous poster says, you need to make advance reservations for train journeys - these cost a small sum in Europe but are free in the UK (except for Eurostar). And they make all the difference. The superfast trains often have a small supplement to pay, as well.

OP and her DH work in schools so no chance of a term time holiday.

We have planned Girona, via a hotel stop in Lyon, all by train.

A friend is doing northern Europe by train with husband and four children. More fun than flying.

You could do a mediterranean cruise. I'm looking at the P&O website for summer holidays '24 and the cheapest is about 900 per person but I'm guessing that includes loads of food etc. My idea of hell tbh but the kids might like it?!

How far are you from Folkestone? You could take the car on Eurotunnel and do a week self catering at a Eurocamp or European Center Parcs for that budget.

Eurocamp , canvas holidays or similar I think eurocamp have a discount at the min for summer 2024 for holidays over 10 days, look at ones near an airport where they do cheapish flights, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, moat have good transport links or you could hire a car
it’s self catering so you will have to factor in food costs as well

When our kids were little the last week of the school holidays was always a good one for camping in Europe. European kids are back at school and UK parents like to use that week to get everything together for the new term. Just do that before you go or head to the supermarkets in the south of France for new trainers / pencil cases etc.

You could fly to the south & rent a car / cars and stay in tents or a caravan.
Alternatively you could take the long ferry to Northern Spain & drive a reasonably short distance to the southwest coast of France.

Also I know you're worried about the car but if you get good breakdown cover the worst you're looking at is it dies while you're away and the breakdown company provide a hire car (been there...).

Just go for a few days? Cuts down accomodation and food costs. They have had the experience.

Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights. Book an apartment/ villa, day to day costs are then cheaper, so is accomodation per head.

Open a credit card like Amex, you get avios and companion flights, which are free flights. They also give you enough avios for a free flight when you get the card. Last year, I spent £400 on flights to Portugal for 9 people in the middle of the summer hidays with BA. Thus included cabin luggage and 23kg of luggage between each pair. I got the luggage allowance with a frequent flyer card. You don't have to be a frequent flyer, you just sign up for a card and you get basic freebies, like booking seats for free and free baggage allowance.

I haven't read a lot of the replies but maybe a flight to France and then a hire car?

Or look at expedia and go for a 4 night trip to Florence?

It really depends on what you want for a holiday. We have just booked lanzarotte for Aug next year 2 adults 3 children and that was 2.8k and that was a real struggle to get.

I plan on going to Florence in April next year just as a couple which is coming in at £750 for flights and accommodation for 4 days but was obviously twice the price if we took the kids but you might be able to make that work budget wise for all of you.

Agree that Holland is amazing!!!!

Or onthebeach.co.uk have really good prices for an all inclusive 7 night holiday if you can go during term time. Research your school area - in our area you only get fined if you take them out of school for 5 days. So if you go when there is one Inset Day and only take them out of school for 4 days then you don’t get fined. I just did a quick search for a random week in May for 2 adults and 5 children and you can get a week for less than 3k.

Albania - I am serious - just me and primary-age ds used to regularly holiday there when we lived near Gatwick. Easyjet have started flying direct to Tirana now so an early booking in a few weeks would be cheap, also Wizz Air from Luton and BA from Heathrow.

Or, if you don't live near those airports, you can fly to Bari in Italy and get the overnight ferry to Durres which is also fun and exciting.

And you can do it within your budget.

Can you do October half term, OP? Low season but some places in the southern end of the med are still tolerably warm at that time of year. Maybe not scorching, but pleasant.

How about Brittany, it's beautiful and the beaches are gorgeous

eg
Farmhouse sleeps 14 with pool moments from the sea - Plestin-les-Greves (vrbo.com)

(not the most luxurious place but looks fine and has a pool etc and close to beach, £1200 for 7 nights in August)

There are loads on that site

Albania! It’s supposed to be lovely. Cheap flights. Magnificent beaches https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/923073576176071245?adults=8&check_in=2023-08-26&check_out=2023-09-02&source_impression_id=p3_1691509624_hdhqGPghYTD6dx%2B1&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=2b7902db-5cc9-4406-830a-7c9e06254c87