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.

La tranche sur mer which I've been to several times is looking at around £2000 for accommodation (self catering). But not everything is realised yet for 2024

I'd drive to France and go to one of the many camp sites (caravan/lodges usually available if you don't want to sleep under canvas although pre-erected options are great). They'll be pools, activities, day trips etc. we stayed in a great one near Barcelona a few years ago and my teens loved it (although it's a long drive!) for something a bit closer look on the west coast as the weather is usually much better than the Uk and gorgeous beaches. We do budget holidays but honestly seven people under £3k in holidays will be impossible flying nowadays.

I once told my daughter we were now entering Switzerland as we crossed the LLandeilo bridge in Wales!

All the pretty coloured houses made her stop for a moment before she realised!

Can you get away something like that?

I have found nice accommodation in the Netherlands. De Twee Bruggen which looks lovely. By the German border. Lots of day trips to do from there, Toverland, efteling, utrecht, etc.

I hate the ferry! Super seasick but its a nice adventure for the kids. More exciting than the tunnel!

Have you used
https://www.skyscanner.net/
to look for cheap flights.
In the "choose destination" choose "everywhere" and you can just look at where is cheap. Try different school hols.

Maybe with the 6 year old but not the 12, 16, 18 and 20 year olds haha!

We just did our first fluting holiday with kids. For us was TOTALLY not worth it (except we did have a lovely time with the people we went with once we were there) Flying was a huge hassle, delays, cancellations, loads of stress.
our most successful family holidays have all been by ferry to France with a villa and pool. Ferry was £900 all in for all of us. Villa was 2k. Highly recommend!

Are you on a two week October half term, lots of holiday operators haven't cottoned on to this yet so the first week is stil cheap. I don't think your budget is enough even then though

Definitely doable. If the budget is roughly £500pp (£3.5k) you have tons of options especially if you don't mind self catering as you'd have to buy food anyway, there are loads on the Tui offers for next years school holidays - plenty in Greece etc. But coming up end July atm.
Otherwise book flights and go to a city like Barcelona/Nice/Lisbon they all have beaches there or near and then book accomodation separately.

Thank you!

We used to go to the Netherland Centerparcs every year last week of August. DC absolutely loved it there, there was so much for them to do. You would get the last week of August for around £1000 for 7 as it is outside the Dutch school holidays

Flying not fluting!

I agree. I hate flying. Airports are awful places. I'd rather go Folkestone to Calais on the tunnel and have a long drive. What sites should I look at for villas?

Just an example, but loads more. I think the earlier you book the better the deal you will get.

https://www.onthebeach.co.uk/holiday/36703716390/99c8805503f9e45356cb307e06ae144c?departureDate=2024-08-29&childAges%5B0%5D=12&childAges%5B1%5D=6&bags=0&adults=5&children=2&infants=0&nights=7&rooms=2&location_ids=&search_id=835242389&priceFormat=PER_PERSON_PRICE

Thank you, that's lovely

Are your 2 oldest children going to want to come away mum and dad? How about bunging them a couple of hundred pounds for a post exams holiday with their mates.
Then take the rest away with you.

Thanks thats really helpful

@Whysomany we booked through Vrbo. We had no problems, worked a treat. Loads of choice, decent prices.

we use Brittany Ferries too and get a couple of cabins each way. Have steak and chips on the ferry. I think they do package deals and also rent properties, but we did the villa separately.

You can definitely do this is you self cater.

ie if you just look on booking.com and filter by 7 people, 3-4 bedroom, near beach etc, you can still get nice apartments or villas to rent in Croatia near a beach for August next year for less than £1000

Flights for this August you can get Easyjet Gatwick to Zadar for £147 each return ( just over £1000 for 7). If you book in advance for next year you can probably get cheaper

Eurocamps are very reasonably priced. You'd have to add on the travel but you can usually find accommodation for a large family for less than £500

Some of the Sun holidays are abroad, I've seen them at the same Eurocamp in Brittany that we've stayed at,

Or work hard on the internet booking but by bit so Tesco Clubcard vouchers for Eurotunnel, driving your own car. Cheap airbnbs.

Also the last week in August can be great for Centerparcs in Europe as the kids in those countries are back at school so you can get some bargains.

Is October half term an option at all? We had a great holiday 1/4 of the price and it was still hot in southern Italy.

@Whysomany if you do end up taking the ferry this is a life saver-I suffer so badly that I can barely think about it without feeling queasy...

having tried so many things over the years-including having DS actually be sick on his anti sickness wrist band!!

https://www.boots.com/stugeron-15-tablets

I literally looked on skyscanner to book a trip for 7 of us this August at beginning of june. Just typed in the departing box 'uk' and 'everywhere' for the destination. Took a bit of searching as I had to weigh up costs of driving to Edinburgh to fligjt difference etc but we could flights to girona for under £100 each return. We have booked a bus to somewhere cheaper in Spain to stay (found by searching on airbnb with price filters). We all just take handluggage (a bit tight but we are used to it) and we are flying unsociable hours. We used just park for airport parking - 10 days £35 and a mile walk. But cheap holidays can be done. We could probably have had more choice in accommodation if we'd booked more in advance but for us we had a bit more money. Good luck. You can do it. Sounds like once in a life time for you?

Not sure if anyone has already mentioned it but booking.com are often loads cheaper than Airb&b and no hidden cleaning costs/withheld deposits.

@Whysomany I personally think the only way to do it is to save the money up then book a last min holiday a few weeks before
My friend got a holiday to Greece for 2 adults and 3 kids for under £2,000 all inclusive
She booked 2 weeks before travel