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.

Eurocamp- some lovely sites 3 hours ish from Calais and you could consider getting a longer Ferry to St Malo and then going into Brittany to shorten the drive
House swap- so you only have to pay travel
Book early (as in now!) and pay off monthly if you want a fly and flop resort place
Agree re downsizing Christmas
If you do decide to fly I’d also recommend booking flights and hotel separately. We’ve found some pretty good deals for Portugal booking separately before.

Bulgaria Sunny beach is very nice and usually cheap

When you come to book don't forget to check Bournemouth / Southend airports.

Haven't rtft, but what about Eurocamp?

https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/

You can get accommodation for 7, first week of August next year, from £1120 - https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/france/dordogne/st-avit-loisirs-campsite

Leaves plenty in budget for the travel there

Don't do Easter if you have kids sitting summer exams. Some exams are close to Easter and lots of revision classes run in the holidays. Even if they don't they should be revising then.

Offering a summer holiday is really lovely!

Mind you, watch the results dates! We had to come back home for my daughters results because she said she would wait but the might before she got upset and realised she wanted to know! Luckily we were in the UK just a few hours away so we could do it. The A leveler will probably be nailing the practicalities for his future choices after his results. Sounds like maybe end of July or first week of August the best timing?

One option would be to try to get a package holiday with free children’s places. As you’ve got a few adults, you could probably do 2 separate bookings to make sure you get the free places. E.g. one under your name, one under your husband’s.

Personally, I’d try to avoid doing anything involving car hire as it makes the overall holiday price a lot more expensive. Price this up before committing to it - a lot of companies want a huge deposit held on a credit card or want you to pay big insurances out of pocket when you collect the car. Go to a tourist destination where you can do stuff within walking distance or use the cheap buses.

Alternatively, to find the cheapest flights go on Skyscanner and search for August 2024. Last week of August before the kids go back to school is usually a bit cheaper. Remember to factor in luggage on flights. Also, passports as it sounds like you might all need them so that’ll be somewhere around £650 for all of you.

A week in the Netherlands sounds great! So much to see and do there. I'm planning on taking my family there at some point too.

I'd just readjust expectations. The Scottish highlands, Northern Ireland - the Giants Causeway, Titanic museum, the South of Ireland, the Lake District - Honister slate mine. We have so many amazing sights to see and things to do within the British Isles, embrace what we have here already!

The Charente Maritime region of France is very sunny, and that's a lot less far to go than the South of France. Campsite?

What about this:

abnb.me/hXI7uoz85Bb

Cherbourg peninsular so ferry from Portsmouth not a massive drive on the French side and there are some lovely beaches plus things to do on rainy days like Mont st Michel / bayeux tapestry etc

I used to go to this area with a friend whose family had a holiday home - we always had lovely trips.

Hi OP, to get to the south of France with an interrail ticket is way cheaper than a regular train ticket. I bought a four day travel ticket in just France for 160 this summer and my daughter was free with it. Kids aren't free if you buy tickets directly. You only have to pay for seat reservations for high speed trains, but if you're happy to travel on the slower trains and book somewhere overnight, there's no seat reservations. İt also includes your train travel in England to and from the port or st pancras on each side of travelling. You can book a seat reservation with the interrail ticket on Eurostar for 30pp each way. You just need to book high speed services in advance as they get really full in summer and you aren't allowed to stand on french high speed trains.

Another thing I can recommend, is if you need somewhere to stay a night or two, on your journey, is to book a room in a youth hostel. They are usually really nice and you can book every bed in one room so your family could share a room and not worry about strangers. Some youth hostels will have the option to book a group room, rather than a bed.

Then if you can find a good eurocamp price in France, you're good to go. Eurocamp you pay for the accomodation rather than per person, and some campers/chalets sleep up to 6 or more.

İf you want me to send you the website where I got the best deal for my interrail ticket, just DM me!

Another thing is sometimes eurocamp give you a free return ferry ticket if travelling by car (have a look on their website), so you could always drive to Calais or a different port in France (overnight ferries go from Southampton or Portsmouth, I believe) and find somewhere cheap to park then use an interrail ticket.

I got return flights from Gatwick to Tenerife for £104 pp this summer. I brought them in October when they were first released 5am on a Sunday.. My dad advised this is the cheapest time and day to buy. He has got flights for £25!
I was very lucky that I have a friend who rents out an apartment in a hotel so we got that mates rates.
When it comes to eating out there's lots of cheaper places that are still very good.

It sounds like you'd prefer not to fly but if you're not fussy then it's worth signing up for the free version of Jack's Flight Club. You can get some great flight deals on there. For instance, I got a JFC email early July with the below:

Returns from London Stansted (STN):
Béziers (BZR) - £30
Carcassonne (CCF) - £35
La Rochelle (LRH) - £36
Nantes (NTE) - £29
Nimes (FNI) - £37
Tours (TUF) - £33
Verona (VRN) - £33

You have to accept it will be a last minute booking and sometimes at anti-social times of course. These charges also didn't include bagagge, which can obviously add them at £20 - £40 each.

Do bear in mind that food in France is more expensive than home, so self catering isn’t a bargain holiday, even if you eat simply, make picnic lunches each day etc. However campsites often have enough entertainment and if you’re near a beach there isn’t the need to spend much more.
South of France is a long drive in a car you don’t trust too. Hope you find something..

Also May half term is much cheaper then July/August. We went to Kefalonia May half term 2022, staying at San Giorgio Hotel.. all inclusive. We paid about £450pp by booking last minute.

For your budget, you can get Jet2 flights from Stanstead to Kefalonia, Greece, and a villa through AirBnB.

When the DC were small, we'd book our own flights, then rent an apartment in Italy using local Italian accommodation websites rather than international holiday ones. That might be worth a look too.

Another great thing about train travel in France, is if your train is delayed and you miss your last connecting train of the day, sncf will put you in a hotel, give you a packed lunch dinner and pay your next day travel. İt happened to us due to a thunderstorm. Got put in a very lovely boutique hotel in Paris for a night. İf you've got kids you get to go to the front of the queue also, when queuing for your hotel ticket.

Go to Morocco or Türkiye, flights will cost about the same as south Europe but accommodation, transportation and food is much cheaper.

North Macedonia is cheap, tui fly there. Worth a look?

https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/france/vendee/la-guyonniere-campsite

Ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg - means its around 250 miles driving at the very most in France and then ferry back from St Malo means less than 150 miles to ferry from campsite and its easy motorway driving

the cost of the ferry is £900 - ask on MN for anyone with a discount code for Brittany ferries, there are plenty about

so under £2000 for a sunny camping holiday 19th August driving fuel would be added as would food for you all

I should clarify that these were for Ryanair flights booked in July for this month.

Haven't read the full thread, but could you look at the ferry to Santander and then camping options close to the port? You could take the car and your own family tent/s. There are some lovely campsites close to the port.

Sorry not read the full thread but thinking of dates if you have a gcse and a level student they will finish school earlier when the exams finish. So prices can be a bit cheaper in July.

Problem with later August is when the A level results come out and you may need to be in the UK if sorting out unis etc.

Really hope you find somewhere and have a good time

euro camps are your friend here

Ireland/Northern Ireland will be very expensive even if flights are cheap, i wouldn't bother.

Could you look at doing a house swap? This would negate accommodation costs

If you're going to stay in a campsite you may be able to make a decent saving by booking direct rather than through euro camps.

Campsite holidays are great with kids- pools and playgrounds, and self-catering is handy

If you can't get a cabin big enough for all of you, you could maybe get a 5/6 person cabin and the older two could sleep in a tent you bring with you but hang out with the rest of you during the day, and bo dong for the big kids!