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.

I went with 5 adults 2 kids.

I have never been to Salou, but I've heard it's good for families.

July 2024 to Salou - I've no idea if this is a nice place:

https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/porta-ciutat.en-gb.html?aid=1732818&label=salou-aWumpoRTStyP3be6_L5DdQS339544776710%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atiaud-2009482408685%3Akwd-367440460204%3Alp1007883%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YUBh8MufZgNF-y9orMxeX3o&sid=df0f5f7b28142ba25c288d2125706c79&age=15&age=7&all_sr_blocks=1038674801_376357218_7_0_0&checkin=2024-07-03&checkout=2024-07-10&dest_id=-400284&dest_type=city&dist=0&group_adults=5&group_children=2&hapos=1&highlighted_blocks=1038674801_376357218_7_0_0&hpos=1&matching_block_id=1038674801_376357218_7_0_0&no_rooms=1&req_adults=5&req_age=15&req_age=7&req_children=2&room1=A%2CA%2CA%2CA%2CA%2C7%2C15&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=popularity&sr_pri_blocks=1038674801_376357218_7_0_0__125344&srepoch=1691503721&srpvid=dbe76372bd1b0165&type=total&ucfs=1&activeTab=main

Also look up Eurocamps

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/20102093?adults=4&children=3&check_in=2023-08-21&check_out=2023-08-28&source_impression_id=p3_1691503796_d9TkQV7Rn9bA2Vld&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=0a1f8bb2-7ebe-419e-8ae4-4128ff854d7dwww.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/20102093?adults=4&children=3&check_in=2023-08-21&check_out=2023-08-28&source_impression_id=p3_1691503796_d9TkQV7Rn9bA2Vld&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=0a1f8bb2-7ebe-419e-8ae4-4128ff854d7d

CROATIA.
I,m not sure how many children are going but you can see roughly what you'll get for 7

@Whysomany have you considered euro camp?

https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=17990547340&cq_con=139503711346&cq_term=eurocamp&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz8emBhDrARIsANNJjS58LZJFwYE27dMatuAmEiRbVEaGoiLboxE9nnHGd7j_oIUn259wrtMaAq0LEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Try house sitting for accommodation -- it's free, and all you need to do is look after a lovely pet! Lots of options all around the world, especially in August in the Mediterranean countries, when the locals tend to vacate their houses.

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/find-a-house-sit/

Best of luck!

I'd second the interrail suggestion. Kids under 12 are free and pass is discounted to age 26. It can include your outgoing and incoming journeys ie. Eurostar or ferry. You will have reservation fees for Eurostar but it's a lot cheaper.

You can tailor your pass to the number of travel days and holiday length. You would want to pay for seat reservations which are payable on top but you can price those on the website.

I also think train is much more exciting than flying.

You could look at some less obvious tourist places if you want beaches etc (trains especially good in Italy) or some where like Austria or Germany. Even Slovakia or Slovenia.

Generally we found food much cheaper in Europe this year.

Canaries accommodation is usually fairly cheap in Sunmer as it’s not their main season. Can get accommodation for 7 for a grand (Villa) on air bnb (Lanzarote) If you can get flights for £250 ish each, then it’s doable.

Have you thought of Guernsey? I used to live, absolutely stunning white sandy beaches and it was hot in the summer. You can take a car ferry or fly. Accommodation, there are some nice self catering apartments at Vazon Bay, lots of hotels, but that could be expensive for 7. Also lots of camping opportunities. Herm Island have fully equipped tents and you can walk to Shell Beach which is a paradise.

We just came from Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia). It's massively more affordable and just about drivable.

Also: have you looked at house/pet sitting while abroad? Might be tricky with so many people buy you can get cheap accommodation that way.

I wanted to take my kids to Northumberland for a few days. Totally insane in August, I agree.

We‘’ve booked a cruise for 500 per person for 9 nights. This is with full board.

Sunparks in Belgium and Netherlands are very reasonable
You pay per accommodation not person.

Look at eurocamp

Lots of places in France, pool on site.

They have a wide range of accommodation types, some pretty good value

Just had a quick play on the Jet2 holiday site.. 7 nights, including flights, in Bodrum, leaving Thursday 25th July 2024, is showing £2,910. That includes two kids 12 and under for free kids places (I made your kids ages up, other than guessing one was 18, and one was 16.. so did 14, 12 and 10 for the others LOL So the 10 and 12 year old get the free child places).

I second the Baltics - lovely beaches in August!

Sorry meant to post more and then work got in the way!

Somewhere like here for example - in Northern France so just a few hours from the Eurotunnel https://www.vrbo.com/en-gb/p1998269a?adultsCount=3&arrival=2024-08-03&childrenCount=4&departure=2024-08-10&uni_id=2174148
Less than £900 for a week in early Aug next year, right next to a lake for swimming and sleeps 7 (although you'd need to check the combination of beds/rooms works for your family).

https://www.vrbo.com/en-gb/p8614122?adultsCount=2&arrival=2024-08-21&childrenCount=5&departure=2024-08-31&uni_id=4675148

£under £1100 for 10 days in august 2024

you'll be looking at £1400 for 7 flights return to Alicante from a London airport, then a public bus direct from the airport to Benidorm is 55 minutes

I’d say France is likely to be cheapest once you factor in things like airport parking and all the little extras. Plus driving is so much easier than taking a big group on a plane. Any of you have a Blue Light card? This year they did deals of up to 50% off on Eurocamp. Gites are also a good shout as they’re direct with the owner so fewer Airbnb type fees: https://www.gites-de-france.com/en

If you really want to fly then we’ve found Barcelona is often the cheapest flight to Spain and there are Eurocamps about an hour along the coast.

If your DH isn’t keen on the drive, how about spending a bit of the budget on the car to make it less likely to break down? Also you’ve got quite a while to go. You could look at raising a bit of extra cash via something like the £10 a day thread which would help with spending at least.

I’m in the same boat as you OP (7 of us). I was searching and everything seemed to be way out of our price range. My mum managed to find Spain for next July half term for £5k but as it’s all inclusive that would cover the food budget also.

Have a look at centre parcs in Europe, their schools go back before England and it can be quite affordable. Short Family Breaks in Europe | Holiday Cottage | Center Parcs

Brittany is beautiful in August usually.
I would get a good secondhand tent and book municipal campsites near the sea, much cheaper.
Eat in creperies and cook pasta, buy baguettes and croissants.
You’ll have a great time.

Also found this.

The Eurostsr goes all the way to Marseille in the summer. Stops at Avignon and some other places. I’m not sure on cost but could be worth looking at combined with Eurocamp or similar. I would think the ferry is the cheapest option but take your point about car / distance. There used to be an overnight ferry to Spain which I’m guessing still operates. Would get you further south with less driving. Again, no idea on cost I’m afraid.

This is doable.
Feeding 7 people on holiday is not going to be cheap in Spain or Greece or France or any other place in Europe - even self catering .
Head for Turkey - your money will go a hell of a lot further.
I recommend you do a search for Marmaris.
Last week in August.
Plenty of things going on to keep everyone happy. Eating out cheap. Beer cheap. Boat trips cheap. And it’s a beautiful place. What more could you wish for?
Do a search ‘on the beach’, there are plenty of options near your budget.
And book a package holiday. Having someone else sort out flight transfers etc is going to make your holiday a whole lot simpler - especially with 5 kids in tow.

Eurostar as opposed to Eurotunnel. From Kings Cross but they also pick up at Ashfield International.

Turkey is a good suggestion. Also Bulgaria.

Bulgaria or Turkey. Alternatively, we had a fabulous holiday in Belgium. Stayed in Ostend and caught the train to visit Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and Brussels. Not far to drive, or you could just get the train.

I'm at sorry, not enough time to read all replies.
If you live up north have look at flying from Glasgow/Edinburgh when Scottish schools go back in August. Much, much cheaper.