How do people afford holidays?

[OneHornedFlyingPurplePeopleEater]

We usually book a UK holiday, cheap and cheerful.

We're now in a position to save approx £300/month towards a holiday. I thought that was great, it's the bulk of our savings each month.

I recognise that we're in a very fortunate position, and I thought this would get us our first abroad holiday.

I'm looking at 10 nights all inclusive at a nice (but not luxury) hotel in Europe. Shit flights, they all are. And school holidays, so paying a premium. And its coming in at £4-6k.

Is this crazy or has it always been like this? How are people affording this?
That doesn't even include any spending money, or any clothes or suitcases (we wouldn't need much - and can borrow suitcases).

It's really got me down. Am I doing something wrong?? Looking in the wrong places (tui, on the beach, jet2holidays etc)? Is it much cheaper if I booked closer to the time?

We have always booked flights and accommodation separately- apartment with access to shared pool. There are a few sites you can use - and check out on google maps exactly where it's sited . Not liking extreme heat, when we were tied to school holidays we went Easter, May and/or October- often flying a day or so outside of the holiday . Yes to cereal for breakfast and one meal a day bread and cheese etc on the balcony .

Never earned anything like the amount you say (although much cheaper outgoings so possibly better off at the end of the day). Also I think it's nice to have the extra space in an apartment- and many/most have WiFi/ Smart TV now.

£22 a night for a pitch when camping...... it's great fun

Alos does it have to be a big summer holiday. You can get some great, good value city breaks in European ciites in Easter/Spring holidays. Cheap flight plus an apartment.

We paid £3100 for 4 of us (with one free child place for 12 year old, other is too old) for AI in Canaries this year for 10 days. We did book a year ago though. Looking on Jet 2 it's quite doable. We wouldn't bother with AI again though as can eat out and drink pretty cheaply in places like that.

I earn a little above national average but I'm careful in other areas so that I can afford to go away (although this year was the first time in 5 years). I can't afford to go every year but it's definitely something I work hard to try and achieve and I happily go without other stuff so I can enjoy a week or two in the sun, somewhere beautiful.

Years ago we used to go to blue lagoon village in Kos, very affordable and 5* luxury. Since covid we've been massively priced put added to that our children are now older and more expensive too. A week in August was coming in at 8k. Looking at very basic resorts for around 3/4k is gutting when that's what we used to pay!

*Priced out

As PP mentioned, prices are crazy since covid. We are paying the same for 10 days term time in Greece as we used to pay for 2 weeks in school holidays.

'Chav' doesn't imply rich or poor.

I imagine what your getting as is you expect wealthy people to have better manners and conduct themselves nicely on holiday.

One look at TOWIE Billie Faiers wedding to Greg Shepherd should tell you all you need to know here. 5* resort in the Maldives with 80 of their closest pals.... and their appalling behaviour meant other hotel occupants had a terrible holiday the entire time. It's well documented the disruption they caused.

Honestly with that kind of budget I think you will struggle. I haven’t read all your posts but are your children at an age where you could go during term time as it makes a massive difference. My children are 14 and 15 now and most of the holidays we have taken with them have been AI, and I do find they work out cheaper and once my girls where old enough to they loved that they could just go to the bar, snack area, ice cream etc and help themselves. Every year without fail from the age of around 8/9 they have made friends very quickly and they would all go grab lunch together, they loved the independence of it. A short flight hop I would recommend that is on a lovely safe resort, very family friendly but not cringeworthy for adults is the Pestana at Porto Santo island - a true hidden gem which is only a 10 minute transfer from the airport (island is tiny just off Madeira), right on a beautiful Sandy beach. We’ve been as a family 3 times and you would struggle to find anywhere that compares. I think only TUI fly there. We have also done a bit of a budget style Holiday Village in Spain which was very good for young kids (not the sort of place you would ever go as a couple) and was reasonably priced, again a short flight and transfer. Tunisia is also a very short plane ride and comparatively cheap when comparing like for like style hotels in other countries. We have made some significant savings over the years by booking the hotel direct and then just arranging flights separately. In terms of cost though we are tied to school holidays now and spend between £6-8k you can probably half this if you can get away during term time

We did a week full board (just got back) to Spain. Cheap flights to Barcelona with their airline. Came in at 2.5k for 5 of us. Have a look on love holidays and only pay for the cases you need.

Don't jump on the all inclusive bandwagon! if your kids aren't already spoilt you can have a lovely time in a small and friendly hotel or self catering apartment and eat out each evening. Just choose the resort wisely so there's enough choice of tavernas and restaurants. All inclusive is not the best option in the Mediterranean

I think all inclusive is terrible value tbh. I don't find breakfast and lunch a send catering hassle and you can eat out cheaply or make a bowl of pasta for dinner. We always used a pawn if stressing in reasonable/cheaper accomodation in a more chi chi area. We just rented an apartment in the area east of Barcelona near Begur for two weeks. Cheap flights, lots of small towns to stay in great coast and amazing dining options. Rented with a local agency (no excessive booking fees) and spent circa 4.5k

Should add the additional costs over your budget was about lots of nice restaurants, but cut your cloth and all that

No, prices are crazy since Brexit. Everyone who voted for it helped devalue our currency by between 5 and 10%. Every transaction in Europe costs more. Thanks for that.

Have you considered a cruise? There are some fabulous offers for families of four in school hols. Some will go from UK, others include flights.

I always book last minute, I can get 7 nights in a nice all inclusive somewhere for me and three kids for around £2000. If you book the week before and be prepared to phone the kids in sick to the first few days of school if necessary, it can be done.

Or this year I went when the season opened in early May. It was much cheaper and still lovely and warm!

I would say yes it is absolutely but I’m coming from a place of £300 having been our total annual holiday budget and didn’t even consider ourselves in poverty etc as have had much less . To be honest no it isn’t for a lot of people today, despite COL, you would be surprised by how much disposable income a lot of people have

Our income is the same as yours and we have 3 kids. We live in Scotland and have no childcare costs as dh compresses his hours so has our kids when I'm at work. We save £500 a month specifically for holidays, I have separate saving pots for kids birthdays. We don't expect to go on holiday abroad every year. This year we are going to Disneyland Paris, next year we might go tp Turkeyin May but if it's a toss up between that and doing my ensuite up, I'll the ensuite. The price of everything has gone up and I think for my family at least a £4k holiday is not the best use of money every year (our kids are little). Loads of people will think differently!

Other people will earn more than you, have less outgoings, different priorities. Play around with dates, look at self catering apartments with a pool, look at payment plans and pay in instalments if possible.

We have a joint income of about 90k op. We usually budget £400 per month for holidays a year, usually one week in Europe and one in uk. We always book a year in advance for our holiday abroad and spend the cost. Just come back from a week self catering Greek island with Dh and two teens. Holiday cost £2800 for access flights and transfer from love holidays. Paid monthly over a year £160 a month. Saved another £100 per month for spends plus paid a few excursions on card.

Have a look at Pefkos Rhodes as a starting point as its family friendly ant there are offers with Jet 2. Bear in mind stars relate to accomodation 'facilities' in Greek Hotels that you may not use..like Tvs that only show local news or a sauna or gym. Look closely to see if air conditioning is included or if there is a local charge, when comparing prices. You will need it this time of the year! You can get a room for 4 for around £500pp for a week depending on the ages of your kids

I know it sounds insane but I find it's actually cheaper to do long haul. We're going to Tokyo in October return flights were less than £600pp and then clubcard points pay for hotels. We did Orlando last year and I've seen last minute deals this year for around the same £300pp. I've also got a cruise booked in the Christmas holidays for £999 for a family of 4 which were doing instead of Christmas presents! I'm a teaching assistant and can only go in the school holidays but I always have my eye out for a good deal and like you try and save a certain amount each month towards holidays. Then just book when a good deal comes along.

Sorry meant to attach this above as an example.

September and January are normally the cheapest times to book. Also depends on where your booking and flying from as prices vary by airport. Also remember to clear cookies and history every time you search this also helps. We are a family of 5 and normally pay around £4300 for 10 days all inclusive 4/5 star. We then take about £1000 spends eat out some nights excursions etc and come back with money. We go in school holidays also but I wouldn’t think twice about taking them out of school and taking the fine.

We travel on Brittany ferries to Spain and then do self catering. No expense spared on the ferry but if you’re happy with an inside cabin the crossing can be very reasonable. Key camps are brilliant and affordable too, again with a ferry crossing.