I hate my budget holiday

[ValentinaTheVampire]

We have small children to do things on a budget so we tend to do self catering in the UK to avoid paying for flights and also so we aren't all squashed into a hotel room.

But ugh, it has been so miserable this time (we are away at the moment). The weather where we are staying is pretty miserable. We are staying near family where I grew up as we tried to do holiday and family visit in one and I am honestly just counting down the days. I'm so tired from all the driving about and visiting and trying to keep kids entertained in the rain with none of their usual stuff around to help.

The cottages we've had the past few holidays have been so tired looking and even then they are so expensive.

I have a small but perfectly nice house at home. Kids aren't exactly getting a cultural experience here (although they are loving seeing family).

Dh wants to do another holiday cottage for my 40th birthday which is coming up over other school holidays and I've just told him no fucking way 😂.

I'd rather spend the money on my house or save for a nicer holiday even if we don't get one as often.

I can't tell if holidays have got worse or if I have become a that who just likes staying at home.

I’m sure you’d get a camping type holiday in Europe for the same budget. Try Canvas holidays and Venue holidays, they are much cheaper than Eurocamp and use the same parks. I’ve booked a safari tent which sleeps 5 in May half term at sites near Barcelona, Rome and Venice, all with great public transport links and never paid more than about £400 for the accommodation

Yeah, I imagine it's more.

I think the plan needs to be to save up and go nicer places less often..

@pictoosh one of them said it looked too small and that set them all off! They were wrecked after the journey and the weather was really awful looking. I'm from this area and even I knew it wasn't looking it's best. Very grey indeed and windy

Hang on, don't mean to derail but since when could we edit posts?

Oh sorry, that was meant to be re Eurocamp being more than £115 / night!

@Matplotlib I've just seen it on another thread! Didn't know that!

Have a look at Yelloh Village Campsites OP. We’ve booked a few times for France and have never been disappointed. Prices are reasonable I think. Lots to keep kids entertained. Hope you manage to enjoy a little of your break away. Always good to get a change of scene for a bit even if it isn’t your ideal xx

I often feel like self catering in the uk is harder than being at home because there’s often not the equipment you need / would normally use and I can imagine that kids would miss their stuff. I sometimes go away on my own in the uk and just keep expectations low in terms of cooking and activities- if the weather is nice I’ll walk, run or cycle, and if it’s not so good then I might just chill for the day and do a jigsaw and watch tv. Sometimes spending a day in PJs doing not very much is the holiday you actually need! My holiday cooking doesn’t get any more strenuous than pasta!

One of the reasons holidays are less nice is due to the fact the kids are there. It's a lot more centred around them and therefore less enjoyable.

We did a lot of butlins style hols when kids were little. Kids were happy we got a bit of peace while they played.

You say you paid 1500+ . We had a week in a 4* villa in Portugal in may £400 pp inc flights.

Op you can get an all inclusive with flights hotel and transfers for family of four in august for £2300 why bother with even camps or cottages in Europe where you’d still spend a lot - esp France!

you may spend £2300 on AI but then not lift a finger or spend a Penny!

With small kids I prefer saving up for an occasional big trip.
then in between, stay home, but do a real staycation. The kind where you actually stay in your house and play tourist in your own city. No packing hassles and no travel expenses. You can spend a few days indulging your children at regional activities.

Yeah I think cottages can be the worst of all worlds with kids this age. Even in the school holidays there are some decent deals to be had at Haven and similar, for those wanting or needing UK breaks.

You having a good time has nothing to do with how OP feels about her vacation yet you are making mean unnecessary posts.

Houses in Brittany tend to be much better value than in south west England.
we’re currently staying in a lovely 4 bed house with pool, walking distance to a sandy beach with water sports. For 2.3k - obviously the crossing is extra, but the same cottage we usually stay in Cornwall was several thousand more!

we booked ours with gites de France. You do need to speak some french to get the most out if it, but Duolingo is your friend…

@Matplotlib I wondered that too after seeing it on another thread, can't see an option to edit.

Oh and it’s been sunny and 23deg all week.

Can you go slightly outside of school holdays I paid £1000 for 3 of us 12 nights abroad in a lovely hotel. So considerably cheaper than your cottage.

I find that UK holidays are consistently expensive with the cost of holiday cottages, entertainment etc

Last year I spent more than you have OP for a midweek break at a Parkdean caravan in August than you have for a week’s accommodation.
So not wanting to be critical, would a weeks holiday in a nice place not be preferable to a fortnight in a cheap place?

On your budget you could probably do Center Parcs - we go at least once a year usually with friends or family and it never fails to keep kids amused in all weathers. I'm looking at the moment at some October deals in Ibiza and you can get quite a lot for your money there at that time of year.

Honestly, do it. The kids feel they're getting super treated. It's all stuff that feels relevant to what they're seeing so extra special. And it saves you so much money. We have even taken drinks in for the kids - so if you know you're gonna end up buying them fruit shoots buy some now and take them and pop one in their bags before an evening show. Just makes sense!

I agree. A low moment was me, toddler on hip, wiping down the kitchen while he ate a cream cake and when asked to help, said "I'm on holiday". I walked out for a good hour

Yanbu. Save up and go abroad for not much more.
I'd rather be at home if it's pissing down.

Not to mention the weather. Holidays in the UK are expensive and you have the added frustration of shit weather. Definitely go abroad.

If its any consolation, I didn't enjoy our Spain holiday much this year and spent an absolute fortune on the 10 day trip in a nice hotel on a two bedroomed suite. Food included was shit and everything felt so grabby. I counted down the days too despite the amazing weather.

Or try and flip it and make the holiday home nothing more than your base and all the things you do during the time away becomes the important / memorable bit.

I absolutely loved Haven holiday as a kid. Loved it!!

It's a proper working class holiday, so not for everyone - but I loved it!

Arcades, swimming, ball pit, Rory the tiger. Stupid shows in the evening. What ever my mother and boyfriend did while I was out playing.... I literally don't know.

We'd go out in the day sometimes to see a Castle or something so you can do more cultured stuff too, but as a child I loved it

Wow we can edit!!!