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.

We took DD to my Mum’s in Northern Ireland for a fortnight this year as funds are tight. Halfway through the holiday a news article came out saying it was the wettest July in NI since 1836 I think it was? Ffs.

Center parcs Europe, Duinrell or a eurocamp style place the last week of august which is cheaper because the European kids have gone back to school. Tesco vouchers for the overnight ferry to Holland or eurotunnel to France.

I'm sorry to make this even worse bit there were 3 weeks of hot, really sunny weather in June. 😫

NI (and probably Scotland is very similar) is just like that though, isn't it. No predictable dry or sunny weather. It's just as likely to rain as not at any time of the year. It's just warmer rain in summer.

If we had good weather, with the Causeway Coast beaches, we'd be overrun by tourists. As it is, they remain pristine and only busy on random hot days.

I think you went too cheap for a nice holiday cottage but I really struggle with holiday cottages in this country in general. I looked up a complex that has come really highly recommended- lovely farm, pool etc. it was over £3.5k for a week for next summer. I still can’t quite get over that as could probably get a room in a proper luxury hotel for a similar price and at least get breakfast included.

There's nothing enjoyable about being on a 'same shit different location' holiday, ever, whether it be UK or abroad.

I used to hate everything about a self catering holiday, especially if camping the cooking, trying to keep things tidy during wet weather, not to mention shit utensils you get, it just made everything seem hard work.

2k all inclusive Turkey for a week in august sounds ambitious- feels like cheap deals are a thing of the past...! @Alwaysanotherwine

I'd definitely look at Eurocamp, we stayed in one in the south of France last year and it was fab and a lot less expensive than the cottage we'd had in the UK the previous year. Brittany Ferries also do deals on accommodation.

I agree with you OP! I was starting to think that I’m a total snob, but nope, just fed up of paying through the nose for tired, dated accommodation!! Think some cottage owners are taking the absolute piss!

YANBU. Since becoming a mum, the last thing I want to do is cook, wash up and worry about cleaning at the end of a holiday. I quite liked a self catering cottage when it was just me and my husband but cooking a nice meal for two with a bottle of wine is different to making something I’d eat at home for fussy eaters. They are no longer romantic holidays where rain doesn’t matter! And the weather is shit here every school holiday!

I’d also go less often but treat myself to somewhere with guaranteed sun, a pool and at least half board catering for me personally.

I'm sorry I'm sure others will disagree I just don't see the value in holidaying in the UK. It's incredibly over priced. Days out in the UK are insanely overpriced and the weather 9 times out of 10 is dogshit.

I'd much rather go even on a cheap holiday to Spain in 2 star hotel. The sunshine makes everything better and everyone happier (if you like the sun that is). Or as you say save up and go less often for a nicer holiday in Europe or further a field :)

I’m a teacher and this happens every time. Colleagues and I are baking in hot classrooms in June and go “Ooh, it’s hot isn’t it? Just a few more weeks until the hols.” The last week or so of summer term comes and it’s like February after our few weeks of summer in June.

YANBU - It’s a must that we stay somewhere much nicer than our home. I would rather have less holidays than staying in accommodation that we are not comfortable in.

I've noticed that too, it's like Loki or someone arranges it.

I don't ever book anything worse than home and enjoy the luxury of a good holiday home or hotel, in the UK or abroad, but yes costly. For my ‘usual’ standard holiday abroad is around the £5,000 for the two of us, just not worth it for a week in the Med.

Looking this year, long haul is much better value and in many cases cheaper for a better standard and at least this offers more experiences and culture.

Loveholidays.com- Look for a term time week away to Spain all inclusive. It’s amazing how cheaply you can find a deal. I bet it will be cheaper than you are paying to holiday in the UK once you’ve allowed for food expense, travel, days out etc.
Pack light summer clothes in a hand luggage bag each. (No extra baggage fees) be flexible with dates and book for early June.
We do this and it’s amazing how reasonable it is.
Bonus is you get the sunny weather, pool for kids, free entertainment and as much food, drinks and ice creams all for free.

Go with family if poss, then they get to spend time with little ones, and you get an extra pair of hands

YANBU. This is why we camp : it’s as cheap as chips and often we can pitch at a Hoeseaons or Haven site for a fraction of the cost. Last year we paid £72 per night x 3 nights, our friends paid £1300 for a cottage on the same site at he same time. If it rains, there are activities to do, camping is a bit of an adventure in itself, and we usually travel within 2 hours of home so if the weather is really bad we pack up and go home. I’d rather all if this than pay more than our monthly mortgage for a one week stay in a cottage that isn’t a patch on home. Every two years with the money we save we go abroad.

Timberho

honestly you can

we just paid £1600 for two adults two teens to zante from Manchester

secionf week august - 2 adults and 2 kids 17&16

self catering appt

flights transfers luggage included with Tui

we could have for all inclusive for not much more but we wanted self catering

if we fancied Kefalonia or smaller island I could have got loads of deals for under £1300

We booked 4 weeks before but literally loads of holidays with Tui

Package holidays are a lot cheaper I find that booking flights etc - I was being quoted £400pp flight only to the med

OP is school staff. No term time holidays.

@ValentinaTheVampire I think two weeks is a long time to be away unless it's a repeat holiday you know you will enjoy. Perhaps look at doing a Monday- Friday break at haven / Butlins next time you holiday in the UK - activities for your DC but less cost due to the shorter time . Probably better to come home wishing you had been somewhere for longer than be stuck somewhere for a fortnight with the rain pissing it down outside .

You could try looking out for a holiday abroad using the Easter, May or October half terms.

YANBU but really sorry to hear most people on this thread have had such a terrible time holidaying in the UK. I'm from Scotland and honestly some of the best holidays I've had have been in this country (and pre kids I loved traveling!). West Coast is stunning and the kids love just exploring. Maybe helps we're very use to the weather so a bit if rain isn't the end of the world. I get the cost element though, although2 weeks in Italy this year and the prices were eye watering. Maybe cut down on the seeing family element and find somewhere you can enjoy exploring together at a leisurely pace.

This is why centre parca was invented, all weather fun for small children, I totally agree with you about crappy weather and finding things to do, Centre parcs is wonderful with small children

I am a real believer that long haul can often work out significantly cheaper - promise I'm not doing this in a snobby mumsnet way (i am bloody skint atm!!) but if you can stump for the flights, a lot of places 4+ hours away end up being so cheap when you get on the ground that you spend about as much as you would have to go to Majorca for 10 nights.

Granted making a very young kid schlep around Mayan ruins or what have you isn't what OP had in mind, so sorry to diverge from the topic at hand 😂