To feel like I'm being fleeced - glamping

[SaffronYellow]

£1,000 plus, to stay in a TENT for 1 week in Devon?
Some are £1,200 for 1 week.
Just seen one for £1,500 for 1 week.
This is to stay in a bell tent in a field.
To me, these are insane prices!!
AIBU to think over £1,000 to stay in a tent for a week is absurd?
I can't afford to stay in a holiday cottage.
Air BnB prices are out of my price range.
So I thought camping might be an affordable alternative.
I just want to go away for a week in this country in the school summer hols with my 2 DC, I want to give them a week away. Devon is my favourite place, used to go there as a child.
I'm not well enough to take my own tent and put it all up by myself, I've got ME and fibromyalgia and long Covid, so I really need a tent that's already erected and one that has a few more comforts to it than sleeping on an air mattress on the floor.
I thought a tent in a field would be a financially viable way to go away with my DC, who really deserve a week away, but the prices are eye watering and completely unaffordable.
I'm not asking to go abroad anywhere....just a week in my own country! But I'm priced out of this! I can't believe it, feel so sad for DC.😥

I find self catering holidays in the UK are exorbitant prices , even worse during school holidays, price up a small hotel , B&B sometimes they work out cheaper especially if you have a family room , some offer the use of a microwave or a room you can eat a takeway meal in the evening, take some board games you can play in the room it wouldn't be any different to being in a tent, and better if the weather is crap like it normally is during school holiday. The alternative is to look at any offers in the newspapers the Sun /Mirror sometimes have offers on it you collect the vouchers and book. Also if you work for the NHS, the blue light card gives discounts. You need to register online.

Have a look at Trevornick in Cornwall. They have ready tents which are fab. We camped there with small kids for years with our own equipment but went back last year with adult children and rented one of their tents. I’d go back tomorrow.

Try something like this…

https://www.cottages.com/search?adult=2&child=2&infant=0&pets=0&range=3&nights=7&accommodationType=cottages&start=02-08-2024&regionId=21997&regionName=Devon&destinationURL=%2Fengland%2Fdevon&page=1&sort=priceasc

Seriously?? Fuck that 😂

Glamping tents can only be used for realistically 4 months max in the year so prices will always be a little higher to earn enough profit. Plus in a big holiday destination like Devon prices are always going to be higher

I do find when people start a thread like this, I think 'havent you looked properly?'

Or more like 'you havent looked properly have you'

I would love to go on the ferry to France or Spain (preferably Spain) but it would bankrupt us, every now and then I take quick look and am amazed anyojne can afford it

Which ferry are you looking at?

You can do Dover to Calais for about £150 return.

No not that one, that we could afford yes

The other ones, that go further down in France, will have to look at the sites again to remember where

Plus I would love to go to Spain and not only does that cost a fortune but its long too

Plus I think the point of us driving over would be that we could take our bikes and I think you pay extra for that

Spain ferries are horrendously expensive.

We love camping in France. It does take a bit of time to get to where we want to go but well worth it.

We camped for a week near Glastonbury in Somerset on THIS lovely campsite last year, in the middle of August. We brought our own tent but they also have bell tents with one double and two single beds inside for £80 per night. It might be a bit too basic - you have to bring your own cooking equipment - but this is just an example. There will be lots of other options around. Maybe look at the Camping and Caravanning Club website? We used to be members and it can offer you a decent reduction on campsite prices and access to members only campsites. Good luck!

Here's another possibility in Coverack in Cornwall - beautiful area! https://www.coverackcamping.co.uk/celtic-longhouse-pod-tents

have u tried cottages.com ? I'd advise playing around with the dates. some weeks in the school holidays are cheaper than others. also check out holiday camps with static caravans and booking.com. I never go over 700 for a week for the 4 of us and I just keep searching untill I find something. In the future I'd advise to books as far ahead as possible. I normally book 14 months ahead if I can.

Have you tried a simple Travelodge they're quite cosy effective

Have you thought about getting a youth hostel? I always get a private room with my kids. Cheap as chips even in August: https://www.yha.org.uk/

We youth hostel in family rooms & hire caravans

You can go to Dominican Republic with that money all inclusive lol . Honestly the U.K. prices are horrendous , adding bad expensive food , traffic and bad weather , it’s a no go for me

I was pricing up a camping holiday to one of my favourite childhood sites and was shocked at how not cheap it was. They charge per person, not per pitch, so if you’ve got a few kids it’ll really add up. It really felt liked they’d priced out the families who can (usually) only afford to go on camping holiday. It’s just sad.

I mean, the clue is in the name. Camping would definitely be cheaper, but I appreciate that's difficult for you.

It's insane the prices people charge.for glamping, I get you are getting a more comfortable camping experience but some take the biscuit I agree the holiday caravan parks are great for kids and more comfortable for you, and cheaper, you are pushing booking at this time of year though so prices will.be more due to less availability if I want to go away in school holiday time i book a year in advance if possible , try air bnb as well often get camping pods through them at a bit more reasonable price

@gould same 🤣🤣

We stayed in a hotel on Paignton seafront last year in August, booked quite late, £80 per night for a family room with a double and bunk beds. It was surrounded by scaffolding but no work going on, Free parking on site! Bit dusty in communal areas but clean and functional and included a basic breakfast.

We were so pleased we stayed an extra night!

Look at Travelodges and Premier Inns, you must be able to find better deals than £1000 for a tent in the middle of nowhere.....

I’d rather stay at home than go glamping. Never appealed to me, never will.

Genuinely gutted I didn't see this before booking a caravan park nearby!

Caravan is way better than a premier in room though - everyone has their own space and can cook etc, sometimes they have 2 or 3 bathrooms and usually a pool to use too. So don't fret!