The standard of lost cost holidays is appalling but there’s very limited options

[AsproutdeserveslifenotjustChristmas]

I know term time holidays will always be expensive for what they are, but I feel people on a budget are hit worst than ever as the squeezed middle classes are now “downgrading” their holidays to cheaper options, thus helping the price creep up. And of course everything is more expensive, food, staff wages.

I can’t tell you how many people wearing crew clothing and having children called Rafferty I’ve seen at Butlin’s this week! Unless you are in the premium lodges then you are literally staying in a dirty out of date shacks to get a break away somewhere, despite both of us being full time workers.

I've never been to a Butlins but I'd expect the quality of accommodation to be cheap, basic and dated based on their reputation.

It should be clean and hygienic though as an absolute minimum.

So what are you saying? That those who you perceive could afford better should stay away from Butlins to leave it for the truly poor? It's simple market forces and no ones "fault" as such. If they are there it's because that is what is now affordable for them..or does "Rafferty" not deserve a holiday by dint of his "posh,"name?

Also.."the wealthy" remove their kids from state school, freeing up places and resources for the less wealthy. But this apparently is a vile and unethical practice and it's right they should be banged with an additional expense of 20% but if they "push in" to Butlins then they're wrong too?

The cost of holidays is appalling. Full stop.

My search on Tui for us 6 brought back an £88k holiday for Turkey.

yes , that’s right. One week. August. Turkey. 6 people. Tui. £88k.

ps. I’d rather die than go to Butlins OP so you don’t need to worry about me making the price increase!

I disagree. There’s lots of fab places to stay that don’t charge the earth. Air bnb? I have a 3 bed holiday let and we only charge £100 a night, not a grand palace but definitely not a ‘dirty shack’ heaven forbid! Beautiful location, lovely beach walks and countryside all around. There’s so many places like this if you look around. And we don’t mind what your name is 😅

Try a smaller, independent site - with Butlins you are paying a lot for entertainment and facilities but really, you don't need all that to enjoy a holiday; you might as well stay at home and watch telly as watch some C-lister on stage.

88k 🤣

Honestly , who are the people with £88k to spend on a holiday that book one week AI with TUI to Turkey??? I need to know?!?

@Lilysienna1

Are you sure you aren't at Pontins?! I've stayed in a silver apartment at Butlins Skegness and it was fine. There was a fight in the swimming pool rapids but everything was clean and tidy.

I don't mind admitting that we are skint , especially in mumsnet terms.
However there are options for cheap breaks . YHA is great , yes the accommodation is a hostel but they are in lovely locations and popular with families and a broad range of other people. Always civilised and welcoming, although not posh obviously.
Am also a fan of John Fowler holiday parks. Friendly small, cheap out of season.

I did Butlins when my children were young. They loved it but it is not my idea of a holiday. But it has its charms for little ones 😊

There was a fight in the swimming pool rapids but everything was clean and tidy.

😂Such a British description of a holiday!

@Youcannotbeseriousreally I went to Egypt in the summer holidays last year. AI with Tui for a week. 3 of us was about 3k where on earth are you getting 88k? I'm not saying 3k is cheap but it's not beyond the realms of possibility for an average family (im a SP, work full time). I can't do it every year but maybe every 2/3. A holiday is a luxury, especially a foreign one and there are options in the UK that especially for younger children are perfectly fine. They just want a beach, a playground, ice cream, games of cricket, maybe a zoo visit ot boat trip. Agree that Butlins is definitely not worth it.

Butlins is great for children, loads of constant entertainment, very safe feeling, great swimming pool. The hotels at Bognor are lovely. Great idea for any family whatever their "class".

£100 a night is still £700 for a week, before I’ve even paid for food and entertainment! I’ve previously booked Butlins for half of that, and breakfast, dinner and entertainment was included…

I swear. Our budget for 6 is about £6k. But there was £13k, 30 odd and then £88k. I just searched the end of August for 6 people in one room. I was astounded.

So very selfless...... 😂

I can afford an expensive holiday. However my children love Butlins!

For a lot of people, £100 a night is a huge amount of money especially as you need to add on food costs and travelling to and from the property.
I am not criticising your pricing btw but it's not cheap.

@SushiAndRamen no not at all. My kids are in private to get them away from the relentless bullying they faced and I'm v v tight for money as a result. I'm not saying private parents altruistically remove their kids to free up places but that IS one result of them doing so..but as the countless threads on the subject show, they are only ever castigated and insulted on here..and according to the OP now also "stealing" holidays 🙄. But I don't want to derail. Holidays, yes v expensive luxuries and as with everything in a capitalist society, some can and some can't.

If it’s any help OP I book my holidays on hoseasons and split the cost over a year (I book a year in advance) I’ve always found them lovely and have been able to upgrade to nicer accommodation when the cost is spread out, family of 5 as well.

Can you send me a list of acceptable places kids named Rafferty can go on holiday? We definitely aren't rich and I don't wear crew clothing, but be good to know where it is acceptable for him to go.... That being said he would be at Butlins on his own, my idea of hell on earth. We have been on lots of budget holidays so my Rafferty could maybe send you a few tips on better value holidays only downside you may still come across kids called Rafferty that way though which may not make you think they are actually good value.. 😬

I think £100 a night for a 3 bed holiday let is pretty cheap when you break it down for accommodation per person per night. And I'm not exactly Fancy Pants Rich McGee.

Oh give over, they’re not “freeing up” places for the poor, they’re making absolute sure that precious darlings don’t have to rub up against the chavs and riff raff. 🙄

I have a rafferty too. Don’t worry OP, we definitely won’t be at a butlins any time soon. It’s all yours. I’m a single mum though so you’d definitely look down on me. But I’m totally fine with that too. Also no idea what ‘crew clothing’ is.

Holidays are expensive but sometimes I wonder where people are looking. A friend commented the other day that she couldn't find 'anything decent' less than £6k for a week abroad in October for her family of 4. A quick search on Jet2 and I can find decent looking holidays for less than half that.