AIBU to be thinking about spending so much on a holiday?!(

[Mum2DD]

Looking at booking a holiday for me, DH, DSD and DD. Both kids are getting to the age when, in a few years, unlikely to want to go with us again. I'd like to do one last really memorable holiday somewhere special and a bit luxurious together. I'm looking at something around Oct 2025 half term or Easter 2026 time - I'd be happy to take them out of school for one day at either end of the hols to make it slightly cheaper, but not for a whole week or most of a week.

Been looking at TUI and finding some options for places like Mexico, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, etc. Can find some amazing places with lovely rooms - but nearly comes to about £10k!!

We could technically save and apply for that but wanting to get opinions on:

1. is that a stupid amount to pay for an experience together, even if we'd get amazing shared memories
2. whilst we could technically afford it, it would be at the expense of making improvements to our home (which are sort of needed, but not desperately so - e.g new windows, garden landscaping, etc)
3. does anyone know of a cheaper way of doing an amazing trip rather than TUI / first choice or similar all inclusive?

Xxxxx

Think that sounds about right for that kind of trip - fairly reasonable tbh as prices seem really steep atm even for non long haul hols.
Especially given it's a milestone type holiday if you're all up for it then book it and start planning/getting excited!
Have a brilliant time!

What do you want to do while there? Beach and lounge around? Or see the sights?

Long haul flights will be a big chunk of the cost. If wanting to stay mainly in hotel I'd be thinking I'd get more for my money flying a shorter distance and spend more on hotel and board.

Yes, this is very relevant. If it’s going to be an adventurous holiday where you’re immersing yourselves in the culture and sightseeing then yes, worth it 100%. If you’re going long haul for a beach/poolside holiday then definitely not worth it.

The idea is definitely to go somewhere a bit different and absorb the local culture - hence the plan to go long haul ish! It sounds as though others have found this worthwhile!!

They'd have to be pretty amazing memories made to justify 10k. I think the problem with spending so much is the poor old holiday can never live up to expectations. If it's just about you spending time as a family and with kids that age, who probably just want a pool and a bit of sun, I'd probably just go to Spain.

Long haul flights will be a big chunk of that

you can DIY it a bit by staying in hostels with family rooms but I don’t know if you want to do that with teenage DCs. That would
bring your costs down.

10k sounds right for TUI long haul for 4 at peak times, I’m afraid

You could go to somewhere like Morocco or Egypt where it is different but much cheaper or to Vietnam or Bali where you can get wonderful deals.....

Do it DIY, you will definitely be able to do it cheaper and it will be more fun. Accommodation in places like Thailand and Vietnam are very reasonable and Booking.com makes life very easy.

1. It is a large amount to spend on a single holiday.

1. The home improvements are more important.

1. Any destination can be memorable, if you have a nice time with people you love.

In your shoes - having to save for this, having this holiday instead of home improvements - I would rethink.

What are the home improvements you'll be going without?

How hard do you have to save to get the 10k together? Less take aways and treats or beans on toast under a blanket for 18 months?

I'm all for prioritising holidays (and totally get wanting to make the most of it with the dc). We have spent that much and more, but I think you have to be sensible on how much of a sacrifice you're making to get there.

As other say, sounds about right for long haul. We do these type of holidays every 2-3 years and do staycations (actually staying at home doing day trips locally) in between.

I’d do it. Life is short. Apart from the holiday itself you will all have the anticipation, planning and excitement for over a year before you actually go, which is almost as nice as the holiday itself.

PS you could be wrong about them not wanting to come away with you in the future though - our 20 something dc always keen to come with us.

We are doing a long haul to Canada with 2 kids who now count as adults. One massive holiday as they have only been abroad once.
We're spending 20k inclusive of trips, to Canada.
It means putting off nice to have home improvements but we feel it's worth it as my eldest will be nearly 17 and won't want to holiday with us much longer.
I'd rather spend the money on the memories than a new bathroom.

I wouldn't spend that much and I would DIY rather than all inclusive. We go to India to see family every couple of years, flights are expensive but you can shop around. Usually comes to about £600-700 per person return during peak time. Accommodation in places like Sri Lanka etc should fairly affordable. It may come up to £10k in the end for 2 weeks but that would be including day trips, activities, excursions, renting cars, restaurants etc.

Booked to go to Crete next year for 6 of us + 2 family friends. Flights are £500 per person return and accommodation is about £1000 for all. It's not really long haul, more in between, but definitely looking forward to it!! Funnily enough our flights are with TUI but not the accommodation as the deals through TUI were simply not worth it. Cheaper to find something through booking.com.

It’s all relative. If you can save for it and already have other savings I’d do it. If it’s going to mean using up all your savings I’d say you were mad.

TUI are not the cheapest way to get to Thailand/Sri Lanka. Booking your own flights and accommodation. Intrepid or Audley travel have some itineraries for trips they sell, I look at these for inspiration then work out what I want to do.

We took our late teen dds to France for a week this summer, cost us around £3000 inc food, wine, petrol etc. They both said it was one of the best holidays they’ve ever been on, and we’ve been to NZ, Canada and the Middle East in the past! Personally, I think holidays are what you make of them, and you don’t actually need to spend a fortune if you’re prepared to all get on and use your imagination a bit. We chose a cheap trip this year precisely because essential home improvements were more important to prioritise our money on and I’m so glad we did.

Hmmm holidays are mysterious things. They can surprise you in many ways. Sometimes it’s the ones you spend less on and go a bit ad hoc on that turn out to be the most magical. Just issuing a word of caution because ££££’s does not necessarily = happiest memories/most magical experience

We book through TUI, and you can get Mexico cheaper for sure than 2.5k each (assuming 2 weeks all inclusive). Book on christmas day /boxing day, and sales times. Edited to add that I am very picky about hotels and will go for the nicer places (I guess my version of luxury).

Consider the excursions whilst there for the trip also and to save money go through other places like viator and other reputable ones where you save money and often get more. You could definitely get the trip cheaper and perhaps 8-9k for mexico if you book in a savvy way and do it at the right time. Play about with the different times of year around the school holidays.

Not sure about the other locations personally

Another suggestion would be to write down the things that must be done in the house within that time and also budget for that.

I spent 3 weeks in Thailand - guided tours for 2.5 weeks, wedding for the remainder. It cost c£13k Inc PE seats on the flights. It was fabulous, worth every penny. However, I personally find cruising better value for money, even with buying offsetting credits for the carbon impact. Take a look at cruises from UK or Europe. Go for interconnecting cabins. I'd recommend the Norweigan FFyords or take a trip to USA and maybe add a Bahamas or carribean cruise to it. It'll be less than £10k because unless you're all heavy drinkers, all you pay for is your cruise. I tend to find unless I'm on a cruise where there's something I def want to see, wandering off the ship and exploring yourself is the best thing to do. Take a look at vacationstogo.com

Do you have other savings you won't be touching?

I think £10k sounds about right for a special holiday with teens (we pay nearly £4k for a week in Menorca, holiday prices are horrific), and I'd pay it if it meant less play money. But not if it meant we had no longer term savings in case of a job loss etc.

What a great idea. We only had a few holidays as a child but they are some of my greatest most enduring memories. Whereas new windows can wait.

Maybe start getting soundings from the kids. What dreams and passions do they have. A safari? Boat trips, Disney world even.

I think those prices are about right to be honest!

There usually are cheaper ways of doing it if you book every element yourself, but there’s a lot of hassle in that and if one part doesn’t work out then you have to sort the rest of it yourself IYSWIM.

I feel there’s always something you need to do to a house, and if it’s not something that is going to become urgent in the near future then I’d just enjoy the holiday.

I’ve spent about 8k on holidays this year… a 2 weeks break for 4 mast may (all inclusive 5 star). A week at the same hotel this October half term and a 5 day winter wonderland holiday over Xmas for us all (23-28 dec). So worth the money to make memory’s!! I’d happily spend that on a holiday to go somewhere exotic!! Have to wait a bit as my
youngest is only 5 and wouldn’t appreciate the culture yet. By the time he will, his older sister will be in her 20s so probably wanting to do her own thing!! Book it!! I would!

I think you’ll find it much much cheaper if you diy and book it all individually yourself. TUI etc are extortionate and i have no idea how people use them.
for example DH and I DIY’ed Miami after Easter £400 pp flight from Manchester (cheaper than london), air bnb apartment - £700. Ubers from the airport. Sure we are out a lot, but had the extra for that and this allowed us to explore rather than being sat in and AI.

i do sit for weeks scouring cheapest flight and try to fly Wednesdays as I find it cheaper. I use Google flight alerts for price drops.