To be shocked at the cost of holidays?

[Fourpawsblack]

We haven’t been able to go away for years (pre DC!) due to finances. A falling down house, part time work due to childcare and the cost of living has made for a rough time.

Just started to look at a week away for a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 DC under 6) in Spain for August 2026…£4k was the cheapest I found and that was not a great hotel. It was more like £6k for somewhere with half decent reviews. AIBU to think this is crazy? Is this just what I am looking at?
It would mean saving at least £400 a month for a year to be able to do it which would be very rough.

How are almost all of the kids in my DC classes on holiday every year. Maybe I’m missing a trick. I feel sad for my DC that they should be able to experience going on holiday and can’t. I know it’s a first world problem.

Before anyone brings it up, there’s 0 way we can go at a time not in the school holidays so we are stuck with over inflated pricing. The joys of teaching.

We go un term time. Where I live in Wales, a lot do of people do it. Noone I knownhas been fined. I don't think taking kids out for a 1 week holiday is an issue but mumsnet will say its terrible. It's about a third of the price.

I travel a lot I know how to use a booking site!

Yes although I filter out “nonrefundable” which removes a lot of the cheaper options but it needs to be flexible as dates may shift. Also I tend to reserve a few to hold them then whittle them down to compare properly and make sure they have the necessary basics.

How are almost all of the kids in my DC classes on holiday every year?

Because they have more money than you? Because they put it on a credit card? Because they stay at homes owned by family? Because they go camping / stay in budget accommodation? Because their grandparents pay?

Who knows. But pointless comparing!

https://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/hotelf1-paris-porte-de-chatillon-paris.en-gb.html?aid=1610684&label=paris-jXuzf2cAIJRzw_67P28YJgS380966953577%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-10813131762%3Alp1006565%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YfqnDqqG8nt10AsofPfvtt0&sid=7b016e77347d585a38a29f0357da6213&all_sr_blocks=154996008_93782682_2_2_0&checkin=2025-07-25&checkout=2025-07-27&dest_id=-1456928&dest_type=city&dist=0&group_adults=2&group_children=0&hapos=1&highlighted_blocks=154996008_93782682_2_2_0&hpos=1&matching_block_id=154996008_93782682_2_2_0&no_rooms=1&req_adults=2&req_children=0&room1=A%2CA&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=price&sr_pri_blocks=154996008_93782682_2_2_0__10364&srepoch=1743427185&srpvid=db605db38a8607c0&type=total&ucfs=1&

Ok it is a bit out of the centre but for that price I think it's worth it and it looks quite nice

Well you're doing something wrong, aren't you! I ran another search for 1 person over the weekend of 13- 16 June and got these (not the very cheapest, but representative).

We gave up on foreign two week holidays years ago because of the cost.

We now do mid-week city breaks. Works out cheaper and we can get more days away per year.

How far north are you? If you're in northern England then look at packages out of Edinburgh or Glasgow in the later half of August. They might be cheaper as scottish schools go back around the middle of August. Or if you're in Scotland then head to Manchester or Newcastle airport at the start of the scottish school holidays before England break up.
But yes, it's expensive to go away in school hols!

Sorry, was in a rush. Meant to say she can't go in termtime which is what another poster suggested.

Have you looked into private let’s? Air BnB or owners abroad type of thing? Would keep the cost of your accommodation down loads, and somewhere with a pool for just the 5 of you might be lovely. Means you’d save cash on meals out too, as you can cook at the villa/flat.

We go to the Isle of Wight every year; it’s our happy place. Honestly I recommend it. So much to do - we manage to find somewhere new to visit each time we go - and also some free activities as well as places that cost. Because you take the ferry there it really feels like you’re going away away.

Not sure how it would work price wise but have you looked at Jersey? Or the Scilly Isles?

You are putting a lot of barriers up about travelling which is why you can’t find what you want and what you can afford. The ferry for example go overnight and get a cabin. Or find cheap flights somewhere and then look for an air b n b. Go on a relocation cruise. So many options. Don’t look at popular places go more outside the box don’t think Spain think Albania etc.

Do a cheap camping trip in the UK in the summer- enjoy UK at its best.

Book 1/2 weeks in October you will enjoy and appreciate the weather but you need to go south if Spain or canaries for reliability.

I went TUI to Turkey. Weather was balmy 26 degs but I think we were lucky.

if you want aqua parks then go canaries.

Try easyJet, I just looked at found 2 adults 3 children for £2250 end of August 2026

Try easyJet

Look at October or May half term. Jet2 with a free child place. Self catering. If you book now for next may, you have almost a year to pay it off.

We had our first holiday abroad last year, kids were 11, 13 and 15. We paid £6600 and went to a 4* AI in Tenerife.

I'm sure it can be done cheaper, but not being seasoned travellers we wanted to know everything was booked, it was good reviews, no concerns about kids food or driving to places, figuring out how to books flights etc.

We booked in Jan 2023 for July 2024 and left literally the first day of school holidays for 10 days.

Incidentally I was looking at Haven holidays this year and even that's pricey. 3 bed caravan in Skegness for 4 nights was around £700. Seems lot for 4 nights.

Farm camps in the Netherlands are fantastic!

Our DS starts school in September so also looking at this. Family live in two “holiday” locations, Cornwall and Devon so we use it as a base. Another family member has a massive garden in the countryside so will camp there. Grandparents paying for a Center Parcs 3 night trip this summer. And we will camp (at a campsite) at least once. But annual leave is more my problem, we tend to just do a few nights. The last two times I went abroad was because I had a relative living in the country and they paid for almost everything, including flights.

There are other countries to visit rather than Spain which are more affordable.

This summer we are going to Tunisia- lots of Roman sites, great beaches, all inclusive with a two bedroom apartment in a hotel with private beach and free access to a theme park and a water park was the same price for two weeks holiday as one week in a 4* hotel in the Balearics with two basic interconnected bedrooms and a standard pool.

The cost of excursions etc…. Is also much cheaper too!

Try the eurocamps they look amazing and when I looked at one near Nice Italy in August the last week was £400 for 6 people. Flights would probably be quite expensive though x

Have you read the trip advisor reviews?!? I think you’d have to pay me to stay there!

Thanks all do you! Loads to look at.

It’s my DH who’s a teacher. Theres no way to go in term time at all. He also has to be around for GCSE results.

Ideally I would fly from Newcastle just because 2 of the DC are toddlers and it’s just easier but Edinburgh seems cheaper when I’ve checked.

Considering the Isle of Wight though and maybe breaking the trip up somehow!

Have a look at sun holidays. We have 2 short breaks booked this year, the 1st is in 2 weeks time. A long weekend in Devon - 2 adults, 2 children, 1 dog £250. The 2nd break is October half term, mon - fri again down to Devon for £103! Absolute bargain.
Both caravan holidays, on the coast.

I would love to go abroad but cannot justify spending thousands. Contemplating France next year, going on the ferry and booking an air bnb.
but we may also just do another couple cheap breaks here.

Perhaps have more of a think as to what kind of holiday you and your children would actually enjoy, particularly as you say you already live near the beach, and your children are very young still. Don’t feel you need to head off for an AI holiday in Spain just because that’s what other people are doing. For example, I imagine a European campsite where the weather is nice, there are pools and slides and other children to play with would be more fun than a UK one in the rain.

No I literally did a search and screenshot the first one as an example. It’s not my actual holiday so I was to going to sit here researching for more than a minute. Got mine for £1800 in summer hols but only one child