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.

@Fourpawsblack your children do not need an aeroplane holiday.

Hundreds of thousands of children never experience going on a plane until they are an adult.

Do not feel guilty or get yourself into debt for it!

Usually go away the last week of august and have never paid that much. Would usually do b&b and the holiday
including spending money would come in under £3k. We’re Lucky this year that we could go first week of September so could do all inclusive for less. As I said in my first reply I have done Corsica for under £1k and that was in the summer holidays.

year before last we did Kefalonia for £1800 b&b last week of august and very much in the summer holidays. So no need for the sarcastic laughing face. Are you ok?

Greek self catering in the first week of summer holidays. We have 2 kids, but both teens. Think we've paid 3000. My non teacher friends get nicer holidays for half the price we pay, because they can go whenever they want. I also like to be around on gcse and a level days so that limits us.

Poor dh didn't know what he was signing up for when he met me all those years ago. He'd love to go on more holidays, but there's no way we can afford it.

I priced up the 10 day holiday we had in Tenerife in August 2022 - same hotel, same room, same board, same dates - and the price had increased from £6500 to £10500 for August 2025!

I agree TUI very expensive. Look at Love Holidays.

That's the risk you take with trying to have kids though isn't it?

Prices have increased massively. Don't feel the need to go for your children though, are you sure they would enjoy the heat of Spain in August?

We are going to France for two weeks for £2700, for 2 adults and 2 kids at the end of July. Ferry is expensive (£1000) as we are in Ireland so have to take an overnight ferry but we are staying in two separate Air BnB both of which have a private swimming pool. I booked last September, used Tesco club card points and spent a lot of time researching bargains.

Love Holidays tend to include Ryan Air flights. Much cheaper than Tui. People always complain about Ryanair but I’ve flown with them loads and has always been fine but basic. Avoid travelling on a Saturday.

Yep, prices are absolutely bonkers, and I often wonder how (seemingly) everyone else is affording it. My guess is credit cards for many.

However, Tui are expensive.
Try On the Beach, or how about Ryanair/Easyjet/Jet2 flights to some where a bit less popular, and book yourself an apartment.
Poland for eg allegedly has some lovely holiday resorts which are pretty cheap.

I can always find holidays cheaper than that.

i think your issues are the 3 kids, and the fact you are looking at hotels.

Try self catering places.

Some tips to reduce the price. Which you can if you manage your expectations. We are one of those families that are always on holidays. We earn a reasonble wage tbf . But also travel wisely. No 5* resorts or all inclusives. I just love travel.

Sky scanner drops -nearer the time or even for this year have seen some amazing August prices pop up recently for europe and beyond.

Air bnb - with 3 kids you'll have more space and likely cheaper for nicer places. Self catering also saves a fortune.

Eurocamp and similar- mobile homes with quite alot of space. Many have AC and dishwashers. They also offer a blue light card discount i believe. So as a teacher you can access that. Nice sites, with pools, activities and kids clubs.

Travel also in lower peak times. May half term, february half term, easter, October. Usually all cheaper. Especially if you have an inset day you can utilise.

Go away in October instead? That's what we do and we have 4DC.

Well yes but not exactly the point of the thread is it? I’m not debating it’s more expensive with 3 DC I obviously know that.

But there are many 2-3 child families with seemingly normal jobs/mortages/similar lifestyle to us who are able to go on multiple holidays a year and I’m baffled as to how at those prices!

As mentioned by pp, look at Skyscanner.net or Google Flights for your rough dates and see where you can get a good deal. Then look at booking.com for apartments etc. Eurocamp is NOT cheap in the main summer holidays but is certainly worth a look. As also mentioned, end of August in NL can throw up some really good bargains as schools go back. I haven't done a package holiday in 30 years - I do get why people love AI etc but even in Europe there is so much to do and see. Self catering doesn't have to be an exercise in martyrdom either. Go the markets, get a pizza, look for streetfood. Eat out as much as your budget allows. Better than a beige buffet any day.

How about Tunisia? It's cheap and the people are lovely. A 4 star hotel with flights for a week and board can be around 1500£ in August (check out the dates, if you can go end of July it will be cheaper).

I don't know where you are looking but we've managed to go abroad to Spain, Portugal, Greece, Lanzarote etc.. every single year. Most years we pay no more than £1400 for a family of 4 and always in the middle of August

Go on love holidays, select any destination, search for the whole month of August and go from there.

Absolutely no need to pay over 2k for the whole family.

Actually this year we are going somewhere outside Europe and the whole v exciting trip is only £600 for the flights and same for the accomodation!

It's not hard to find cheap holidays for 4 people..

The trick is to make the journey part of the trip. You have a 2 week holiday but only one week is in the resort. I was 4 hours from the port, day one is driving to Portsmouth, over night ferry then you stop in overnight in …. you get the drift

We’re doing the Netherlands at Easter via ferry from hull. We’ve also done the Newcastle crossing too three years ago (our last holiday). It’s a fab country and it’s not far to drive to Germany, Belgium etc. we’re going to the waterpark/theme park at Wassenaar and there’s another one called Efteling.
we’re doing mostly air bnbs and travelling around by bike if that’s your thing!

I hear you, OP. Due to kids’ ages and various personal things we’ve not been on a traditional coastal holiday abroad. Had a look at one this year. Five grand! Just a stupendous amount of money that I don’t understand at all either from the price end (how is that justified - £800 and more per day!) or the affordability end (five grand spare? You must be joking!). But I found cheaper alternatives. Going for an apartment pretty much halved the price. Eurocamp similar.

You dont mention if you considered self catering?
Most people i know do that type of holidays, not the hotel ones.

Agree with this. I didn’t go on a plane until I was an adult and I don’t feel I missed out. The only thing is I’m a bit nervous about flying as I’ve done it so infrequently but I suspect I might be the same had I flown as a child.

Anyway, I would recommend Eurocamp. We did TerSpegelt last summer (we drove and took the Eurotunnel) - it was lovely. Great days out to a theme park (Efteling) and safari park (Beekse Bergen), and a nice time at the lake/pool on the campsite. Thinking about returning this year. Little Clogs Holidays have SO many ideas of places to go in Belgium and the Netherlands, and do an Instagram post every now and then saying when the main Belgian/Dutch school holidays are. May half term and end of August seem good (affordable) times to go.

Tui are expensive now, Jet2 are better, also heard EasyJet are doing more holidays with free child places.

I don't think anyone has picked up on this, but you say you are looking at August 2026? More than a year away? Most of the cheaper options won't even be available yet will they?

Go in May half term and fly from Glasgow or Edinburgh with Ryanair. Book accommodation separately. Some very good deals to be had