What is your summer holiday budget versus household income?

[GreatWhiteWail]

DH and I are not aligned on what our holiday budget should be. Because of covid and having young children we haven't previously gone on a (scottish-) school-holiday-time family holiday to a resort. When it was just DH and I we did more city-break type holidays (and even though we went to nice hotels, it didn't cost that much). We have never done a 'week in the sun with a beach/pool' type holidays so have no frame of reference. I'm talking about just a European resort for 1 week plus flights for 4.

I know there will be outliers as some people have no mortgage or childcare costs etc and will spend a lot more than is typical. but I'd be interested to know what's normal for different family incomes.

Is £5k for a holiday for 2 adults and 2 children a 'reasonable' budget? We each earn approx £60k. DH says people earning this would spend much more than that. I am uncomfortable with £5k, as although we can afford it, it seems so much money to just spend (rather than save or spend on the house etc).

Apologies for the nosiness, I don't want to ask friends as although I really want to know if this is normal, it would be rude to ask what they earn!

i spend far to Much on holidays and day trips
around 10-12 k a year

54k a year income 🙈😂
it’s a priority for us though.

They really do

https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/bookaccommodation?productCode=030164&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=2&childrenAge=3,5&duration=7&flexibleDays=3&airports%5B%5D=MAN&flexibility=true&noOfSeniors=0&when=27-05-2026&pkg=4407694953/3/877/7&tra_o=6194329665/6781146&tra_i=6194329728/6781147&units%5B%5D=003546:RESORT&packageId=030164TUDL007317798400000001779840000000TOM23617805312000001780531200000TOM237F1B014407694953/3/877/7&index=2&multiSelect=true&brandType=T&bb=AI&room=&isVilla=false&searchType=search&durationCode=7115&rmpc=1%7C2%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C5%2C3&rmtp=F1B01&rmbb=AI&fc=y&greatDealDiscount=0&bb=AI&price=pp

that holiday is just shy of £3k now but it was up last minute for shy of £2300 so that’s £700 cheaper

this hotel
https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/bookaccommodation?productCode=038790&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=2&childrenAge=3,5&duration=7&flexibleDays=3&airports%5B%5D=MAN&flexibility=true&noOfSeniors=0&when=25-05-2026&pkg=1091440158/3/875/7&tra_o=6193962996/6663109&tra_i=6193978459/6663110&units%5B%5D=038790:HOTEL&packageId=038790TUAN019017796672000001779667200000TOM57417803584000001780358400000TOM575DD011091440158/3/875/7&index=25&multiSelect=true&brandType=T&bb=AI&room=&isVilla=false&searchType=search&finPos=25&price=pp&durationCode=7115

was £3k so that’s £1300 cheaper (these are just examples that I remember looking at)

Earn apx 100k between us and spending apx 3-4 k this year including spending money. This includes a foreign holiday in August and a uk holiday albeit uk one is just travel/ spends as family paying for accommodation

We have spent about 9k on holidays (inc. spending money) this year. Our household income is about 77k.

It sounds like your dh thinks life is for living now make memories while you can. The mortgage has been accounted for anyway why not sit down with a travel agent I’m sure you would get a holiday for 5k. It doesn’t have to be every year does it but you might pay more to the mortgage and the kids might look back and think I never had holidays you need to decide what is your priority. I think holidays can be good family time away recharge. No usual mundane things to do.

I agree with your husband. We earn 60k combined and spend about 5k on holidays yearly with 3 kids.

I try and keep the budget as low as possible. Never more than 1k for everything (gifts, food, days out). Dc are now young adults, I buy for around 8 other people but buy things during the year if I see something they will like.

Sorry wrong post ignore 🤣

180k gross income. 7k on 1 week in Europe for 4 in summer, long weekend in Amsterdam for me and DH and cottage in UK for a week for me, DH and dog. Another 1k on hotels and airbnb visiting kids at uni.

7.5% of our gross income, which I’m comfortable with as we also have savings etc.

About 4k including spending money hh income around £105k before tax

We both earn £70k and spend £6k a year on holidays (save £500/month for them) and I would not spend that on one week abroad. We split the holiday money between a longer summer trip (UK), several weekends away, a week during half term etc but we like camping so that makes it easy to do lots of trips as the cost is low. We also don't eat out much. Have you looked at Eurocamp? We got a great deal when we went and the mobile home thing was comfy and all the facilities (swimming pool, tennis, playparks, mini golf etc) were great

We have probably spent something like 15 - 20k euros on travel this year. I am a bit shocked adding it up. However, we do prioritise it over other things. Don't have small children or need to take them with us.

F

You do realise that spending keeps the economy going, provides jobs, puts money into local economies in the countries visited. I can give to charity and also spend on holidays.

It varies massively for us. Some years we have spent £300. So it really can be anything from less than 1%, and we wouldn’t rule out 10% of our budget for a trip of a lifetime.

This year we have spent more than usual at £7k. That has included staying at the main Disneyland Hotel in Paris, two separate week long package holidays in the Mediterranean (7 nights each time). Plus various UK breaks, including city breaks and seaside.

Next year we are likely spending between £3-4k. That will include a week in Paris, including 4 days onsite at Disneyland. Plus several UK resorts including Butlins, Center Parcs and Haven (including a week in the summer). We will also do a few mini breaks alongside this.

For the most part we are restricted to school holidays, due to being a family of 4 with two school aged children.

yes same. -we pay a lot less but we are in our 50s too

we are very blessed becasue my mum lived in Tuscany and has now died and left me and my sister her apartment.

it has meant we have had cheap holidays as we have only had to pay for flights and food/excusrsion and car hire

I mean it still all adds up!

we have als Odeon trips to the US and they have cost a lot - mostly road trips. we stay in cheap hotels or camping but it is still a lot

Household income is extremely low in comparison to a lot on this thread, but I’m mortgage free and only one adult child. Total spend on 2-3 holidays, plus several small festivals/camping weekends is usually around £1000, £1500 if we go abroad (usually driving to Europe and staying in Eurocamp type places). Thankfully, I like self catering caravan holidays!

My mortgage is similar, but will need to increase this to pay off by the time I’m 70, household income £50k (pt), but after bills no way could I afford £5k for a summer holiday!

Oh - single parent with a young child, which obviously makes a difference

5k for four of us to go to Thailand for two weeks (flights, transfers, accommodation on B&B basis). Then spending money while you are there. Household income is about £160,000, but before tax but actual take home <£115,000. Depends what your outgoings are too, doesn't it?

We spend £10k a year. Income £200kish. We like holidays but we spread our budget. Our youngest is only 4 so we don’t bother with anything too luxurious or long haul just yet. Also we have food allergies to contend with so mainly opt for self-catering.

Approx £5k for two weeks in summer but this will be a ferry to France, campsites etc.
£2.5k February halt term winter sun
£1.5k May half term either uk cottage or Europe mini break,
free - Family holiday home on uk coast at say Easter and a week in summer
£1-2k on music festival, glamping weekends with friends, short hotel breaks etc.

Are income is similar maybe a bit less. We spend 2-3k half board in Europe plus about max £500 spending money for trips and extras for 4 of us (kids 4 and 8). but we often go twice

Household income £220k, 1DC

Europe/UK trips are poor value for money these days so we are travelling to explore South America more (Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador). Better value for money per £ these days. Spend about £15k/year on 3 trips.