Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday ‘extras’ eating into holiday budget!

232 replies

Revolutioniser · 31/07/2025 21:44

First world problem, I know. And not a surprise either. But still annoying having to pay:

  • £22pp each way to get seats on the plane next to each other
  • £8.50pp each way for a bit of food on the 4hr flight
  • £8 per night AC for the hotel room
  • £8 per night tourist tax
  • £6 to drop us off at the airport for less than two minutes!

£300 of the holiday spends gone already!

Genuinely think it’s this kind of bloody thievery that makes people think the country is ‘broken’.

I don’t begrudge the tourist tax, to be fair. But the rest of it… ARGH!!!

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 04/08/2025 09:20

You lost me with the food. Airline food is hideous, I always think they need to pay me to eat it! I really resent having to eat it when flying long haul. For a 4hr flight, there’s no way I’d consider it let alone pay for it. If you can’t go without food for 4 hours (??) take a snack from home surely?

Bjorkdidit · 04/08/2025 09:27

Love how just about any thread on MN can be turned into a competition as to who can go the longest without food.

What sort of glutton would you have to be to even think about wanting to eat on a flight that's 'only' 4 hours long and that's before we consider the likely couple of hours of travel and airport faffing at either end.

ConnieHeart · 04/08/2025 09:31

HoppingPavlova · 04/08/2025 09:20

You lost me with the food. Airline food is hideous, I always think they need to pay me to eat it! I really resent having to eat it when flying long haul. For a 4hr flight, there’s no way I’d consider it let alone pay for it. If you can’t go without food for 4 hours (??) take a snack from home surely?

I know, my dd (21) is often 'starving' if she doesn't eat every few hours (a bit like me in fact 🤣). She ordered something like chicken terriaki on an easyjet flight. It was half the size of an average ready meal & had around 4 small pieces of dehydrated chicken for the bargain price of £10

whitewineandsun · 04/08/2025 09:32

Bjorkdidit · 04/08/2025 09:27

Love how just about any thread on MN can be turned into a competition as to who can go the longest without food.

What sort of glutton would you have to be to even think about wanting to eat on a flight that's 'only' 4 hours long and that's before we consider the likely couple of hours of travel and airport faffing at either end.

I'm not saying don't eat. I'm saying bring your own or buy from Boots at the airport.

Bumblebee72 · 04/08/2025 09:34

Bjorkdidit · 04/08/2025 09:27

Love how just about any thread on MN can be turned into a competition as to who can go the longest without food.

What sort of glutton would you have to be to even think about wanting to eat on a flight that's 'only' 4 hours long and that's before we consider the likely couple of hours of travel and airport faffing at either end.

Does everyone buy food at the airport and eat it on the plane?

countrygirl99 · 04/08/2025 09:35

I booked a trip to Finland last night. I'm flying Stansted (very convenient airport) to Helsinki. Early flight which means I'll get to Tampere mid afternoon. Return fare £108.80 including a 10kg cabin bag. Haven't chosen a seat because I'm not bothered for a short flight. Out of interest I looked at the price of BA from. Heathrow (much less convenient airport). The cheapest one way flight on my day out was £190 and didn't get into Helsinki until after 11pm. The earliest BA flight that would get me to Tampere late afternoon cost £235 one way - over double the return fare I'm paying. Return would have cost me over £400 minimum at less convenient times. Sure I get a checked bag but I don't need one, I wonder how many passengers on that route do. Not sure it's Ryanair that's the rip off here.

stillhiding1990 · 04/08/2025 09:36

If you can’t go 4 hours without eating then the rest of the holiday will cost a lot too.

MikeRafone · 04/08/2025 09:37
  • £22pp each way to get seats on the plane next to each other
  • £8.50pp each way for a bit of food on the 4hr flight
  • £8 per night AC for the hotel room
  • £8 per night tourist tax
  • £6 to drop us off at the airport for less than two minutes!
don't sit next to each other save £22 each person without allocated seat take your own food on plane - just not yogurt or liquid save £8.50 pp most airports have a carpark further away with a free bus - use this - save £6
MikeRafone · 04/08/2025 09:39

Does everyone buy food at the airport and eat it on the plane?

no, I take my breakfast with me in a pot and buy a coffee

BrendaSmall · 04/08/2025 09:44

Revolutioniser · 31/07/2025 21:44

First world problem, I know. And not a surprise either. But still annoying having to pay:

  • £22pp each way to get seats on the plane next to each other
  • £8.50pp each way for a bit of food on the 4hr flight
  • £8 per night AC for the hotel room
  • £8 per night tourist tax
  • £6 to drop us off at the airport for less than two minutes!

£300 of the holiday spends gone already!

Genuinely think it’s this kind of bloody thievery that makes people think the country is ‘broken’.

I don’t begrudge the tourist tax, to be fair. But the rest of it… ARGH!!!

I don’t class any of that holiday spends!
Holiday spends is what we spend once we’re actually in resort, and we don’t have a set budget to spend, we spend what we want.
I certainly wouldn’t be able to enjoy my holiday if I had a set amount of money to spend!
We don’t know how much excursions or anything else is going to cost so I certainly wouldn’t take a specific amount of money on holiday!

Bumblebee72 · 04/08/2025 09:48

We used to book a flight with an all inclusive price. Then people started booking based on who offered the cheapest base price so everything became an extra. It is still relatively cheaper overall for the flight than it used to be. You just have to factor in the "extras" to your base budget for the cost of the flight.

Cynic17 · 04/08/2025 09:50

I wouldn't expect to pay extra for air con, but everything else is totally predictable and normal. If you're budget is so tight, OP, you will just have to to remember these things for next time.
But, in general, holiday budgets are always exceeded, so whenever you come up with a number, you probably have to double it.

MascaraGirl · 04/08/2025 09:56

OP - holiday extras are nothing new!!!! I add them all up when I book and budget for them as part of the overall holiday

spoonbillstretford · 04/08/2025 10:00

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 31/07/2025 21:49

Sounds a bit like you're booking budget and then complaining about the extras they charge to actually be able to be budget...

Nothing is "budget" about travelling about this time of year.

It's rip off central.

Moveoverdarlin · 04/08/2025 10:01

Just part and parcel of holidays I’m afraid. Everyone knows food on the plane is extortionate and tastes like cardboard at best. Then if kids want a can of coke and Pringles, you need to remortgage.

biedrona · 04/08/2025 10:01

Some of those extras are optional. You can sit separately, take own food, take bus to airport. You do not have to go to Spain where you pay tourist tax. Very odd that you pay extra for AC and at £8 per night, it is dear!

spoonbillstretford · 04/08/2025 10:02

We get food at the airport and take it with us. Not that it's cheap either but it's usually better than the choices on the plane.

Aspanielstolemysanity · 04/08/2025 10:11

Also every airport I know that charges for drop off (outside the big ones where there are buses/train stations there) there are free places to drop off nearby it might just take a couple of minutes of walking

jensondolally · 04/08/2025 10:16

I’m not sure how the charges you’ve listed contribute to the ridiculous “broken Britain” argument.
You’ve booked a budget holiday but are annoyed that you’re getting the budget experience and need to pay more to bump it up!
Paying for AC- would have been in the info about the hotel. I’ve stayed in many a budget hotel where AC is extra and have not had it as I was on an actual budget.
Food on the flight - it really surprises me how many people I see buying the overpriced not-pleasant food on flights these days. Bring sandwiches or a tub of pasta. Bring crisps / biscuits from home. No one is forcing you to pay for it.
Sitting together - again, you’ve chosen a budget flight option or cheaper ticket that by design does not include allocated seating together. The more expensive options do.
Tourist tax - you were ok with this. It’s been a thing in many many places for a long time. It’s just part of the holiday cost.
Drop off at the airport - I agree that’s a total rip off, but again unavoidable.

PinkyFlamingo · 04/08/2025 10:17

BrendaSmall · 04/08/2025 09:44

I don’t class any of that holiday spends!
Holiday spends is what we spend once we’re actually in resort, and we don’t have a set budget to spend, we spend what we want.
I certainly wouldn’t be able to enjoy my holiday if I had a set amount of money to spend!
We don’t know how much excursions or anything else is going to cost so I certainly wouldn’t take a specific amount of money on holiday!

Show quote history

Good for you. Whilst I don't class what the OP is talking about as spends just part of the holiday you are very lucky indeed if you don't have to budget what you can spend on holiday. Or have lots of money generally.

winzom · 04/08/2025 10:21

I've just got one thing to say - I wish the tourist tax in high volume areas was £100 a night. That'd keep all the riff raff away and allow me quiet access without IG ers and loudmouths blocking my view and enjoyment. 😉

As for the rest of the costs, it just has to be factored in, but as others have said there are economies that can be made, and I do a lot of them too.

I think holiday companies should offer a door to door price (for those that want it). An AI version of the package holiday factoring in all costs from the time you leave your front door, with everything paid for as mentioned in OP. Would that work I wonder?

Livinganewadventure · 04/08/2025 10:28

User748937744 · 31/07/2025 21:47

You don't need to buy food for a 4 hour flight.
You can choose free seats and sit together (I've just done this on RyanAir)
What sort of hotel charges for AC per night? That's so weird.

I’m needing to check in to a Ryan Air flight. Did you manage to get seats together checking in 24 hours before the flight or can you check in before without paying for seats? TIA

PigletSanders · 04/08/2025 10:46

Why is a charge for AC (which is unusual and would make me question the quality of the accommodation) in a country abroad a sign of ‘broken Britain’? 😆

BashfulClam · 04/08/2025 10:51

I just count most things as the cost. We choose seats as we like to sit together so we know we’ll need to do that. Yes our airport charges a drop off, unfortunately no other way to get there. It’s a 6minute drive but needs a train then a bus which don’t run at the times we fly. The police also don’t let taxis drop
off before the airport so yes drop off applies but the taxi fare is £8 plus drop off so cheaper than public transport for both of us.

I wouldn’t eat plane food if I can avoid it. You can take snacks and sandwiches/fruit etc from home and either buy water at the airport or take empty drink bottles and fill up at the water stations. I’ve never stayed anywhere that charges for aircon though.

We are going away next month and have already set aside taxi money and we get the lounge for free so can eat in there before take off.

CautiousLurker01 · 04/08/2025 11:08

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 04/08/2025 09:08

I think Pret at the airport could easily cost you £10!

Show quote history

True, but at least I get a choice and won’t have to select from the last two mediocre choices left on the trolley. Not had EasyJet food for a while but last time it was not much of a step up from hospital/British Rail sandwiches from the days or yore. Pret do a mean club sandwich!