To wonder if package holidays are worth it?

[Werehalfwaythere]

We have 3 young children (aged 4-8) and we’ve had lots of UK holidays and Eurocamp trips but no package holidays yet. Having grown up with holidays abroad and flying, I’m keen to organise a holiday for my kids to experience it but the costs are high and I’m wondering, is it really worth it?

It’s not just the cost (although I can’t believe how much baggage and transfers now cost, they used to be included!). In my mind, it’s also the faff of passports, airport parking, insurance, not being able to take creature comforts for the kids, the fear of same shit different place tantrums, over tiredness of kids and me!

If it were free, I’d jump to take them, but for £4-6k for 5 people for a week, I’m wondering… Is it really worth it?

I’d be interested to know if I’m just tight and anxious or if others feel similarly?

For those who love package holidays with young kids, can you sell me what you love about it? Did the kids absolutely love it?!

I don’t want my kids to miss out, and technically can afford it. I’m thinking of planning a good one for 2027 when they’ll be slightly older and I’ll have two years to save to go somewhere decent.

It really depends on your family really

Will the dc happily eat at the hotel? Different foods might cause issues

Flying? Are they likely to be nervous, disruptive, such etc

Will it actually be a break for you? Good kids clubs you can send them to?

Do you mean an AI holiday? Because a package holiday could be a lot of things, AI big hotel, SC apartment or even a villa holiday can be a package.

We do book packages with our kids now (used to do it all ourselves before kids) as I just find it easier. Jet2 is our go to and we've done quite a few different types of holidays with them, never had a ln issue. Transfers are included although we normally upgrade to a private transfer which is only about another £100 (for 5 of us).

Agree, you need to distinguish between the two. It's possible to do an AI resort holiday by booking the elements separately, it's also possible to do a package holiday to self catering accommodation.

It sounds like what you're actually asking about is resort holidays. We like them. Others don't. Really you can only know if you try. If you want to go with a cheaper option first, the shoulder season is your friend. There's also a huge variety in resort options. Do you want to be in a buzzy town in the middle of the action, in which case you may have to compromise on facilities. Alternatively, you may wish to be further out and have a waterpark on site.

I'd also say that if yours are going to like them, 2027 is probably hitting the sweet spot of when they'll work best due to the kids ages.

Yes, what is it that you want them to experience?

Flying? An all inclusive spend time by the pool holiday? You can fly without going for a week in an AI resort so don't do it if you don't think its right for your family. You could go on a city break or somewhere like Lalandia in Denmark, EuroDisney or Lake Garda.

You say you've already had Eurocamp holidays so you'll already have passports and need travel insurance for any foreign holiday wherever stay.

Transfers don't need to be expensive and if its AI you're wanting rather than booking a package, which isn't necessarily the same thing, you can often just go on the normal bus for next to nothing. That's what we normally do in Spain, Balearics or Canaries.

Baggage and transfers are included if you use the likes of Tui or Jet2. Not if you use On The Beach and the like.

Agree on transfers. Package holidays often include them (EJ, Tui, Jet2) but you can also DIY cheaply if you pick somewhere with a normal bus and/or close to the airport. So for example there are several towns with lots of resorts within about 15 miles of Malaga Airport.

Oh and there are also resorts that have apartments, often with some catering facilities. So if it would suit your family more, you could consider a larger space with the ability to cook more of your own meals, but with access to resort amenities like pool, kids club and entertainment.

Thanks everyone. So I was thinking AI but that’s a good point that there are lots of options. AI would work well for us I think as we all love food.

I guess I meant, for those who have forked out, how did you feel after? That it was well worth it? Or it was just ok? Same shit different location, or a week to remember?

With the costs so high - does it still feel worth it?

We go to some lovely AI hotels for not much ££ and I'm a total Hyacinth Bucket...

May or October half term rather than summer holiday... Book flights and accommodation separately as always cheaper... Set up alerts on Google flights for routes you're interested in, we often get flights for 4 with bags for around £600/700... Hire a car when there so you don't need transfer, also you're not stuck in the resort and can visit local towns/beaches...

Kids love them as can have as many mocktails and waterslides as they like, we use them a base for exploring the area. Some have fab food and as I love a few wines on holiday we definitely get VfM!!

We've just come back from our first package holiday with DD6 and DD1 (we usually go to my parents who live in Spain, so not their first time abroad).

And yes, for us it was worth it. Crucially though we only went for 5 nights, I don't think any longer would've added anything to the holiday.

It is ultimately same shit, different place but the relaxation of not having to decide where to eat, how to get to the hotel, what we're doing that day (barring pool or beach) meant a proper relaxing holiday for us. It also helps that DH and I enjoy playing in the pool with the kids, we're all water babies.

I suppose it doesn't help you OP that we're used to going abroad at least once a year to see my parents so don't find the whole flying thing particularly difficult but parking is easy, just get it booked. Insurance you'd have for Eurocamp anyway and baggage allowance is quite generous through the package companies (e.g. Jet2 is 22kg per person) so some creature comforts can be taken (we limit DD6 to 2 bedtime teddies for example).

We allow DD6 as much screen time as she wants on the flight, we download lots of films on her tablet and away she goes.

the faff of passports, airport parking, insurance, not being able to take creature comforts for the kids

that's flying abroad, literally nothing to do with AI or package holidays.

And yes, in my books, travelling and taking your kids on holidays since pretty much birth IS worth it. You just pick the kind of holiday you like. I prefer flying than driving, even with kids.

In my mind, it’s also the faff of passports, airport parking, insurance, not being able to take creature comforts for the kids, the fear of same shit different place tantrums, over tiredness of kids and me!
Wouldn't most, if not all, of these apply regardless of type of holiday?

Depends whether you will enjoy it, and remember there’s still different price points - there’s free child places, tui for instance includes luggage and transfers. Varies so much

We did one as part of a wider family holiday last year. Went in May - took 2 days off school to fit in with family - they went a few days earlier as was cheaper. It was a lovely resort. Proper 5 star with amazing facilities in Turkey. Cost for 2 adults and one 12 year old was about 3.5k for a week. I paid it off monthly. That included transfers and luggage.

I wouldn't do it every time because we like to do stuff on holiday and see new places, culture, and we love a theme park. But it was nice.
Only ball ache was the flight - considered short haul but still over three hours on a little plane.

I might consider it again because you don't have to worry about a thing when you're out there. But I was just surrounded by holiday makers - some of which were questionable!

I think these holidays are as expensive as you make them. We always book a hotel near the airport and get a taxi for a few euros, we go for 4 days rather than a week and we take hand luggage and have never had a problem. Last holiday was Fergus waterpark, all inclusive for 4 days, 4 people in July. £1300.

Do you not need passports and insurance for Eurocamp??
I think you're over thinking it tbh.

Oh yes, but our UK holidays usually cost £1500 max. So I can justify it. And no insurance or expensive parking and transfers etc.

Also we have always had our large car, so we can take the things that make life easier (snacks kids like, plenty of clothes, scooters etc). It just feels easier I guess.

Juggling 3 kids at 10pm at night after a flight to find our car parked a 30min bus trip away sounds like a nightmare, for example.

Would love to take them on a plane and a week on the beach though!

For us, with kids at the age yours will be in 2027 the same shit, different location phase had passed. But then this was also true of UK holidays. I tend to associate that more with younger children.

I've never done one that I didn't think was worth it, but we usually go in May and spend similar to what people seem to for Eurocamp in summer. I also book very carefully, research, make sure to check which is the cheapest provider for any given break. Sometimes one provider is charging a grand more than another for the same holiday.

Yes and it was faff. Well, the most stressful bit was the border crossing at Calais to be honest which wouldn’t apply.

I probably am other-thinking it - but £4k plus is a lot of money so that’s probably why I’m wondering if it’s truly worth it. If it cost the £1500 Eurocamp cost, I wouldn’t think twice.

That costs seems quite high (I know it depends what sort of hotel, if you're doing AI, when you're going etc). Lots of them include luggage and transfers, so you can save if you spend ages looking for the best deal.
For me, the problem is most package holidays are non-refundable, and with life/jobs/kid sickness, family caring etc, I don't like the fact that I could lose all the money. With (most) holidays booked in this country, you can cancel close to the date, and not need to pay transport in asdnace. Sure, the weather's less likely to be good, but it's not guaranteed anywhere, and you save 2 days of leave not being in the airport, so until the kids are older, I prefer here to packages.
If anyone knows of any package holidays abroad I could cancel nearer the date without losing all my money (I totally respect it's not reasonable to expect it all back if I have a family emergency with someone I care for), I would be grateful to hear. Thanks in advance.

If you like to take a lot of luggage, you're better off going with Tui, Jet2 or Easyjet where you get 22kg allowance per person rather than something like Love Holidays or On The Beach where you build it yourself and luggage isn't included. Plenty of room for snacks and clothes. Scooters might be pushing it, but you could pick somewhere that offers them to hire?

Thanks that’s reassuring. Do you have any advice on good places to travel in May, weather wise? Would want reliable beach weather.

I think it depends on what you want

last year we went all inclusive to Tenerife in October hols. Kids 7 and 9. They absolutely loved it. DH and I were slightly losing the will by the end of the week because there wasn’t a huge amount outside the hotel. But for a no stress, pool and beach trip it was very easy. And for our first holiday of that type (always just visited family before) it went really well.

This year we went half board to a different resort with more around it. Buffet breakfast daily and then we could either have lunch or dinner buffet. So we alternated with some lovely local restaurants and some lunches out. Think the kids would’ve been happy with buffet for every meal, but DH and I preferred it. We had to pay for drinks, but we just had a glass of wine/beer with dinner and then bought some wine in the supermarket and sat on our balcony once kids settled. Kids did a bit of time in kids club but mostly happy with us in pool and at beach as they are a bit older now anyway so easier to manage.

Transfers and that super easy and all included with jet 2 and loads of luggage allowance. It was very low stress

We go to Portugal because there's no time difference. Our 3 are really affected by even an hour. Geece is 2 hours which was hell. They were up and ready for the day before 5 local time.

ETA we also go at Easter or May half term as they melt in anything over 21 degrees even at home.

Well if you want to spend a week on a beach you could always stay in a Eurocamp type place or SC accommodation in Spain or Portugal.

If you're worried about flight times, pick ones that land in the daytime. We're off to Lanzarote soon, on the way out the flight goes at 10 am and lands at 2 pm, on the way back it's in the afternoon, you don't need to arrive at 10 pm unless you choose to, you seem to be put off by a load of factors that can be avoided. Granted taking scooters on a plane won't be practical but you'll be able to buy some beach toys when you get there.

Assuming you want to stay fairly local, I think everywhere in Europe has some risk of a cool day that time of year, but we've only ever had one max per holiday and usually not even that. Southern Spain probably a good choice to start with if they're not used to flying, or perhaps Mallorca. The pools will be colder at that time of year, but the sea water is plenty warm enough if you're used to UK summers. Cyprus would probably have the most reliable weather then (I've not been) but it is a longer flight and you lose 2 hours due to the clocks so there's that. Some people also go to North Africa then but I have no experience of that.

There's sites like Weather Underground where you can get a look at the weather on a particular day for the last few decades.