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.

i'm definitely more of a DIY/camping in france type but we have done two package holidays with Jet 2, neither was all inclusive though.

I am a bit risk averse and have been stung before when organisnig my own flights when flights have been cancelled and of course that leaves you in the lurch with an expensive accomodation booking! Another time an aibnb cancelled - aaargh.

So that was the reason that we have been away twice with Jet 2, specifically that if some serious shit happens with either the flight or the accomodation its someone else's issue to sort out. That definitely helps reduce my anxiety up to the run up but assumign no disasters I dont think the holidays are any better. They're definitely more expensive!

Not AI but this year we pushed the (financial) boat out to a nice hotel based half board holiday and it was definitely less stressful than our usual holiday and we all enjoyed. But we definitely didnt have the more cultural experience that we've had elsewhere which I regret a bit. It cost £5k in school holidays for four of us, ridiculous tbh.

But flying to Eurocamp won’t work out financially viable with 5 people - it would then be worth having a different type of holiday. Driving is fine but it’s hard getting anywhere hot in less than 12 hours, which is a lot for young children.

Do you fly or drive to France? I love the Eurocamp style holidays, my only grump is I’d like the warmer weather and unless driving to the South of France, I haven’t found it warm enough to fully get my fix!

If you fly, do you have any tips on it being affordable?

Same shit different location, or a week to remember?
I have never felt the same shit different location trope. The different location is the point. It always makes up for anything else just seeing new places and new experiences.

Airports with young children can be a bit of a pain but nothing too bad. Passports is hardly a faff if you already have them.

You can use a company to get a package deal on flights and hotel without paying for AI or other bits if you want to. And you don't have to bring too much. We just did a week for 2 adults and 2 DC aged 9 and 7 with one paid for bag.

I've never done a package holiday as I hate the idea of the rubbish flight times with crappy airlines. Just choose flights you like, a nice hotel, taxi or uber from airport to the hotel and it's not at all stressful. It can also often be cheaper than package and you have a lot more flexibility.

@NikkiPotnick thanks, really helpful!

So an actual package holiday with Jet2, TUI or EasyJet, for example, includes luggage and transfers. All airports have onsite parking that is literally straight out of the airport to collect your car. You walk to it in 1-2 minutes, no need to get a bus to an off site one.

Everyone has different opinions on holidaying with children, and people place different values on holidays. I’d start with thinking about what your kids would enjoy doing and looking at reviews and go from there. In the nicest way possible, unless you go more off-peak, a £4k package holiday in the Summer holidays, for 5 people, is very cheap these days and I’m not sure what kind of standard of hotel and food that would get you. Just saying this as it can be false economy if you end up in a hotel with awful food and then need to pay extra to eat out all the time.

FWIW, my DC is 3 and we holiday abroad 3-4 times a year. We’ve done AI and HB package holidays, city breaks, long haul and short haul. We all have a brilliant time and DC is always asking where and when we’re off on holiday again. I think the best thing is to try and stay relaxed and accept that you’re not going to spend 10 hours a day on a sun lounger drinking cocktails because you have young kids!

You can go on a "package holiday" with Emirates.

I know there's a lot of snobbery around package holidays, or AI, but as they cover anything and everything from city breaks to ski holidays, I find the disdain a bit ridiculous.

Don't pay for one if it's not your thing or you can't afford it, no big deal.

Well you have to cross the border wherever you go out of the UK so no avoiding that! Was eurocamp £1500 all in including ferry, petrol, food etc? If you don’t want to pay £4km for a holiday then don’t, it’s not compulsory!

@TheZanyZebra totally agree. People have such fixed ideas that are decades out of date. Most jet2 holiday packages have daytime flights and include more luggage than you could ever need.

Even if you DIY it's the same flights and still includes enough luggage for a week in the sun unless you insist on taking everything but the kitchen sink with you.

I agree that the cost of flying a larger family is not going compare with driving to France but its likely a case of cost, hot weather, short journey, pick two.

How are your UK holidays so cheap??

We are just looking at AI packages abroad for a family of 5.

Our last UK holiday was £1800 for the 3 bed holiday rental, then easily another £1000 on meals out, snacks, and activities. And that wasn't even expensive accommodation! Plus it rained a lot and wasn't particularly warm.

We are thinking the £5k including flights, transfers, accommodation, activities, swimming, food, snacks etc... isn't that bad! Plus at least it should be warm!

Just to add - to get to the airport this summer I travelled to Stansted via train with a family railcard and taxi to my local train station. It was £30 (plus £8 taxi) for me and my son, so MUCH cheaper than parking, and took 10 minutes longer than driving.

There's a lot of places in the UK you can get a week's holiday accommodation even in summer for change from a grand. Most Havens outside Cornwall, for example. It's obviously at the more budget end of the spectrum but it exists.

There is always the weather issue in the UK though, and to that end I think abroad is easier to budget for. While you can insulate yourself a bit at home by choosing sites with some indoor activities, sometimes you do just get a shit week and you need some contingency in your budget for what you do if the free outdoor stuff just isn't available. AI abroad is usually dearer upfront but you know that spending money on top of that is optional.

The thing you mentioned about baggage and transfers being extra - depends on which company you use. They will be included on Jet2 or Tui if they are using their own flights. It’s when you use a cheaper company like OnTheBeach that they quote cheaper prices because they are using Ryanair or EasyJet at their basic prices.

I think to make it worthwhile you have to look out for the free child places and get an AI so you know you haven’t got any extra expenses on top. Otherwise then it probably works out better value to book things separately and use AirB&B or camp as you’ve done previously.

You mention the faff of airport parking etc and I think it does make a big difference if you have a long travel to your nearest airport. Passport queues will probably be a bit worse this year at European airports due to the new biometric thingy, but that should make it quicker in the long run.

If I had DC your ages and didn’t work in education then I would probably look to travelling part of your holiday in term time.

Jet2 amd TUI don't charge extra for transfer and luggage I'd a package holiday. We go on. 1 luxe AI per year and love it. You get a lot moire for you money in places like Turkey. We normally spend around 5-7k for 8-12 nights for me, DP &DD9

Totally worth it! Our UK holidays have been successful or not depending on the weather, amd when unsuccessful its meant spending money on doing things indoors just like we would at home but without home comforts.

We choose flights (Tui or Jet2) to fit with having kids. I’d choose as early as possible on day 1 and as late as possible on last day, if just me and DH. With kids we organise last day so its basically get up and have breakfast then get transfer for flight, which means getting back to UK at a good time. The benefit for me is that the sort of AI hotels we choose are family hotels where kids are likely to meet similar age kids to play with and we can relax and keep an eye on them. The inclusive food and drinks works for us, and the destinations we choose mean we aren’t gambling on the weather in the same way as we do in UK.

We did package holidays, self catering and all inclusive, when the children were little. We soon learned that we are family that needs space and being confined to one or two hotel rooms is not for us.

We now do AirBnb and book flights separately. I think you get a lot more for your money that way but it depends what works for you.

@Werehalfwaythere to be very honest our son in that age range actually genuinely preferred Eurocamp ( but the bigger full on sites with fantastic pools etc) but all families are different - he liked the space, the meeting other kids from all over , the weird stuff you can get in the site restaurants, the play park areas- we didn’t drive down though - flew and hired a car for the week - I make sure it’s somewhere near a nice town and we ate out virtually every night with a couple of nights of site pizzeria or cafe/bar added in . Even factoring in eating out, supplies back at the mobile home including all drinks, frozen lollies, it was hugely cheaper and for me personally just as enjoyable - you know your family best

@Crikeyalmighty that sounds perfect to me. It’s the cost of the flights that seems to bump the cost up though. I’m not sure it would be any cheaper once you add up 5 people’s flights and luggage. I think I need to block out some time to review our options! 🙂

Out of interest why were your children up at 5am Greek time when that would be 3am UK time? Travelling East works in your favour with young children normally..

Tbh it's the 5 people that makes package holidays even more expensive - we're also a 5. There's just less choice unless you are ok spreading out into 2 rooms. There are not a huge amount of hotels that have rooms for 2 adults and 3 children and often they get snapped up. We love our holidays though, definitely worth it for us. We tend to do an AI then a villa next as I like aspects of both types of holidays, although an AI is more relaxing. It does take some research to make sure you pick a good hotel.

I've done loads of AL holidays. The attraction for me is the weather, having breakfast outside with a nice view and good weather. I love the evenings no cardigan. Kids club is a winner and the sport activities. Waterpark is a winner all onsite.
I like the huge selection of food and not having to budget and plan meals out if I don't want to. The people I've met are lovely too. I've never had any bad holidays tbh.

@Werehalfwaythere well it’s definitely cheaper if you drive down -areas around Royan or La Rochelle are good if you don’t want to drive too far and that way you can get the ferry to Brittany/normandy too which our son enjoyed. Last week in August often good as European schools go back. Before then unless of course you are in Scotland- as Scot’s go back before , I reckon it will be around £2.3k ferry and site and fuel and then maybe £700 or so when you are there with food. So still somewhat cheaper I think but with more space and flexibility to stop , or drive out if you get any shit weather etc and take home comforts in the car

Kids club, entertainment, food available all day, no cooking, no cleaning. Absolute heaven!

We've had two weeks AI the last few years for the 6 of us for less than 6k.

We did our first trip flying when our son was 9 (he is an only child though so probably a lot easier than taking 3, though many do!).

We didn't book a package, we booked the hotel direct (DH family had been before), then flights and sorted own transfers.
I was worried about the faff of it all but it was actually really easy with a bit of careful planning.

We did day before bag drop and fast track security to reduce queuing times. Our flight was 7.30am so we had breakfast in the airport. Would any of this be an option to make it easier?

Obviously every family is different but we booked a place with lots to explore nearby. We love walking/outdoors so booked a place in the Austrian alps. Food at the hotel was amazing so we were well catered for there and could go out every day exploring. Used public transport to get about which worked well.
So, think about what you and the family want and book accordingly!
Consider what your kids eat - I'm lucky that DS eats anything and is adventurous with food so he loved eating the hotel food (local dishes) but if your kids are less keen, book somewhere that caters to their needs.

Basically, do your research according to your family but go for it! Chances are you'll have a great time!

For £4-6k (!!) you could have an incredible holiday. Does it have to be a package holiday? What do you want to do?

I’ve gone to Europe loads of times with dc, never booked a package holiday and never spent close to that.

It’s really not that tricky to organise. We usually just take whatever baggage is included or I’ll book 1-2 carry ons (big rucksack). We usually fly Ryanair or easyJet so don’t take much. Usually just take the local bus or train from the airport to the city centre or get a taxi when we get there, nothing special to arrange. We get an Airbnb and I pretty much never pay more than £100 per night total. If you need 4 bedrooms, you’ll end up paying more, but depends on sleeping arrangements.

I don’t want to be in a resort because beaches and pools and entertainment isn’t really why I go away, so we do have extra costs for days out and food, but it’s not much. We go to the supermarket and have fun trying all sorts of new things. That way we only eat out usually one, sometimes two meals a day. We go off exploring and do lots of markets and gardens and playgrounds and we go to the beach. All that stuff is free. And then we have money to spend on the fun stuff like the aquarium or a water park or a tour. It does not cost anything close to £1000 per person for a week and we have a fantastic time. My 8 year old still talks daily about our trip to Valencia 2 years ago! It was literally the best thing he’s ever done because of all the fruit in the markets and the best playground ever (normal city playground) and all the seafood he ate. 😂

I think package holidays particularly if AI attract people who want to sit around and drink by the pool all day. Fine if that’s your thing, but I want to actually do things and explore and speak the local language and show the kids new things. We have pools and beaches here.