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.

Absolutely for us! Several times a year.. but we only have one child (7) and he's pretty chilled

@BoarBrush that does sound like heaven! But £6000 seems like loads to me. In my mind, that’s a new car if mine packs up, almost a full bathroom remodel, it’s food for the whole year. We have the disposable cash but it just seems like a lot for something that’s over so quickly.

I wonder if I’m just stuck in the past though and need to cough up. I would absolutely LOVE a beach holiday in the sun ☀️

@winterbluess totally my fault for having three kids 😂 I think if we had just three people to pay for (assuming you can holiday somewhere nice for £2-3k) I’d do it. Good for you, I hope you have lots of lovely memories

@MiddleAgedDread haha I realise it’s not compulsory, it would be a bit strange to think it was!

It’s a shame holidays are so expensive, prohibitively for most I’d say from the costs I’ve seen.

Like anything else with small children you can make life easier by throwing money at the issue.
We always took ours on beach holidays abroad from an early age( as well as UK holidays).
We also took my parents when DC were toddlers so four adults to help.
We booked a two bedroom apartment on a resort so the children could have a separate bedroom.
When they were a little older we did AI which was perfect from age 7 to mid teens.
You can book flights, transfer and accommodation separately or you can book a package with someone like Jet2 or TUI. It's not always cheaper either way but I find packages are generally cheaper than booking direct. That may be because I want a local airport and a civilised flight time.
All is made more difficult by having a long journey to the UK airport or flying at 6am or 10pm for example.

We really enjoyed all inclusive packages when the kids were little ,up to mid teens to be honest , there was plenty to do and we didn’t have to worry about a food and drinks budget . We particularly loved going to turkey with them as they really catered for families and the staff were wonderful with the children . We did go out and explore the areas and ate out and the kids were welcomed and made a fuss of everywhere we went . Our all time favourite was Paloma Grida village close to Antalya, they had the Polly kids club and children had an early open dining room just for them if you wanted to eat earlier then the main evening restaurant . The water park was fab for little ones and the food was plentiful and varied .

You need to decide what is important in life.

What are kids going to remember - what car you drive or a family holiday?

OK, so as 10 year old me I remember my dad had a Ford Mondeo, but I can remember in vivid detail the holiday we took in Sardinia that year, the hot sand, the sea urchin I stood on, the lizards in the grass, the food, the people that tried selling you things on the beach etc...

And the bathroom? Well it had a shower, toilet, sink and a bath like any other bathroom... colour? Er... possibly a beige suite. Dunno.

I tend to buy flights and accommodation separately as this works out much cheaper, I also don’t overpack - you don’t need a whole suitcase each especially as it’s light summer wear rather than the jumpers and coats needed for uk holidays just in case the weather turns.
AI, SC, aparthotels, villas all bring something different to the table and you won’t know which is best until you have tried some, we did SC when children were small then AI when they became bottomless pit teens, now we are back to SC mostly

Costs do vary depending on who you go with though, Jet2 for example includes transfers and luggage and doesn’t have to cost £5k upwards, have a good luck around before deciding, it is true you’re not going to get an all inclusive for the same price as eurocamp but they’re not really the same kinds ofholiday

I honestly think you are over thinking it.
We took our kids (5 & 7) at the time on an AI holiday last year for the first time, and have just returned from our second a couple of days ago. I'll admit, the first time I over thought everything... what to pack, what will the kids eat, will they like flying etc etc
Kids have ways of surprising us, they were perfect on the 4+ hr flights each time.

I would recommend Jet 2. The app is easy to use and has all the info you need on it. The planes feel spacious compared with some others I've been on. I find the prices of everything quite reasonable too. (3 children rather than 2 like us obviously will be more expensive but you shpuld het one free child place). I factor in picking seats together into the price range im looking.

Mumsnet can be quite snooty when discussing AI package holidays but I dont know why! Kids get to try different foods, they have various facilities and are generally in locations where you can explore as little or as much as you want.

OP, EJ and Jet 2 are both out for 2027 holidays now, and the latter have a sale. Have you checked out either website? If not, I'd have a look now and see what's available. You'll usually get better prices if you're able to take a couple of days outside the school holidays. Then you'll have more idea where things are at financially.

Yeah 2 extra definitely adds on a lot! Plus a lot more to handle while away 😬

@NikkiPotnick that’s really helpful, thank you!

I dunno, I must be weird but I can barely remember any of the holidays I had as a child, but then again I barely remember my childhood at all.

Youre right that the kids would choose a holiday over the other stuff, but they’d also choose £6k of plastic toot over food. My money is hard earned (like most people) and I’m struggling to comprehend spending that kind of money on 1 or 2 weeks in the sun.

BUT I also would love a package holiday in the sun!

Im going to take people’s advice and check out Jet2.

Maybe we've been lucky but every package we've been on has been fab! Do your research well, transfer times, reviews etc. Sunshine, a nice hotel/apartment, pools, variety of food, shows, exploring. They cater to families xx

We had our first family holiday abroad and AI this year (two kids 5 & 7). It was £3700 - in August as I can’t take time off in term time - but I’d definitely suggest this as a cheaper option if you could?

We loved it - the kids were happy all day in the resort swimming and with the evening entertainment. I loved guaranteed sun (which unlike uk breaks meant we weren’t spending our unexpectedly as the weather was rubbish and we needed something to do). I was also worried it wouldn’t feel like a break which is why we did AI and it was great - we weren’t cooking or cleaning and just had relaxed family time. I’ve decided it is a priority for our family now as it was really quality time.

Just to throw something else in the mix.... You can (I think, still) take your car on the train, as far as Avignon, in the South of France. It's gorgeous there. I've been three times now, and although not on a beach, there's lovely spots for swimming nearby - or you could drive the extra 1.5 hours down to near Marseille. Might be worth looking at Eurocamp, or a villa even, as accommodation.

I didn't go on a package holiday until I was 19, and paid for it myself. Yet, as children, we had lots of lovely holidays, abroad most years, with our tent, or even to Eurocamp. For a family with three kids, it was a cost-effective solution, as we could take the car, and although it was a long drive at times, it was an adventure. Not sure my parents completely enjoyed the long drives, but we were, on our first trip to Denmark (first time overseas!) 6,7&9, and packed into the car with the sleeping bags, and enough food for 2 weeks; it was an adventure! Still amazing memories.