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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Holidays are just not worth the money

464 replies

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 13/06/2026 08:09

Holidays are just not worth it.

The kids are desparate to go on holiday. I struggle to see the value though. For the 5 of us an abroad holiday is about £3k minimum. I struggle to get over the cost whilst I’m there - £500 a day and I sit wondering whether it was worth it.

The kids are excellent travellers and beautifully behaved when on holiday so it’s nothing to do with them. I just think it’s insanely expensive for what you actually get.

I enjoy it whilst I’m there - how do I stop being a cheap killjoy?!

OP posts:
crackofdoom · 13/06/2026 22:44

Franpie · 13/06/2026 22:08

Look it up. Cargo ships (over 80% of the world’s global movement of goods) account for 3% of global emissions, of which Amazon contributes a huge amount. Airline industry accounts for 2.5%.

This thread is about someone debating whether or not to justify the cost of an international holiday. You and another PP are the only ones trying to make this about climate change.

The last thing I bought from Amazon was a second hand book from World of Books. Based in Sussex 😆

Cherrytree86 · 14/06/2026 00:09

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 13/06/2026 18:06

Correct - our pensions are very large. If anything we should be reducing.

This is more of feeling like I have value for money rather than being able to afford it.

@Phonicshaskilledmeoff

so what would constitute value for money in your mind , then, Op?

Tretweet · 14/06/2026 08:03

Mmmm19 · 13/06/2026 21:25

Is this really cheaper though all in? The Air bnbs seem to cost loads at the lakes and Yorkshire, entry to a castle is a lot etc. we spend 2-2.5k for a family of 4 half board plus a maybe 300 euros spending and it always feels like it would be better value than a uk holiday (plus nice weather is a big plus for us personally) - we do the odd camping trip / off peak centre parcs but they feel not as good value and a lot more work

Edited

We’re paying £750 for a week in Suffolk on AirBnB, we have both English Heritage, National Trust memberships so even with spending money on things like arcades and petrol reckon it’ll be around a grand. This is without swimming pool though. Like everything I suspect it’s best if you shop around.

Will be honest though food is complicated, which might bring price down, my daughter has coeliac disease so we don’t really eat out (sadly not from choice). So this feels a lot cheaper than AI abroad holidays we’ve done before. Pre her diagnosis we would spend more on food out some days.

Also would say we got to a point with abroad holidays where my daughter got a bit bored of kids clubs, and whilst we’re happy to rent a car and explore that felt like it added £££ on. I do really want to try Eurocamp and driving down to one in the sun. I suspect I need to be more savvy with looking or compromise on locations, but I did seriously investigate a short break in Italy this year and flights (without anything else) were £900, we just weren’t willing to spend that much when other places are so much cheaper.

It feels like the cost of abroad holidays had risen SO much and we’ve had a lovely time in the UK. I would say though we do tend to avoid ‘attractions’ (we’ve never had a full week of awful weather so far 🤞🏼) and a few years ago did give in and go to an otter sanctuary in Devon where we probably spent £80 for an hour or so entertainment. There were lots of families getting off a steam train then going to the otter place so would presumably forked out loads for tickets to the train - doing that kind of thing every day can imagine is SO expensive and we’re lucky we’re just not that fussed.

A typical week in the UK for us in the Summer would probably look like:

Beach a couple of days, can include paddle boarding or kayaking (we bring these from home, realise this is an additional expense we’ve already covered)

Long walk another day.

Castle/heritage attraction depending on location this could be two days - and good for bad weather. Usually free with memberships.

Wildlife trip - we’ve had absolutely amazing dolphin watching off Cornwall several times now. This is £££ usually.

Town/city/seaside place visit depending on where we are. Usually will involve paying for parking and money on arcades but is a great wet weather option.

Usually a smattering of ice creams etc across the day which also add to the price!

So far we’ve never been bored. Feel like I have jinxed myself for a week of rain now though 😂

OneFunBrickNewt · 14/06/2026 08:07

Franpie · 13/06/2026 15:32

The flights that me and my family are flying on this year will be flying regardless of whether we’re sat on them or not.

Not to mention the fact that until China, the US and India curb their emissions, there is very little point in a family not flying on holiday a few times a year in order to save the planet.

I fly too much. I admit it. But I look at trains/driving abroad wherever possible, or even combining destinations so a flight into X and out of Y.
Your argument about the flights still leaving is a stupid one though. If nobody bought a ticket to take the flights, there would be no demand for those flights, so the airline would not run them. Or even if they flew that summer, the following year airlines would not bid for the same slots at the airport, knowing they were no longer popular or profitable.
Climate change is real, it's happening, and just because other countries are worse than us, doesn't mean we can't make a difference.
Apply what you said about China, India and the US not curbing emissions to crime: the analogy would be something like, some people murder other people so it won't make a difference if I engage in some GBH.

Cel77 · 14/06/2026 08:08

Auroraloves · 13/06/2026 08:14

£500 a day? Wow! What are you buying?

A holiday. If you go for 7 days, and it's costing you £3500 , there you go.

RedToothBrush · 14/06/2026 08:10

It does not cost a minimum of £3k for a family of five to go on holiday.

You have the wrong attitude to holidays if you think it does.

BrendaSmall · 14/06/2026 08:11

Abroad 3k for 5 of you??

My husband pays well over that for 2 of us!
As someone who goes abroad 4/6 times a year I’d say you’re being unreasonable!

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 14/06/2026 08:16

BrendaSmall · 14/06/2026 08:11

Abroad 3k for 5 of you??

My husband pays well over that for 2 of us!
As someone who goes abroad 4/6 times a year I’d say you’re being unreasonable!

Thats not the one I would have wanted. Saying in order of price - that’s the one that was the first that would be passable. But I would still be sat there thinking £500 a day - was it worth it?! In truth, for 5 of us, the holiday is actually want is much more - so you can imagine my thoughts on that!

OP posts:
Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 14/06/2026 08:17

RedToothBrush · 14/06/2026 08:10

It does not cost a minimum of £3k for a family of five to go on holiday.

You have the wrong attitude to holidays if you think it does.

If someone can find me an abroad holiday with an outdoor pool that is reasonably nice for less than £3k I would be shocked.

I went on a half board last year with just the kids for 2200. That was ok. BUT a the 5th person pushes up the price enormously.

OP posts:
PancakeCloud · 14/06/2026 08:23

I think you should go on holiday because it’s quality time as a family, making memories and a good use of money.

I’m intrigued by everyone saying there’s loads of options for under 3k for 5 of you because I would have thought they would be very DIY and full of extras that probably all add up significantly (to about 3k).

Mousespoons · 14/06/2026 08:32

We managed to do a week for a family of five in August, to a nice part of Greece, villa with pool, via air bnb and Ryanair for £2k. You can save money not booking through holiday companies, but I did worry a bit about not having the protection if one element of the holiday went wrong. And you do have to hire a car.

We mainly stay in the U.K. and plan holidays with a mixture of nice hotels with pool/spa and camping/youth hostels to keep the cost down over all. We often holiday in less popular places too.

bafta16 · 14/06/2026 08:34

HeyThereDelila · 13/06/2026 22:25

Borrow a tent and book a ferry - won’t cost you anywhere near as much. Or book a cottage in this country, or do cheap flights and an AirBnB. It doesn’t have to be a hotel to be a holiday.

Book a ferry? You have to get there and pay for the ferry.
Book a cottage in the UK? Prices are a joke
Cheap flights? Where are they please?
Air B and B? How much?

The end result is still spening thousands.

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 14/06/2026 08:43

Tretweet · 14/06/2026 08:03

We’re paying £750 for a week in Suffolk on AirBnB, we have both English Heritage, National Trust memberships so even with spending money on things like arcades and petrol reckon it’ll be around a grand. This is without swimming pool though. Like everything I suspect it’s best if you shop around.

Will be honest though food is complicated, which might bring price down, my daughter has coeliac disease so we don’t really eat out (sadly not from choice). So this feels a lot cheaper than AI abroad holidays we’ve done before. Pre her diagnosis we would spend more on food out some days.

Also would say we got to a point with abroad holidays where my daughter got a bit bored of kids clubs, and whilst we’re happy to rent a car and explore that felt like it added £££ on. I do really want to try Eurocamp and driving down to one in the sun. I suspect I need to be more savvy with looking or compromise on locations, but I did seriously investigate a short break in Italy this year and flights (without anything else) were £900, we just weren’t willing to spend that much when other places are so much cheaper.

It feels like the cost of abroad holidays had risen SO much and we’ve had a lovely time in the UK. I would say though we do tend to avoid ‘attractions’ (we’ve never had a full week of awful weather so far 🤞🏼) and a few years ago did give in and go to an otter sanctuary in Devon where we probably spent £80 for an hour or so entertainment. There were lots of families getting off a steam train then going to the otter place so would presumably forked out loads for tickets to the train - doing that kind of thing every day can imagine is SO expensive and we’re lucky we’re just not that fussed.

A typical week in the UK for us in the Summer would probably look like:

Beach a couple of days, can include paddle boarding or kayaking (we bring these from home, realise this is an additional expense we’ve already covered)

Long walk another day.

Castle/heritage attraction depending on location this could be two days - and good for bad weather. Usually free with memberships.

Wildlife trip - we’ve had absolutely amazing dolphin watching off Cornwall several times now. This is £££ usually.

Town/city/seaside place visit depending on where we are. Usually will involve paying for parking and money on arcades but is a great wet weather option.

Usually a smattering of ice creams etc across the day which also add to the price!

So far we’ve never been bored. Feel like I have jinxed myself for a week of rain now though 😂

Edited

I feel like I want come on holiday with you lot!

OP posts:
Donttellhim · 14/06/2026 09:37

It is expensive you’re right. But, it really is worth the money if you think about what you’re actually buying.

Guaranteed sun, happier/happy kids, different culture/language, memories.

Money is valueless when we are dead…as morbid as it may be…I’d rather spend the money if it’s affordable and make the memories, let my kids enjoy their yearly holiday in a warm place doing lots of things that make them happy, and therefore me.

Auroraloves · 14/06/2026 09:43

Cel77 · 14/06/2026 08:08

A holiday. If you go for 7 days, and it's costing you £3500 , there you go.

I’ve already responded to this.

cant be bothered to explain it again

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/06/2026 10:00

fundamentallyauthentic · 13/06/2026 14:49

£70 a night for a hotel abroad during the summer holidays for you and your child is really cheap. I doubt you could get anything fir a family of five at that price.

It’s not a hotel. It’s an one bed apartment with kitchen washing machine and sofa plus sofa bed so sleep 4 easily. and same price all year with a few pounds except Xmas

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/06/2026 10:03

So much cheaper then a week in Devon caravan which is £800 +

obv flights on top but for the actual accommodation it’s cheaper abroad by far

LittleBearPad · 14/06/2026 10:07

notantordec · 13/06/2026 09:56

@LittleBearPad how much are you actually want to spend ? You are complaining at spending £2k last year.

I’m not the OP…

mandysocks · 14/06/2026 10:40

It does make me laugh when people start gawping at holiday prices, I just know when they say they spent £1000 on their trip to France with a family of 6 they’re not including the spending money or something else.

We’ve booked a Hoseasons break in Cornwall in October, the accommodation has only cost us just under £400, but I know by the time I’ve paid for fuel, some day trips and food we’ll be pushing £1000. One decent meal out in a pub is easily £100 for a family of 4 these days (teens).

SaferHaven · 14/06/2026 13:34

I don’t think holidays abroad are worth it either op. I wouldn’t mind if I was rich but I’m not and quite happy to have breaks away in the UK. Then I don’t feel guilty about eating out as saved lots overall.

SaferHaven · 14/06/2026 13:38

@Tretweetgreat post we do very similar and have a great time and just feel the ratio of fun to cost is not worth the high jump in price of abroad.
We have been abroad in the past but almost can’t be bothered with it anymore post Covid.

Pinkissmart · 14/06/2026 13:47

Havingasmashingtime · 13/06/2026 08:14

Whilst I do agree that the cost is crazy, I do think they are worth it.

with my first child we were living poorly so he didn’t get any :-(
however I had 2 more kids a decade later and am in a much better financial position and as a result they have been on holidays and we’ve loved them
and I often feel guilty that my oldest missed out on them (he’s now “too old” to come on holiday with his parents and siblings)
poor lad didn’t get any fun trips like these two do.

Go on a holiday with your oldest- just the two of you.

WeatherOrNothing · 14/06/2026 14:05

For me the only holidays we do are AI. It’s NOT a holiday in some Airbnb or self catering- who wants to be cleaning, making food on holiday? I just want us to wake up, go to a full breakfast spread then head to the pool or kids club, have lunch prepared, go back to a cleaned room. Go to the spa. That’s a proper holiday. But you pay a price for that.

Cara707 · 14/06/2026 14:22

Why not just go to Cornwall or somewhere nice over here?

PancakeCloud · 14/06/2026 14:27

Cara707 · 14/06/2026 14:22

Why not just go to Cornwall or somewhere nice over here?

Cornwall is often more expensive than going abroad

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