Holidays are just not worth the money

[Phonicshaskilledmeoff]

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?!

We LOVE our abroad holidays! We always go somewhere new each year and book trips to explore. In May half term we went to Madeira. Myself and partner, 17 year old girl, 14 and 7 year old boys. We all connect, ate meals together (all inclusive always!) partner and I get a break, devices are barely used by anyone. This trip we did a private island tour that everyone loved, we did the cable cars and botanical garden, saw a huge pod of dolphins on a boat trip, did lots of exploring on foot, climbing, caves, ate so much ice cream, the younger 2 (plus me) played in the pool a lot, water polo, pool parties, crazy golf, pool, cocktails and time together. We all had an amazing time.

If your kids are all young then I can see why its harder for you but kids just love playing on the beach and in the pool until they are shrivelled up!

We always go to Guernsey in August but it's really expensive but completely worth it. We do water sports mainly, eat ice cream, go karting, delicious food and beach walks.

Holidays are what get me through the year. If you don't enjoy them then you need to rethink where you go and what you do.

My DC were taken on holiday since they were very little (youngest was one) and are now mid twenties. When they were younger it was pools, beaches and hotels, which they loved. From about ten I took them on city breaks where they really got to appreciate different food, art, museums and culture.

They definitely still talk about the holidays very fondly and gained a certain amount of “cultural capital” from them.

I love most types of holiday so I was always happy.

Kids still spend most of their (admittedly small) disposable income on holidays themselves.

I guess I think we live a short time on this beautiful planet and I want to see as much of it as I can. I drive a very old small car and live in a tiny cottage so I can prioritise holidays.

You aren’t wrong though OP. It’s your money and your life and you should prioritise based on your preferences. Maybe think about what your ideal holiday might look like though? Something in UK perhaps?

Holidays are definitely worth it, but sounds like that type of holiday isn’t inspiring you?
Is that the price for a normal resort hotel in a normal resort type of place?

You could replicate some of the ‘holiday’ parts in the UK eg theme park, water park, seaside, hotel buffet breakfast , etc … we also have some stunning coasts and countryside for walks
Are the kids at the age where they could do a 3-4 day city break? So many places have great settings / parks / museums / restaurants to try…

We love a family holiday. Everyone is more relaxed, no one is checking emails, ironing uniforms, rushing from place to place. But - controversial on MN - we go AI as I refuse to give a single second to thinking about what we are eating or shopping / cooking.
If 3k is a years worth of saving then of course it's not worth it. But if it's more affordable then your perspective on spending that much will be different of course.

City breaks work too. I took my youngest to Paris when he was 4 and we had a fab time. We have also done Rome, Iceland and Scotland as a family. All were perfect in their own ways.

It's definitely overpriced but fantastic memories are made (even the disasters 😂) especially for the kids. Have to pay the big bucks for the sun too (I live in Northern Ireland ☔😭).

I love holidays. So much that I spend hours, days, weeks planning. I also try to do them as cheapily as possible, which is where the insane planning comes in.

There are loads of ways of making them cheaper: homeexchange.com, camping, hotels, self catering, driving/coach. Choose the destination carefully. We are going to Portugal this year specifically because the flights were much cheaper than other med countries and, according to my research, it is comparatively cheaper out there. My budget is £1500 for a family of 3 for 10 days (including travel). I don't go over that (and that is dh who refuses to rough it!). For us, it is worth it.

Kids love and remember holidays so much.

Absolutely! AI every time! Where we stayed in May was the best AI we have stayed at. I don't want to have to think about lifting a finger on holiday.

OP, if you are going self catering then that is your issue.

I agree with you

And there were so many other things that you need to spend money on, especially with the kids that age

My generation our Parents didn't take us so I don't know why we think about it so much

We stopped. It's just not worth the money in the even if you haven't got financial worries. Well, maybe if you haven't got any financial worries, but if like most of us you've got to think about where that money is coming from, no it's not worth it at all

I used to work for a zillionaire who took his family on a lot of wildly expensive exotic holiday - private jets, helicopters, yachts etc once he's made it. He once told me with a somewhat baffled air that his kids' favourite holidays, the ones they talked about all the time, were the bucket and spade ones in British resort towns from when they were really little.

My kids love going on hols but their most cherished memories from them are:

• having grandparents on tap for the week
• the first time they went to an intl buffet-style place hotel (but remember you can get this experience for a night or two, even if SC the rest of the time)
• what they called "the ultimate castle" - can't even remember where it was now but they were in a Ninjago phase and went on about this castle for years
• sitting on a cafe terrace and having grown-up style drinks with olives, crisps etc
• being given £5 each to spend in charity shops/at local flea markets etc
• staying in a big old (cheap) house with excellent sardines potential

You can achieve all these holiday goals on a limited budget, UK or abroad. IME what kids remember is the break from the norm, and the unexpected stuff.

Totally agree. We used to go away 4-6 times a year, mostly exotic places and nice hotels. The price now is ridiculous compared to what we used to pay. From this perspective it is not worth it.

Families of 5 are often very disadvantaged by holiday prices too! Accommodation is almost always set up for a maximum of 4 so you need a second room, suites or 2-3 bedroom apartments which cost more. We often holiday with parents/siblings/cousins and there's usually a £1k minimum difference in what we have to pay.

I do love holidays though, and it's the only thing I save for.

Not when the cost includes flights, accommodation and food for 5 people.

I’ve never spent that much on a holiday. 😳 Try a city break. You don’t need a luxury AI resort to drink yourselves silly for a week. We’ve gone to lots of European cities. Flights usually about £50 each. There aren’t 5 of us, but I can usually get an Airbnb for £80 a night. Last one had 3 bedrooms so probably would fit 5 of you. We do a mix of self-catering and picnic lunches from the supermarket or the market. We’d have to eat anyway if we were at home so no added cost. Then we have nice dinners out. Beaches and playgrounds and parks are free. Public transport to see the whole city is cheap (and usually free for kids). We do 1-2 paid attractions like a water park or aquarium. It’s fantastic. I’ve never spent more than about £800.

Holidays are worth it for us, we spend about £2200 max in school holidays, half board.

But we are a family of 3, the more flight seats and sleeping space you need the more expensive it is. £3k for a family of 5 is not that bad, depending on what you’re getting of course. £600 each for a weeks holiday.

She's talking about a family of five. where are you flying a family of five for 200 pounds?

Not sure anyone lies on their death bed thinking 'i wish I'd spent less time holidaying/hanging out with my kids and instead scrimped more'. Crack on with your one shot on this Earth.

This is a truly perfect combination- if you can afford it. I can't and many others can't either.

Yes you are a killjoy.

I love holidays. I only worry about whether I can afford them, if I can, I don't think about the cost. I don't really like hotels so usually do apartments, it costs less and I like it much more.

This! Im looking at 4/5 nights in Europe with 'cheap flights' for me and my kids, once I'd added on baggage, flights were over 450 pounds and hotel alone was 700 ish, not one of the more expensive ones.

I simply can't afford it. That's without food/doing anything!

Villas/apartments are usually cheaper.

we never spend that much either, scour Skyscanner for cheap flights. Look for air b and bs. Do a some self catering as well as eating out. Just got tickets to Barcelona for £15 each way. Just got to spend some time!

I couldn’t live without them, whether it’s a basic self catering in Greece or a ferry from Dover to a mobile home in France. Great memories as a child and now great memories with my children who won’t be coming for much longer though my 20 year old says she’s always up for it 😊 We have never gone for expensive. Ends up costing about £4500 for 2 weeks of bliss. Roll on 14 th July for Kos 😊

We've done this many times but I can't find this kind of thing at that price this year, already been to cheaper destinations multiple times.