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?!

this. why does holiday=abroad?

I assume op means the total cost being 500 per night. Rather than spending money.

I've booked something expensive this year and am trying not to think about it that way.. we can afford it, so spend a % of our income doing things like holidays.

As the thread shows, by the time you pay for flights and accommodation for a family of five, especially if it’s a package, the total cost can easily mean you’ve effectively paid £500 per day of travel.

We were broke for a long time when ds was young, essentially his school years until he was 14. We did family rooms in youth hostels and camping. We had some really, really good times. We did once save up for three years to go to Rome for a week, and it was really amazing. But there were only three of us. Still, I’d say do holidays that don’t make you sick with the cost because they do still exist, just about.

OP try adding up what you spend in a normal summer holiday week in the UK and subtract that from the cost in your head, I find that helps!

Too late now, but in future have a separate savings pot dedicated to holidays that you try to forget exists.

I agree that even the cheapest holidays (Ryanair flights, euro camp accom) are coming in £3k+ for the summer, it is a lot but the memories are worth it.

Strange post. School children are allowed far more than 2 weeks of each year already - 6 weeks in the summer, 2 at Christmas, 2 at Easter, 3 half terms.

You mean 2 weeks off in term time as well dont you? With some sketchy idea of the parets "catching the child (yeah right)@. And why would the teacher need 2 months notice unless you're expecting them to bend their teaching schedule around the arrangements of every family who decides to take their child out?

I don’t know. I love holidays abroad. For me sweet spot is 5K for a week for family of 4, above that should be REALLY worth it. Eg ski holiday.

I just don’t live spending money on Uk holidays 😀😀😀

Cost is the main reason we've never had a family holiday abroad but this year we've cut back and saved and we're off in the summer (self catering, 2 weeks, x5 of us and it cost £5k 😮)

No way we'll be spending £500 a day though, that's insane!!

We've waited until the kids are at an age they'll be able to appreciate it (and not moan about the heat / need constant 1:1 supervision) so hopefully it will be a break for us too.

Because that’s what a holiday is? A trip in the UK just isn’t the same

a holiday is a break from work.

I agree op. I’m not a fan. Don’t like it too hot, don’t see the point of flying miles away to sit around a pool don’t like the beach.
Like sightseeing though.
Id like two weeks at home in my own.

Can’t say we agree in this house! We are going to Turkey in two weeks what I paid for it is expensive to me maybe not to others but it’s a week of pure relaxing, no choices being made and not being hounded for ice creams and juice because they can just go and help themselves.

Eurocamp on the other hand wouldn’t be worth the money. It’s too much work.

For my family there is nothing that disposable income can buy that is more valuable than travel.

No, a holiday is a trip abroad. I have a day off coming up, because I have an appointment. That’s not a holiday is it?

A trip in the UK is just that. A trip in the UK. Perfectly nice, but not a real holiday.

Ah, I've told this little anecdote on here before (so quick name change!) but it's one of my favourite memories and has become a family saying...

my little one at 2 years old splashing about in a pool on a family holiday. He turns to me and with a big happy sigh says 'Oh! We is having a lovely time"

We was having a lovely time (I mean, we were at Disney, which might be the 5th circle of hell to some tbf!), but those memories shape you (even if he can't actually remember the specifics!)

I love travelling and think my trips are worth every penny. I spend ages planning and researching places to go.

But that's me. There's nothing wrong with thinking differently.

Your problem is obviously that your dc like holidays. If you want them to have that experience perhaps look at the positives about the holiday. If it's really just that you don't think they're good value for money try to look at what they get out of it. Sounds like you have lovely dc who like to travel. I'd say the cost is well worth it to encourage that.

Haha that too.

Nobody "needs" to go overseas. Rent a cottage in the UK. Let the children run free. Take ready meals with you so you don't have to cook all the time. Be beside a pub so you can have an odd pub meal. @Phonicshaskilledmeoff

Love this! My eldest is 18 and loves to still travel with us. We’re on an adventure to Malaysia and Vietnam this summer. We still holiday once a year with my parents, mid 70s. Great to have 3 generations together. As long as they still want to come with us they will always be welcome.

For me holidays are something I prioritise it’s important for me and DS so I make it happen.

could be a couple of nights in a caravan or two weeks on a cruise it’s still worth it to get away!

Where are you going for £3k for 5 people!!!!

My idea of bad holiday. Super expensive cottage with likely cold weather AND ready made meals! And some awful pub grub. Do you know how expensive these holidays have become?

Usually for these money you can get a holiday abroad with better weather, nicer food and warm pool or sea

I’d agree that a pool holiday isn’t worth the money. But then, I’ve never liked them anyway so of course I’d think that!

We did an 8 day trip to a European theme park and capital city for about the same price we’d spend on a week’s all inclusive (probably less). That holiday was amazing and worth every penny!

YANBU. When you add it all up it can easily be £500 a day for not much, especially if you are unlucky with the weather.
One year we did a staycation, and used £2k for a week of brilliant activities instead of a holiday. We had such an amazing time - DCs talk about that week more than any holiday we’ve ever been on.

You’re going on the wrong holidays if you aren’t enjoying it.

The Airbnb we've booked for this summer sleeps 6 (family of 5 here) and costs £600. In the Dordogne and right on the river so easy swimming. Fuel for the drive down and ferry or tunnel adds a bit but not much. Then other spends are entirely up to you. Food shopping can be supermarket or can be posher or meals out. Ice creams can be supermarket ones in the freezer or a nice ice cream place.

This is a really a more expensive Airbnb because older teens of different sexes so we need 3 separate bedrooms for us, the girl and then the boys sharing. When they were kids we could get places with a double for us and then a bunk room and have the kids all in together. We did a fair few holidays on campsites in the static tents which have rooms like that.

Again when the kids were little and we had less money we would do one "big" paid thing per holiday and the rest free stuff so free museums, playgrounds, river or beach etc. Food could make the holiday special, at home we ate a heck of a lot of lentils to stretch meals so we would treat ourselves to chops or some nice seafood.

For us it is the switching off, the time together when our lives are so busy. All 5 of us volunteer somewhere, kids have hobbies, oldest works full time and often late shifts so we never see him. Meals when we are all in the house at the same time have become rare even though e all lives together. So I am really looking forward to gathering them all together for a little while.