AIBU / mean to cancel holiday?!

[Mumbythesea1]

Earlier in the year I booked though the sun £9.50 holiday promotion for October half term in the Netherlands. I paid at the time for the holiday and ferry crossing.
unfortunately since then we have had several massive unexpected costs.
whilst the accommodation and ferry is paid for I’m worried about the costs in getting there and other costs of being by on holiday.

if this wasn’t you would you cancel and spend the money on some local days out and cheaper things? Or go and just make the most of it?!

I feel mean to disappoint DC 😢

Costs of local days out in the UK and tge NL are broadly similar as are the costs of food, snacks etc. Bread, cheese and foreign crisps is just intrinsically exciting when youre a child.

If the ferry is paid for, what other costs have you got related to getting there?

What kind of park is it? Landalgreenparks and the like are great places to wander, especially if you can take bikes or scooters. There's often playgrounds, mini farms etc.

I would absolutely go.

I'd go and try not to spend too much while you're there.

You've paid for everything already. I don't see why you would cancel now.

Yes, as per PP - what costs will you actually have other than what's already paid for? Can you limit it to normal food and free/cheap activities so it's not any more than your alternate plan?

I would go. If you can self-cater, even for some meals, it will help. You could even take some food from here, potentially? (Cereals/baked beans, pasta, etc) Days out at home (and petrol) and food at home will also cost money.

I would definitely fill up before you go, though (assuming you’re driving) as we found petrol prices were higher there than here.

Set yourself a budget and go. Keep activities low key and spend no more on food that you would at home. Presumably there is free activities on site.

I would go.
Days out in the uk can be very expensive, where as being in a new place (where accommodation is already paid for) can be comparatively cheap as there are new parks/walks/ free places to visit. I would do packed lunches and cheap meals self catering.

Madness to consider cancelling.

I’m concerned mainly about the cost of diesel. We live 3 hours from Dover and then have a three hour drive from Calais.

Agree with everyone else. The expensive things have been paid for -you could conceivably spend more by not going.

Agree with this, use ChatGPT to plan some activities that are cheep or free, and look at public transport options.

Just because you’re on holiday doesn’t mean you can’t go get bread, cheese, ham and squash and take a picnic out, especially if you’re in a park and self catering!

I also agree with PPs that you will spend more abroad than day trips out, a trip to an English heritage castle is almost £100 if not more for a modest family of 4

I’d go take food from home and use a supermarket rather than eating out. Give the kids a budget for picking out some snacks mine loved a foreign supermarket when young. Assuming you are staying on a holiday park are there some activities included? Pool? I used to go to the library and take out 14 ‘new’ books to take with us. Go to some charity shops and get a couple of new board games, take a ball, get some cheap Halloween crafts from Poundland. Have a look at what is free in the area you are going to. Anything new is exciting when they are primary school age.

I'm guessing the cost of the fuel needed to get there might be adding to the pressure you feel?

Days out over there can be as cheaper (or cheaper) than at home and you'd have to eat anyway but the extra fuel needed could push things out of your comfort zone?

You've paid already. Looking at two local attractions here you are looking at £40+ each plus parking, petrol, food etc for you and 2 kids....so you might as well go

I did my shop yesterday and got 8p off per litre for Tesco, wasn’t tied to my club card, so you could ask about if anyone has a free receiver going and make a few trips before you fill up

Where are you crossing to, supermarkets are a lot cheaper in France than Belgium or the Netherlands so if you're crossing into Calais or dunkerque I'd head to a hypermarket

also google local Aldi / Lidl supermarkets close to the park

I would also take what you can from home - washing up liquid, loo rolls, games etc to keep spends down along with cereal / pasta and then only buy meat cheese and fruit etc there

Do you think you would drive for 6 hours in the week if you just remained in the UK for the half term?

It will be 12 hours won't it? 6 there and 6 back. I average 33mpg in my diesel van so depending on what the OP drives it could be a very expensive trip.

I don't think you would spend any more than here on food etc and we have been to the NL lots of times activities will probably be cheaper as others have said I think the cost of fuel might edge you over staying at one but not by much I would still go

True, so lets say 2 hours a day, OP needs to calculate whether she would be out and about more than that.

I saw this today, it’s 8p/l off fuel when you spend £60 in store so you could stock up for the holiday self-catering (packed lunches, etc) then fill up the car. So you will have a better idea of your budget before you leave.

It's always reasonable to live within your means. If you can't afford it, you shouldn't do it. Everyone will survive.

I would go ahead!

Have you listed out the costs still to pay and worked out the total?

That’s what I’d do - list them all out in a spreadsheet. Food, fuel, days out, travel insurance etc. Then it’s simple - you go if you can afford it, and you stay home if you can’t.

@Mumbythesea1 if you hadn’t have told the dc already then it wouldn’t matter what you did, but now that they know I would probably still take them and do things on holiday as cheaply as you can.

Going on days out in the UK and eating in the UK is expensive so you probably wouldn’t save much - if any - from staying at home.