That me and the DCs will probably NEVER have a nice sunny holiday abroad becuase my DH refuses to do the 'Brits Abroad' thing

[PollyPentapeptide]

So we instead we have to have endless holidays traipsing around the Lake District or sitting on wet and windy welsh beaches

Not that the Lake District/Wales/Cornwall aren't very lovely (because they are!) but because that is all we do!

All of DC's friends will go back to school in September with tales of trips to Spain or France or Florida but our DC's won't (and probably never will)

My DH has an obsession with the freezing cold- skiing/Canada etc whereas I like the sun. He's also a snob about Spain/Florida and the likes, so I sympathise but no real advise as we tend to compromise with France which last year was a bit of a washout. A friend has just had 2 fab weeks in Cyprus and it sounded perfect.

'All of DC's friends will go back to school in September with tales of trips to Spain or France or Florida but our DC's won't (and probably never will)'

some people get no holiday at all.

i don't get what's so great about going for a 'nice sunny holiday abroad' when it's friggin' 40+degrees in these places.

i can't think of many things more miserable. i had to grow up in a place like that and we always tried to go some place cooler on holiday.

amazed at how many Brits want to pay top whack to go visit a sauna like Florida in August when everyone who has to live there would rather be someplace else at that time of year.

if it means that much to you, however, i like the suggestion of going with another family/woman and their/her kids.

Sorry I can't do links, . This gorgeous house is only £350 pw in the summer holidays, fully booked this year but you could try for next. www.ownersdirect.co.uk/france/FR1951.htm

Absolutely endorse house swap: we've done a few and they are especially good with young children. If you swap with a family with similar age children, you'll have all the lego/ playmobil/ cots/ high chairs you can need. And you really do get a taste of culture/ family life in another country. Your travel is the only cost.

But yes, you do need to tidy/ clean before you go: it's a bit intimidating first time around but start well in advance and you'll be fine.

If your DH is anxious about allowing other people stay in your house, choose experienced exchangers: if they've already done it, they obviously won't trash your place

Also, you can swap to interesting places where you can have great holidays without being swamped by British tourists eg Holland, Austria, Black Forest, Scandinavia

Another option to avoid the Brits abroad/ 40 degrees problem is to go somewhere warm but not hot during a half term. Personally, I don't get the desire to go somehere busy and super hot with young kids at the only time of year when you MIGHT get decent weather in the UK... maybe your DH has a point...

scarletibis can me and my kids go on holiday with you and yours? Nobby DHs NOT allowed

He really does have this fear that we will go all that way and spend all that money only to be greeted by gross brits insisting on having british food and not making one ounce of effort to enjoy the cultural aspect (and it does happen, he does have a point!)so I am trying to gently persuad him otherwise

I love the sound of greece/spain/italy too and would love the kids to enjoy the local nightlife as i hink this would be a magical experience for them

Hoping this isn't an unfair question, but do you (or your dh) speak any European languages? Because, the thing is, if you don't, you are sort of automatically dependent on the mass tourism industry - and all the ouzo/lobster-tan/fake English pub horrors that implies.

On the other hand, if you do speak another language, you can blithely head into the hinterland & meet real locals & see their real life. (The difference between coastal Corsica - mass-tourism, English-spoken, horridness of a bikini-clad vulgarity not dreamt of - and inland Corsica - agriturismo of lovely food, gorgeous scenery & deep peace - is a case in point.)

So: if there is a chance that it will be a few years before you get this holiday - take a course in - eg - Italian. It will so be worth it, I promise.

Yes, sounds more like dh would feel ill at ease in another country rather than anything to do with cost or avoiding the masses. Or is that very wide of the mark?

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I'm sure he wouldn't mind meeting some poor natives. It's poor Brits he's trying to avoid

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yes - noble and romantic, dignified in their poverty

My DDs have just had a wonderful holiday in Italy mostly staying with Plus - in Rome, in either either cabins or pre-erected tents with proper beds & leccy, a 3-berth en suite costs 18 euros per night per person so 2 of those would be 108 euros. (A 3-berth tent not en suite is 11 euros per person ). They also stayed in Florence (fab) & Sorrento (not so fab)

They are a bit studenty but you'd get loads of culture

Also you can start & finish on random nights & avoid the high-season-weekend-sky-high-flight-prices.

??
Some people don't get to take holidays at all (too much hassle, no money, whatever). Maybe count your blessings?

Would be considered very pretentious if kids at our school went around bragging about their foreign hols in the sun...

Cod stop being an arse. Where in my post did I say he didn't want to meet poor people? We ARE poor people!!!!

Bink, DH can speak basic spanish and french so possibly passable in some of the more rural areas but do take your point.

pointydog - actually he is very well travelled (but becuase of his job) but I think that is the problem. He is used to the 'business' side of travel but has a fear of the mass-produced tourism side (which I do understand) but he seems to be under the impression that with a fairly small budget, that is what we are destined for.

Whereas I am of the opinion 'so what?'

why do I need to count my blessings? Dont get that sorry?

Wow WendeyWeber that sounds like a fab holiday.

I really should take notes from this thread, some brilliant ideas.

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Polly, don't rise to it, some folk could start an argument in an empty house - and a lot of them post on mumsnet

Hmmm.....

Being Chavvy is quite an expensive lifestyle choice these days I hear . We certainly couldn't afford it.

Plus, so what? Why go all that way and spend all that money to get more of the same only with more sun?

cod, there are some v affluent chavs you know - you obv mix in the wrong circles

Some great suggestions here!

You could get a fab cottage or villa abroad, cheap flights (ferry/train if France), car hire and then just go off and explore.

We are going to Czech Republic this summer. House that sleeps 12 is less than £1000 for week, with own pool, massive grounds, etc. And that was one of the dearer properties. Flights are costing is £440 for 7 people with EasyJet. Car hire is dearer at nearly £500 for an 8 seater but still good value.

Northern France allways have good value prices, and there are som fab properties to be had.