to not want to go on a caravan park holiday DH won through work?

[electrofagz]

I've checked out their website and I just don't think I can do it. Basically, the caravan home is owned by another employee through a sort of time-share scheme (?) so it is not possible to upgrade to one of the nicer homes in the park. I know that it is only a week and I am effectively passing on an almost free holiday but I absolutely hate that kind of set-up having discovered the world as an independent traveller over the years.

If we don't go, the 'owner' would probably know as his friend 'owns' the plot next door and will be there when we are meant to go. He keeps telling dh about the karaoke nights, "the best cabaret shows in the UK" and the huge breakfast buffet - these are things I would actively avoid in a holiday of my choice. Dh has already confirmed that he does not have any annual leave booked for those dates.

Is there a polite way of getting out of it?

We have to go in the 6 weeks holidays and so would make it much more expensive, plus car hire, and £20 for a RyanAir flight, but what about luggage, check-in etc.

Hurrah for Morriszap!

And yes, I guess we were 'lucky' if lucky means spending hours searching on internet sites till we found something that suited out needs and budget (no vouchers involved. Not a judgement on vouchers - just stating that we didn't use them). Oh, and it was for 10 nights in July.

And the one that you say is even cheaper goes up to £408 per week in July...

And your not comparing like for like Lyra - If I go S/C to Butlins it would be £600. I know I cant get anything abroad for that.

Please point me to the website Ifancy, and hopefully I'll find something as cheap for the 5 of us from Scotland or the north of England.

MorrisZapp - its not snobbish to have different tastes to other people, but patronising people who enjoy things you dont (which the OP did do) is snobbery IMO.

I was talking about half term (May/June) not July.

I got it on lastminute. We weren't fussy about where we went / time of flights / which london airport / airline etc. And we had limited flexibility - DP had two weeks off. Booked it 3 days before we flew... and we figured if we weren't able to go abroad during those dates, we'd go away in the UK.

Maisie, it can be done way cheaper than that. See my post about two weeks in Italian villa for £1,200 in August. You just have to shop around for a bargain.
Last year we did a week in Sardinia in Easter hols for around £600.

It isn't really about a comparison of like for like. People who cannot afford 2 weeks self catering in Greece cannot afford a holiday cottage in the UK either.

People have the cheap option of paying £5 a night for a Cumbrian field to pitch in which constitutes accommodation, not an entire holiday. There may be extra costs depending on what you want your children to do.

Or they can pay a few hundred pounds to have accommodation and holiday activities provided at a holiday camp by a beach in the UK.

But if their entire holiday budget is a few hundred pounds they are not going abroad or to a UK holiday cottage in the school holidays.

Aw thanks for hurrah-ing me.

Actually, tbh I quite like end endless sanctimony and lecturing. I actively seek it out.

Every week I read to my DP the 'ask the readers' bit in the money section of the Saturday Guardian and every week we hoot and howl with laughter.

Q: 'I'm going overseas for a few months for work. It it worth renting out my home while I'm away? Is this difficult and will it be worth it?'

A:'This kind of selfishness saddens me. Do you really not know that some people don't have homes at all? There are many people on low incomes who would love to stay in your home while you are away, and if you can afford to 'overseas' then you clearly don't need the money. Get the place cleaned and ready and invite any local homeless people in. Leave food for them too.'

Etc etc. I remain absolutely convinced the staff write the whole thing, pissing themselves as they go.

If you have to go in the school summer holidays, your options are reduced and the prices increase.

I'll certainly keep my eyes open on the lastminute website - I'd be delighted (and very surprised) if I could get all 5 of us abroad in the school summer holidays for 10 days for around £400, but you never know!

Snob. Get over yourself.

Oh - Ezzieboo wrote that already.

Maisie, all the holidays I've mentioned have been in school holidays. I have two boys at primary school and we never go away in term time. I just spend hours on the net hunting out bargains.

Ooh - you're brave, admitting to reading the Guardian on here! That's like saying 'I LOVE Boden' !

Aren't most MNers Guardian readers? (not me I hasten to add). There was a 'which newspaper do you read' poll a while back and the majority said Guardian or Telegraph.

excellent trolling, vg. but now getting tired so own up.

When I had a look at the 2 websites that mentioned and got quotes for July in sterling, it was £436 and £408.

Then you add on flights...takes it to way more than you stated.

Oh you must read the money bit, it's a hoot.

'How to manage your money so that you don't ever benefit or profit from anything, ever, because people with money are mainly unpleasant and owning anything at all is fundamentally unfair' sums it up.

Sometimes I buy the Sunday Times the next day just to compare and contrast the money sections

But Jess C-M always first stop. DP loves her too, but doesn't read the actual column.

Like I said - I booked it three days before we left and we got lucky. Can't comment (or be held blardy responsible!) for what is / isn't available right now.

Arf your DP loving Jess C-M column! (prefer the Silver Fox on 'All Ages' meself!)

Apols for hijack...

I was talking about the prices that Lyra quoted, IFancy.

We went to a caravan park last year-it isn't my ideal holiday,but it was what we could afford.We had a lovely week and didn't set foot in the club house/restaurant at all.I'd happily go again because it was worth it for the fun the dcs had.

If your dc don't eat anything that isn't freshly prepared,you'll be fine-they are set up for self caterers.

Maisie, once again, I was talking about the prices for May. I did say that in the post.

Ah - apols Maisie for the confusion (blame Fri vino / watching Corrie at same time)