Want to start saving up for a holiday abroad - advice please!

[OhMyStarryEyedSurprise]

We've never left the UK.
I feel bad about this and would dearly love for me and my family - three adults and two teenagers - to be able to go abroad next year. I say next year as it will most likely take us that long to save for it. I need to create a plan to save up for it. Can anyone advise on cheap locations and any kind of figure I should be aiming to save. Ideally all inclusive and somewhere that's not really expensive - I've heard Dubai is very expensive etc. Somewhere hot and not in the UK. Any advice from people who have left the country would be appreciated. I would dearly love any and all advice about this before I walk into a travel agents and get eaten alive. TIA.

Op I booked my holiday for the end of this year well in advance (last year) for 2 adults and 3 children. I have paid 1200 for 2 weeks in Spain. That was inc discounts with TUI that they have on promos and the fact I'm slightly out of season an the resort is fairly cheap but it's brilliant !!
Also for passports just do 1 every now an again an suggest using birthday/ Christmas money to put toward xx

Those of you who booked last minute deals? Which websites do/ did you use? I have never been able to find particularly cheap deals so clearly looking in the wrong place! I just had a look at reviews for Cheeky trip ( mentioned above) and they are rather bad .

If you've never been abroad I would recommend a package where your transfer from the Airport to hotel is organised and there is someone on hand to help with problems even if only on a phone. I would suggest somewhere fairly touristy like tenerife etc. You can also take advantage of organised trips.

Then when you back you'll have more of an idea about travelling and can think about booking separate flights and hotels etc.

These replies are all really helpful, thanks. I think my first step is to save and put half towards passports and half towards holiday.

I don't mind the idea of Spain - I've heard France is cheap but too - or can be. I think I like the idea of flying somewhere rather than taking a boat. We definitely don't have the budget for a cruise as they are so expensive. It might have to be the year after next by the time I've saved up enough.
Maybe getting passports, booking time off and getting a last minute deal might be the way to go for us for any potential savings we could get.

A frugal holiday I had was self catering in the Algarve (found the apartment on booking.com), it included minibus transfer from the airport and once there there were no more transport costs, could walk to low cost supermarkets and local markets and to the beaches, restaurants, so just ate on the balcony and a couple of restaurant meals out. I think we paid something like £400 for a luxury 3-bed apartment for the week plus cheap easy jet flights - 5 years ago. Spanish cities can be good too, if you can get an apartment in a nice area then travel is normally cheap public transport or on foot. If you pick somewhere less pricey / popular you can have an authentic local experience for not much so Toulouse instead of Paris, Cadiz instead of Malaga. Depends what you are looking for.

do a package with jet2 of Tui if its your first time, baggage and transfers will be included.
This is AI for 2 weeks, Cambrills is a lovely resort and in easy distance for day trips to Barcelona etc £9000 for 2 weekswww.jet2holidays.com/beach/spain/costa-dorada/cambrils/estival-el-dorado-resort?duration=14&airport=3&date=22-07-2023&occupancy=r3c15_16&board=8&oflight=945806&iflight=945811&rooms=54076&gtmsearchtype=Smart%20Search&smartsearchid=73cd3474-7f4b-4175-863a-71641bb7b751

Op just done a quick search £2488
Discounts not applied. Usually get 100/200£ off !!!
2 weeks all inc in menorca 3 adults 2 teens
Great area and self catering
Book with 0 deposit

Self catering is brilliant. We used always go for all inc but we still ate out etc so didn't benefit and if your hotel is all inc they usually let you upgrade when you choose an you pay for the day- we just used to stock up in the supermarket but eating out was cheaper for us to when we worked it out.
Got all cerials an toast for breakfast an eggs then used have pasta sauces etc for dinner an fresh baguettes wn meat from the shop, make them at room an take it back to the pool!!!
Local ale is usually cheap anyway
We take around £1000 for spends for 10 days so we have 100 spend per day an that's 2 adults 3 kids.
Supermarket usually spend 20 a day for meats an dinners an drinks then we had £80 for a night to get tea an drinks etc. Was plenty!!! Most meals are like €7 for big ones x

Seriously? Someone on a budget who needs to save up to afford their first holiday abroad and you are recommending a Luxe Collection holiday at a cost of almost £10K in the height of summer???

OP, you will be able to go abroad for far less than this...

I have done many last minute deals, it wasn’t just about price it was because of DH work schedule.

Get your passports in advance. I would agree with Spain as a good first choice. I would recommend Majorca, self catering and hire a car whilst there for a couple of days if you feel confident enough to drive. Really look at temperatures as some places are so hot it limits the time you can be outside comfortably and safely. There is a reason many business have a siesta at the hottest time of the day in some countries.

You can book direct - all airports have taxi’s outside - hotel direct is cheaper and deals available. Flights - same as any travel agent would book.

just make sure your insurance has the airline failure clause and you’re covered.

Go outside school holidays and peak season, shoulder times much better value in terms of $$s and also not as crazy busy if you go somewhere popular. Also as someone who lives in a hot country, I’ve found people in the UK think “hot” is what I would think is cool or way too cold to swim weather, so definitely don’t go for summer if you want somewhere hot as you may find summer temperatures too much.

Savings tip, my DP and I have had auto weekly deductions of $50 each going into a “travel” account that neither of us can withdraw from unless the other one also approves the deduction via internet banking. So because of covid we have about $10k saved and are going to Bali in July (which will not cost anything like that amount for two adults and two teens).

its heaps easier to save when you have a goal, time will fly and you’ll be travelling sooner than you realise!

On half board you often get the chance to make sandwiches for lunch off the breakfast buffet,
a boiled egg, whole fruit and sometimes biscuity type things. The cold tap water in the room is usually drinkable too( check) and take your own bottles to fill, all you need to pay for then is your evening meal. If you book it yourself remember to add the transfer in both ways