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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Flipping summer holiday prices!!!

31 replies

soapbox · 09/10/2005 11:02

Following on from Cod's thread - I sent off for a few holiday brochures for next summer and a few arrived yesterday.

Now I confess to liking a bit of luxury so the resorts we were looking at a nice ones! However the prices are absolutely amazing.

Vila Vita Parc - portugal - £3900 per person for two weeks.

Arabella Hilton - Mallorca - £2900 per person for two weeks!

We thought we had been really extravagent this summer by going to Mauritius for 3 weeks and staying in a 5* hotel. It looks like this is way cheaper than some of the Med resorts though!

I think I am going to book the holiday that CD recommended to COd - but even that £4000+ for two weeks is rather ridiculous!!

Or perhaps we'll go further afield - possibly California!

Is it just me or is spending £12,000+ for 2 weeks on the med just madness?????

OP posts:
happymerryberries · 09/10/2005 11:04

get a tent! sorry, you said luxury

We had two weeks in the Vendee, with a luxury b and b either end (and I do mean luxury!) for the 4 or us for £700! With the difference in price you could dine out in style 3 times a day.

hunkerpumpkin · 09/10/2005 11:05

I have no idea how people can afford these holidays. Are there really that many bank robbers?

£12k on two weeks is mad.

Original poster
soapbox · 09/10/2005 11:06

No camping for me, I'm afraid. Have terrible spider phobia - wouldn't sleep a wink all holiday!

Maybe I could pay for one in a luxury hotel and DH could find a nice campsite nearby

OP posts:
Original poster
soapbox · 09/10/2005 11:08

Oh Hunker - I didn't post the worst!!

2 weeks at the Forte Village in Sardinia - £20,000 for the family and that wasn't in the nicest accomodation either. Just the bog standard family rooms!

Its obscene!!!!!

OP posts:
hunkerpumpkin · 09/10/2005 11:10

Bloody hellfire!

hunkerpumpkin · 09/10/2005 11:11

Is it much cheaper off-peak?

happymerryberries · 09/10/2005 11:11

Bloody hell!

By camping we cut the cost of our summer holiday from £2000 to £700. With the money we have had 6 shorter holidays, some in hotels, some camping, some in s/c and some in the tent.

Original poster
soapbox · 09/10/2005 11:12

Hunker - I hope you're not suggesting that I take my children out of school to go on holiday during term time

OP posts:
hunkerpumpkin · 09/10/2005 11:13

Hell yes!

Much more educational than that Roger Red Hat old bunny they do at school these days.

happymerryberries · 09/10/2005 11:16

la la la la , not listening!

Parp parp parp!

Original poster
soapbox · 09/10/2005 11:19

I have to say that I really wouldn't take children out of school. I don't think it gives them the right message as to how we view the importance of their education.

If we really really had to it would be an extra few days either side of the Christmas break to take them to New Zealand where DH and I have always wanted to go. But even then I don't think my conscience would let me!!

So peak time prices only for us I'm afraid!

OP posts:
zippitippitoads · 09/10/2005 11:36

Do you book holidays from holiday brochures? I thought that was all a bit old fashioned (and very expensive)..

Original poster
soapbox · 09/10/2005 11:39

zippi - no, but like looking in the brochures for piccies and details before hunting down the best deal.

Even with a good deal though you are unlikely to knock a huge amount off these prices!

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 09/10/2005 11:41

Would it be cheaper to go in the other holidays - Easter, May half term, October half term - rather than in the main summer break?

We are doing our Majorca villa holiday in May half term and then Cornwall in August (Tredethick Cottages - fab for kids).

happymerryberries · 09/10/2005 11:41

I you are perpared to spend over £4000 couldn't you book a private vill with all mod cons and arrange to have 'staff' for the two weeks? Cook, cleaner and some baby sitting?

I bet you could arrange something very special for a fraction of the price and have privacy and independece as well.

JoolsToo · 09/10/2005 11:42

That's me GDG, btw, not Jools!

Original poster
soapbox · 09/10/2005 11:49

HMB - the children are at an age now where they really want to have an opportunity to meet and play with other children and I'm a bit worried that they will feel a little isolated in a villa.

Even the villa prices are shocking though!

GDG - yes we may well go away in teh October break - possibly to Florida which we have done before. I like to take a longer holiday in the summer though as I get a bit fed up with teh children being on holiday and me being at work!

We usually do take shorter breaks during the other holidays though - off to Paris Disney Land this half term and planning a short break to Rome during the easter hols or Whitsun break. I also have a friend with a holiday house in Cornwall so we usually go down there for a week or so each year.

But I still want to find somewhere nice for the summer hols!

OP posts:
zippitippitoads · 09/10/2005 11:51

Wow that's a lot of holidays!

foxinsocks · 09/10/2005 11:52

are your kids too young to do a safari? you could get a fantastic one in southern africa for that price

happymerryberries · 09/10/2005 11:56

Soapbox, see you point re the age of the kids.

Shame you don't like camping then Always very sociable campers!

Original poster
soapbox · 09/10/2005 11:57

Foxy - yes a little - most companies won't take them until they are 12. However we have found a couple that will take them from 7 - so we have 2 years to go before the youngest is old enough!

I can't wait to take them!

However, South Africa without the Safari is a nice idea - would have to be the Oct half term or Christmas though, wouldn't it?

Zippi, yes it is a lot of holidays but DH and I were avid travellers before children and one of the reasons I kept working was so we could still afford to travel a lot with teh children. I think it is quite mind expanding for them to have lots of new experiences through travelling. I've managed to up my annual leave from work to 6 weeks now so have a little bit more flexibility to fit in some more hols!!!!

OP posts:
tigermoth · 09/10/2005 11:59

so, you don't like camping?
Hmm...£25.00 a night gets you a wooden chalet sleeping four people in a charming garden in Broadstairs. Peak season, too, as the prices never get increased.

The house is a youth hostel. The owner of the house leases it to the YHA, hence the cheap prices. You can stay in the house or in a garden chalet. The house is a bit ramshackle, but the managers are lovely people.

Sadly we only discovered this cheap gem this August, and it may be closed next summer. The owner is trying to sell up and move to Thailand (the house and garden has a Thai influence). But if not, that's where we'll be headed for a cheap few days of kent seaside in the summer holidays.

tigermoth · 09/10/2005 12:01

Shocked that two week holidays can cost £20,000!

tigermoth · 09/10/2005 12:02

sopabox, have you thought of buying a luxury motorhome? you could do lots of travelling in that.

foxinsocks · 09/10/2005 12:02

yes we are thinking of south africa for next october half term - problem is that it's a long way to go (in terms of the flight) for a half term break. Christmas might be better but personally, I think Cape Town is at its best in October or February.

I didn't realise the safaris had age limits - I suppose because we were living there at the time, it didn't apply to us. But I think you would want the children to be a certain age anyway.

Have you tried the Carribean?