Is this really what holidays cost??? I am shocked.

[scampadoodle]

Previously we've usually organised the individual elements of our holiday ourselves and prefer some sort of self-catering accommodation with access to a pool, and we've either flown or driven (according to where we're going). Last year we went to southern France for 11 days in August and it probably cost us a little over 2k, which I thought was a lot.

This year, with the DC getting older, we fancy going somewhere with a bit of sailing/windsurfing for them - we're not fussed about kids' clubs per se as when the weather's nice & there's water to swim in they're not too labour intensive (they're 10 & 12). So we reckoned a package with access to watersports might be just the thing. Except, Mark Warner for example is about 8k for 2 weeks!!!! WTF??? And other places charge similar.

Is this really what people spend on summer holidays? I can't believe it!

Mark Warner is very very expensive. And third rate accommodation IMO!

Mark Warner is expensive. Might be best off finding a resort where windsurfing etc is avsliable locally and just book a cheap SC deal and book the watersports locally.

people do not go to these sort of places for more than a week unless seriously wealthy....

you can do a week all inclusive in Turkey next to the beach with a waterpark type hotel for around £3k with someone like First Choice (I booked ours! for 2 adults+ 2 kids aged 11 and 13).... seriously good relaxing holiday with some "local culture" day trips out available too....

That's exactly what we're going to try to do, yoube. Although locating local watersports facilities is proving to be a needle in a haystack job.

Other holiday companies are still 5, 6K. Also I had a bad experience with MW years ago when I was still single which still makes me wary of them.

I am also trying do this too. So far I have shortlisted
a new center parcs in Germany- has sailing and windsurfing.
Europa sailing on Lake Garda
Am still looking at lots of websites!!!
Also from previous investigations Rockley have a base in Western France that has ready tents or can take own camping stuff.

DH won't camp.

I'm sure germany & lake garda are fabulous but I want as-guaranteed-as-possible hot weather. I'll have a look though - not discounting anything at this stage!

I looked at First Choice but it's 5k and you can't pre-book watersports - they cost extra too. Having said that, I know my DC would love all the on-site stuff. Not sure it's very me though…

Would a privately booked villa be better for you, find a local watersports centre and cut out the (expensive) middle man.

The S

Ill try again. Trip Advisor is good for advise about whats avaliable locally there is usually a forum for most areas particullarly touristy ones where you can ask about watersports avaliability. I know surfers and windsurfers love Fueraventura.

Yes, yoube, that would be perfect. I didn't think of TripAdvisor, thanks.

Look at this thread.
Extremes of camping in a box in a field for peanuts to £10000+ jobs.
Actually I think you've done well to fly abroad and stay for 11 days for 4 of you for £2000. Did that truly include everything?.
All inclusive does really mean that. Virtually no spending money.

We drove, secret. It was probably a bit over 2k. Villa for a week was 1400 euros and we had 4 b&b stops. Plus petrol & tolls. I don't count food as we'd have to eat at home anyway! We don't eat out that much on holiday. We probably could have got a cheaper place than 1400 but where we were was v nice & spacious in a beautiful location with a supposedly shared pool but we had it to ourselves most of the time.

I always thought that packages were cheaper but seemingly not...

Look at Eurocamp - incredibly good value accommodation, and if you take the ferry and drive to your destination, travel there and back isn't expensive either.

Ardeche region of France is great, very cheap compared with most areas and very good weather. There is a big gorge with lots of canoeing trips. You canoe down river to a pick up point and they take you back to your car where you started. There is a lot of self catering on sites like hilidaylettings.com or owners direct. There are also a lot of beach areas on rivers with activities and lots of jumping off rocks which is free and seems to go down well. Definitely cheaper than Mark Warner but a lot more rustic.

Watching with interest as I have been looking at holidays during school hols for the first time. Still quake ing with shock!

We went to Zakynthos last year and St Nikolas beach in Vassilikos is dedicated to water sports of all kinds. You can also go scuba diving.

I would definitely go down the route of choosing a location with local water sports rather than looking for it all part of the package.

We spend about the same on hol in France last year for all 4 of us. This was all inclusive (food and activities nearly everyday incl cannoning). And we didn't really go for the 'cheapest that you can find' type of hols either.

I agree it is easier to go somewhere where you now there are some water activities and then book something there and than doing the all inclusive stuff as it will usually incl stuff that you don't want/need hence more expensive.

Look at Alpine Elements

For the people that don't include much spending money in their holiday budget not eat very differently from at home or go out to bars in the evenings and days out etc. Or are they cheap places where you can still do all that? I'm curious as whenever I have tried self catering I always go way over budget.

Actually sorry we spend less than the Op. Just above £1k rather than £2k but we were camping rather than having a hol cottage.

We tend to do both creamy.
We eat similar than at home in some ways, completely different trying the stuff from the area (eg French cheese!!) and then go out for a nice meal a few times too. Main difference is that we don't just get a meal at lunch because we can't be bothered/don't have anything and do it nearly everyday but we go for the very nice restaurant, with local specialities a few times in the 2 weeks.

Have you looked at Neillson? We are going to Greece with them, all watersports included, lovely accommodation, all meals bar 3 evening ones per week, c £6k for a fortnight. They do Turkey as well.
Must say price still blew my mind after spending last few years keycamp/gites in France.