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!

Neilson are cheaper and better than Mark Warner, but can still be eye watering.

have a look at Seafarer or Ocean Elements, lesser known, may be cheaper. The kit, safety and staff do add up though.

Thank you FreshCucumber.

If you were to go for Mark Warner I suggest a week for the first time to see if you like it. I went on five when my two youngest were pre school age and my eldest a young teen because they worked well for us as a family. I thought I did get my money worth because I water skied each day, learnt to sail, my husband learnt to sail and wind surf and DS1 did all that and had lots of people to hang out with. The main disadvantage is everyone is British and the conversation seems to be a bit where do live, work, send your DC to school etc? I just switched of from all that.
For a cheaper option I think Magic Life hotels are good value for the amount of activities they offer.

Take a look at Rockley. You can book own accommodation, it is drivable, west coast of France far enough down to guarantee weather. £360 per week for 5 day course, 25% less for second week ie about £70 per day per person for instruction and hire. Or £290 for 3 day course. They do RYA certificates, and operate from Poole over here too.

I would be choosing this one if we weren't restricted to a week and the family weren't hankering to go somewhere other than France.

STOP PRESS
Just checked the campsite website and they do mobiles
€ 806-995 per week in August

travelincolour I wasn't looking particularly at AI - would prefer not, tbh - but the kinds of activities we wanted seemed to point to it. We don't go out to bars in the evenings (who babysits??) and tend not to stay in towns so it's just easier to cook for ourselves. And yes, I do drink wine but not that much more than at home and wine's a lot cheaper abroad!

Re Neilson: yes, have been with them before, years ago, & they were great but it was a freebie not in peak season and 6k still gives me 'seeing the vicar naked' face.

Lots of good suggestions here though that I will definitely research, although DH really, really won't camp, or caravan.

Alpine elements offer what your after.
I looked for 1 week for 2 adults and 2 older kids in Greece.
Cost was about £4k in August.
All sports were included.

abear where did you stay in the Ardeche?

Many thanks to Specialsubject for her reference to Seafarer. Have just booked a week in Levkas with them. Less frills than the big companies but has everything we need.

I find Spain is much cheaper than France. Have you looked into that?

How about a villa/hotel in Dubrovnik? Plenty of water sports available on Banje Beach and heaps of other stuff too. You can take v short ferry to island opposite where people jump from the rocks into the sea (was safe, honestly!). We did a great sea kayaking trip. All sorts to do. Jet2 fly there and I expect Easy Jet etc do too.

Just to say that Lake Garda is very hot, albeit with the odd rain shower. Stunning views, great watersports, fabulous food etc. Give it some thought?

Look at Crystal summer? We stayed here in Riva del Garda:

www.crystalsummer.co.uk/holidays/italy/riva-lake-garda/riviera/

What about Lake Annecy in France too?

Alpine / Ocean Elements is another company to look at but they're more basic/budget IME but with v nice food even so.

We don't spend much more on food on hols than at home because we don't go out for meals much. Mainly cos we are veggie and mostly go to France where finding veggie food is quite difficult. It is possible, but it's not really a treat that's worth the expense when you've had your fifth omlette-frites-and-no-other-options! Also, shopping in markets and little shops and even big hypermarkets is part of the fun of being Abroad for me, and I like cooking. I do simpler food than at home, more salads and fresh fruit and stuff but I don't think it costs much more than the way I cook at home. We do drink a lot more wine, but it's much cheaper than at home when you are buying it direct yourself!

I was hotter than I've ever been my life once in a hotel in Lake Garda. We were so hot (flat roof on the room) that we actually left the next morning.

Yes Branching, our air con was needed in Lake Garda!

We've just booked Mark Warner for a week in June, more for the activities than the accommodation. We've done Sunsail once before a few years ago. That was lovely but we got a v cheap early season deal. Mark Warner was reasonable for us but we have a tiny so can avoid school holidays.

We had a great time with active adventures (lanzarote, but they have other sites). Definitely less than 8k and you can choose self catering or full board options.

i'd try portugal for good windsurfing & cheaper accommodation costs - just go self-catering