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Original poster

£6500 for a weeks holiday?!?!

94 replies

schoolsgettingonmynerves · 05/06/2014 08:03

There are 3 adults and 3 kids (2 toddlers one new born), going to a 5 star all inclusive for a week in Greece….

Does this price seem wildly high?? I know its high and I choked when I saw the cost but is this what you have to pay these days to stay 5 star?? I am in shock.

OP posts:
LtEveDallas · 05/06/2014 09:18

Greece is very expensive at the moment.

We always go AI and never less than 4*, because we have found that otherwise the quality of the food and drink is pretty poor. Under a 4 star it is more 'canteen' rather than restaurant.

When we were looking last year the cheapest we could get for 2 adults and 1 child in Greece for 2 weeks was about 5K. We went to Egypt instead for 3K.

This year the same holiday as last year is coming up at 3.5K, and Greece is still hitting the 5K mark. Sensatori resorts are even more expensive than that - when I first looked (before I reduced the results) there was one coming up for 12K Shock. I'd really like to go to Greece, but not until the prices drop a bit.

You will probably need 2 rooms with 3 adults, and you'll only get one of the children 'free' (if at all - if it's for this year then the free spaces will probably all be gone - to get one these days you need to book a year in advance).

I'd look at Cyprus maybe. Very very similar to Greece, but cheaper.

ssd · 05/06/2014 09:18

op, you can afford it, so why ask?

LittleBearPad · 05/06/2014 09:19

Is the wedding at that hotel or in the vicinity?

It seems a lot. I assume the baby doesn't get a seat on the plane but the toddlers do? However all three should be free or only have a small cost in the resort.

I'd prefer self catering in your shoes.

LtEveDallas · 05/06/2014 09:20

Ahh, it's for a wedding. Oh dear, you don't have that much choice then do you? If you can afford it then yes, that price is probably correct. Greece is just ridiculous at the moment, sorry.

AgaPanthers · 05/06/2014 09:21

I think the problem is that you need 2 rooms. With 2 rooms it works out excessively expensive. Rent a car + villa maybe?

For that kind of price you could be staying in private islands in the world's best hotel. Albeit only 1 room, here the problem is you are paying £££ * 2 (or 3).

Preciousbane · 05/06/2014 09:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lilaclily · 05/06/2014 09:25

If only you'd mentioned the wedding in the op .....
Then we wouldn't all have suggested alternative holidays

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 05/06/2014 09:28

It sounds like a lot, but I'm not surprised it costs that much TBH.

DP and I generally spend about 1.2k for a week in total in Spain outside the school holidays (B+B in a 3/4* hotel plus eating out for about half of lunches and evening meals) plus lots of drinks in bars.

So you have 3 times as many people, travelling further, in a nicer hotel and unlimited drinks/snacks/meals (we have quite a few cheap snacky meals like cheese, meat, bread and olives plus supermarket beer and wine). Are you looking at high season as well? We usually go to the Canaries in May, which is the cheapest time of year to do so, and Mallorca in September, which again is much cheaper than July or August.

Saganoren · 05/06/2014 09:29

That's a lot of money but in the ballpark for the kind of "holiday", you require. If you can afford it, go for it and ignore the "we camp round Bulgaria for £5 a day" brigade. If the money is bothering you then go 4-star or look for a villa, but of course then you will have to cater

Original poster
schoolsgettingonmynerves · 05/06/2014 09:29

Just because you can afford it doesn't make it ok! I still don't want to be ripped off. I'm sure millionaires would still watch their pennies even though you'd argue that they didn't need to. So that's a silly thing to say.

I just wanted to know if other people had paid similar. It seems some of you have which makes me feel better..

The reviews are all good.

OP posts:
SilasGreenback · 05/06/2014 09:33

Have you tried looking at Quo Vardis to compare prices. I know they are pretty top end but also the reps know about all the family stuff as they visit all the hotels. If it's more than them I would say it's excessive but it is hard to tell.

Getting a hotel where you will feel relaxed and pampered seems a good idea given you have to travel with such a young baby.

Saganoren · 05/06/2014 09:37

Who's to say whether it's rip off or not, it's a free market and obviously people are prepared to pay it. If the price makes you feel sick then downgrade. I'm sure you'll have a lovely experience. If it reassures you we spent more than that on a family of four doing 5-star AI at Christmas in the Caribbean and though I was not at all convinced and wanted to go 3-star/not go at all (dh insisted and paid, we had a great time and in hindsight if you're not left with debts, you forget the cost and just hold on to great memories

beccajoh · 05/06/2014 09:37

I don't think Greece is particularly unsafe for babies. Your newborn is going to be on milk only at that point so you won't be worrying about food safety.

ssd · 05/06/2014 09:57

but why does it make you feel better if others pay this too? it makes no difference surely

allinthegameyo · 05/06/2014 10:10

Whilst we never scrimp on holidays, I will still try to shop around and get the best deal.
I always have a rough budget in mind which suits us, which is:
2 adults 2 young teens.
£1500 - £3000 max for a week short haul.
£4000 ish for a week/10 days/2 weeks long haul
depending on destination/resort.

If a 5* in Greece for £6.5 k is what you want and I'm sure you will enjoy it, then so be it. that's your choice. but personally I would have to be happy with the holiday and the price.

we have been 5 a couple of times and it was worth it, also been in some great 3/4 accommodation.
and we've always paid for the holiday before we go not on cc.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 05/06/2014 10:11

That is a huge amount to pay Shock We have had a beautiful villa with a private pool for 2 weeks in the height of the summer season for a third of that price, flights included!

Original poster
schoolsgettingonmynerves · 05/06/2014 10:14

Thank you for all your opinions. Food for thought x

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 05/06/2014 10:17

I think it depends on how much you want to spend.
There is no way I would spend that sort of money on a holiday as I don't think it would bring my family 6k of happiness, but each to their own.
So price is relative really.

rhubarbcrumbleplease · 05/06/2014 15:33

Sounds about right for 5* AI. For that price I'd want the DC in a separate room with an interconnecting door. And room service.

peggyundercrackers · 05/06/2014 15:48

I don't think you can compare renting a villa to staying in a 5* AI hotel. a villa will always be cheaper as you have to do everything yourself whereas in a hotel you will do nothing - isn't a holiday about relaxing and getting away form the daily grind things you do? im also guessing at that price you wont be flying cattle class on easyjet... it is a lot of money but if you can afford it go for it.

kelda · 05/06/2014 15:51

It's the normal price. I really wanted to go somewhere really nice for a week in august, with three children, but there is no way we can pay those prices (not even looking at 5stars!). We are sticking with a caravan on a French campsite, not too far from us.

ChickenFajitasAndNachos · 05/06/2014 16:02

Without the 3rd adult I'd expect to pay around 5k for a proper 5 star holiday. It's the 3rd adult that's pushing the price up.
Yes I have paid similar for a price per person comparison.
Have you looked at all options of booking the holiday, different websites etc? Sometimes slightly tweaking the length or arrival day may bring down the cost. Have you tried asking for a reduction?

JaneParker · 05/06/2014 16:22

Our last holiday was over double that for a week (and I was personally paying all the cost)! It's all relative.

What really matters though is not how much you spend but whether everyone gets on and if they enjoy it. Just spend what you can afford.

yourlittlesecret · 05/06/2014 16:44

I've paid nearly that for 5* in Cyprus which is dearer than Greece, but my DC are teens and therefore adult price. You have 3 tinies so it does seem steep.
There will always be someone on MN who pays £2.50 for a month travelling Europe sleeping in a tent.

If you can afford it do it. If you have the money you can buy your way out of the hassle of organising flights and accommodation. Self catering has it's advantages in that you get more space but you then have to eat out. Which is not always a treat with toddlers. AI means you drift in to the restaurant and everyone eats when they want. The place we were at last year had nursery staff at one end of the restaurant "entertaining" some little ones while parents ate in peace.
There will never be a more stressful time than with a new baby and 2 toddlers and the luxury should ensure you get a bit of a holiday as well.

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 05/06/2014 17:15

This thread is full of ups and downs for me now!

We are going to have to book last minute for a week in mid to late September due to not knowing exactly what DPs work commitments over the summer are or we could just not go at all, which is simply unthinkable.

We just want a week somewhere where it will be still hot enough to laze about in the sun and go snorkelling. Neither of us fancies Egypt and we are leaning towards Greece or Cyprus, but are prepared to be flexible and as long as it's not teen clubbing capitals for Brits on the piss like Falaraki or Ayia Napa, it doesn't cost an absolute fortune, and we can get some local food we'll be happy.

Someone up thread that Cyprus was much cheaper than Greece and I've spent all day thinking - ooh we can go to Cyprus. And now someone else says that Cyprus is even more expensive than Greece, which appears to be bloody expensive.

Other option was Lanzarote, so maybe that's in the frame now. I'll be back on here in early September asking where all the last minute bargains that everyone seems to get are.

I expect that the person who got a fortnight for a family in a villa in the height of summer for 'a third of £6.5k' booked a long way in advance, and would have spent loads on top on food and drink, unless it was within striking distance of an Aldi or similar Smile.