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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

Is there a cheap way to get abroad anymore ?

35 replies

Missanneshirley · 11/02/2015 23:27

I haven't travelled much for a few years so maybe I am just out of touch! but I am trying to get away for a few days with dh and 2 small dds for a few days over our October holiday this year - something like a few days in Barcelona. I am gobsmacked at the prices! Shock
Ryanair flights to European cities are coming in at £600+ for the 4 of us, then I would still need to find hotels and transfers. so then I changed tack and thought maybe I could get it cheaper as a package - 4 figures!
am I hopelessly out of touch and that IS a cheap break now?
its a "special" birthday for me so had really fancied a treat!

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SwedishEdith · 11/02/2015 23:29

Where are you flying from? October half term?

GoooRooo · 11/02/2015 23:32

We've just paid just over £1k for flights and an AI hotel in Turkey for two adults and one child for a fortnight. I thought that was pretty good value.

Original poster
Missanneshirley · 11/02/2015 23:37

That sounds like a great deal! and when you see things like that I don't know why I can't get 3 nights for a proportionate amount of money Grin
we are in Scotland, have one week off in October but dh only off from the middle of the week hence 3 or 4 nights rather than 7

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SwedishEdith · 11/02/2015 23:39

Might be best to just find cheapest flights to a city and then plan a trip around that? Amsterdam is often cheaper. Or Paris?

GoooRooo · 11/02/2015 23:40

We're going in May so not high season - but neither is October!

Original poster
Missanneshirley · 11/02/2015 23:42

I sat tonight and put in the dates we can do for all the Ryan air airports that my local one flies to (I'm not fussy! ) and nothing less than £500 return for the 4 of us, most up at £7-800. is this reasonable, am I just out of touch?

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MelanieCheeks · 11/02/2015 23:44

How much etre you hoping to pay, for4 people?

SwedishEdith · 11/02/2015 23:46

Depends what days you're travelling? Tuesday is cheaper. Coming home on a Sunday is more expensive?

AnyFucker · 11/02/2015 23:51

It's still cheaper to go by coach than to fly

cococandyfloss · 11/02/2015 23:57

Have you tried Jet2 MissAnneshirley? (Love the name by the way). If you are Edinburgh way have you thought about flying from Newcastle -it is always cheaper flying from England in Scottish school hols.

You are right though prices have definitely gone up -we were £1000 last year for 5 of us to Portugal , the flights are £1500 this year.

mummymeister · 12/02/2015 00:11

look at skyscanner and ebookers for cheaper flights. is it in October half term starts 16th in private schools until the end of the month. if so that's why its so expensive. look at airbandb for cheap accommodation. you are right it is expensive to fly now but mile for mile not as expensive as driving.

Original poster
Missanneshirley · 12/02/2015 07:34

Thank you so much will take a look at all these!
I was just a bit surprised, £1k+ is a summer holiday in my book, not a mini break!
I didn't know that re Sundays, will wiggle our dates about a bit!

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Theas18 · 12/02/2015 07:37

Trouble is you are flying 2 ways. Doesn't matter if it's gor 3 nights a fortnight or a month the travel element is the same surely?
Coach to Paris?

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 12/02/2015 07:42

It is expensive to fly - even short flights. We live near Munich and people ask why we don't "pop back" to the UK more often/ just for one night to join a birthday meal or similar as it's only a short flight - possibly because with 3kids it can't be done for much under €1000, that's why! Hmm

There is a ferry from Edinburgh to Amsterdam I think - won't work if you only have 3 days this time though.

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 12/02/2015 07:44

The problem with a city type break is that they are generally not aimed at families in the way that a week's beach holisat with a charter airline is. October does actually tend to be a very popular time for such destinations as well as summer is just too hot to enjoy sightseeing compared to October.

Agree with the pp who suggested skyscanner - you can say where you want to travel from and when and it will bring up prices for all destinations. Is it a city in particular you're after or just getting away from it all? Depending on where you are in the UK, would driving be an option? We uses to drive to Tuscany as my brother was terrified of flying.

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 12/02/2015 07:47

oops, missed Scotland! Driving may be not such an option. Problem is also that flights south will take you a long time to clear the UK. What about Scandinavia? is it heat you're after?

Original poster
Missanneshirley · 12/02/2015 19:03

Thank you all great ideas!
I have no set destination at all and sun not essential, although I'd rather it was moderately better than Scotland at least!!
driving fine in theory but I am trying to eek the most out of 3 or so days.
dd1 is 7 and we have barely traveled since having her so I guess it's just a huge jump from the prices 7yrs ago for 2 adults Grin Grin
have never used sky scanner so will give it a go and it might throw up something tempting. I'm usually quite good at sniffing out deals for UK breaks so was quite shocked at 4 digits appearing on the screen!

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Original poster
Missanneshirley · 12/02/2015 19:04

Sorry am aware i am sounding like a stereotypical tight arse scot! We are just far from flush but i had really hoped for a 40th birthday treat!

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AngelsWithSilverWings · 12/02/2015 19:12

I had this problem last year. I really wanted to go away in Oct half term but everywhere was so expensive. I gave up and handed the job of finding us a holiday to DH.

He booked us on easyjet flights to Berlin staying in a large suite in a spa hotel. It was fantastic , the kids loved it and to top it off we had an October heatwave! Total cost from memory for a 6 day break was £1200.

A very memorable holiday.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 12/02/2015 19:17

Sorry - should have said that the flights were only £400 but we splurged on a luxury hotel. Berlin is very family friendly and most hotels have family rooms so you don't need to book a suite like we did.

beatricequimby · 12/02/2015 21:34

I also have the Scottish school's October week. One cheaper option could be the overnight ferry to Amsterdam from Newcastle. Came in cheaper than flights when I costed it.

Singleandproud · 12/02/2015 21:41

What about rail travel? If you get an inter rail pass you can travel around Europe and kiddies are free.

Was looking for me and DD (5)
£8 from Norfolk to London Victoria (Family and Friends rail card), £40 on the ID bus travelling overnight, wake up in Paris, day or 2 in paris a 4 days of travel in 10 interail pass for £127, then train to Nice for a couple of days on to Marseille, back to paris and ID bus (£60 on the way back again travelling overnight) then train home for a £10. So all travel for under £250.

Hoppinggreen · 12/02/2015 22:00

We have friends who live in Scotland and they fly from Newcastle ( about 1 hour drive) because Scottish holidays are often different so the flights are less outside Scotland.

Original poster
Missanneshirley · 12/02/2015 23:49

hours of my life just been wasted on sky scanner !Grin
amazing invention! Poland is cheap that time of year ..Hmm Wink Wink

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Original poster
Missanneshirley · 12/02/2015 23:50

oops too many smilies sorry!

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