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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

Have we any hope of a holiday abroad (or if not in UK) for 3 of us with £1000?

78 replies

imaginaryfriend · 25/05/2007 14:32

This is pathetic but dd is nearly 5 and we've never got enough money together to take her on a holiday. This year we've saved up £1000 and were thinking of finding a cottage in the Uk somewhere, but she's so desperate to go on a plane that I can't help dreaming we might manage somewhere for this kind of money. Is it a totally foolish dream?

We would need to go within the school holidays unfortunately.

And if it is do you have any tips for a good UK holiday?

OP posts:
Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 25/05/2007 16:50

I love France Hula, the problem is with driving I think as I've always been told you need a car in the French countryside. We can't drive.

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 25/05/2007 17:20

You could go to a Greek Island where there aren't any cars at all - try Folegandros. I love it there...

nappyaddict · 25/05/2007 19:11

a lot of the time there is a local bus service so you might not be walking that much. or you could walk there and get a taxi back when dd would be tired.

i'd still for the buggy personally. my cousins didn't stop using theirs until they turned 5.

nappyaddict · 25/05/2007 19:14

mrs spoon i want to come to your apartment!! how many does it sleep - is it 4?

MrsSpoon · 26/05/2007 12:48

nappyaddict, it sleeps six and then there is a travel cot. Mail me through the website here using the enquiry form, click the "booking" tab. Remember to tell me you are a MNetter.

nappyaddict · 26/05/2007 12:57

ok will discuss it with my sister and see what she thinks.

have seen this that might suit you IF. we stayed there last year and it was marvellous.

MrsSpoon · 26/05/2007 13:11

No prob, hope to hear from you soon.

I have now paid and submitted an ad to MN so it should be appearing soon.

MrsSpoon can sleep at night now without feelings of guilt

DaisysGotSausageFeet · 26/05/2007 13:16

We've booked centre parsc in Belgium for a week in October for 1000 euros. If we gone to one in the UK, it would have cost 1400 pounds as its the half teerm holiday

not sure about the summer prices, but worth looking at their website!

Or could you fly to somewhere in the UK on a cheap deal...

lyrabelacqua · 26/05/2007 13:18

I've managed to book a two week holiday in the south of France for 4 of us for just under £1,500 so it can be done. You just have to spend a lot more time researching and book flights, accommodation etc individually.
We've had some very good deals by booking villas direct with the owners on a site called Holday Rentals and booking flights separately. We did two weeks in Italy last year for £1,200 and Tenerife for under £1,000 for four of us.
All these were staying in villas (not tents and flying with major airlines.
hth

lyrabelacqua · 26/05/2007 13:21

That should be Holiday Rentals, obviously.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 26/05/2007 18:40

Thanks so much everyone.

I had a chat to dp last night and he's all for flying to Cornwall and trying for 1-2 weeks there. I thought he'd be so keen to go abroad but he doesn't seem to be so far.

OP posts:
matilda57 · 31/05/2007 09:28

I've been on a few holidays to the Peligoni Club on Zakynthos (Zante) - Greek island. It is predominantly a sailing club, though last time I went I didn't sail. You book your own flights (Peligoni have recommended agents) and I got a very cheap room through Peligoni, who have links throughout the island so you can choose from exclusive (expensive) or basic (cheap). The club is very family-friendly and has events throughout the year. Last time I went I did it on the massively cheap - though watch out for the bar bill at the club, as you are charged at the end of the hol and it can come as a bit of a shock! Don't know how to post the link, but if you google Peligoni Club you'll get the site. I've had some fantastic hols there.

matilda57 · 31/05/2007 09:42

You could also try Neals Yard Agency for 'alternative' hols - I get most of my hols from them. A lot of the hols are yoga-based, but I've never done the yoga LOL, just used the site to wangle a cheap hol somewhere exclusive. Ulpotha are a relatively new club in Sri Lanka, so you can get some deals through them.

michaelad · 31/05/2007 09:43

MrsSpoon, fab place of yours! Are there any restaurants closer by than 15 mins? My ds1 is an unbelievable lazy walker!

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 01/06/2007 09:46

Thanks everyone. Dp became set on the idea of flying to Cornwall, i.e. taking dd on a plane but eliminating other worries such as no car and too much heat (dd has a very bad facial eczema which we wondered about with hot sun, we can't use sun block on it). But I can't find a single un-booked Cornwall cottage for August. So we're back looking again.

I'll look up the Neal's Yard suggestion and I've run the Spain options by dp again.

OP posts:
PenelopePitstops · 01/06/2007 09:56

How about flying to Ireland? There are lots of holiday cottages in the South West and the flight isnt too long to cork, bout an hour.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 01/06/2007 10:30

That is a good idea, I hadn't thought of Ireland. Any ideas of good places to stay there given our lack of ability to drive?

OP posts:
portonovo · 01/06/2007 11:43

How about one - has availability

or this one in Hayle - on 30 May still had 2 weeks left in summer holidays

Plenty more on www.chycor.co.uk

Ladymuck · 01/06/2007 11:54

Am intrigued where all these cheap cottages in Cornwall during school hols are? We want to be able to swim, but finding anything at all under £800 seems to be impossible.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 01/06/2007 12:04

Where did you find those from Pontonervo?

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PenelopePitstops · 01/06/2007 12:25

Not being able to drive could make ireland quite difficult, unless you stayed in a big city. Cork is great to stay in, but have only stayed in hotels which are expensive compared to a holiday cottage.

Maybe someone nows somewhere in Dublin?

portonovo · 01/06/2007 12:27

This one in Penzance is £800 and still has vacancies for 2 weeks in August
www.chycor.co.uk/php/offsite/chycoroffsite.php?url=www.chyandourhall.com&advert=www.chycor.co.uk/cottages/penzance-holiday-homes-chyandour

Penzance is great if you don't drive or don't want to take the car - we took our 3 when they were 5, 3 and 1 and managed all holiday with train/bus/walking/ferry, loads of things to see and do.

casbie · 01/06/2007 12:36

how about a trip to isles of scilly?

go in a helicopter to st mary's and then camp?

they take your stuff and drive you to the campsite. sorry don't know details. google it?

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 01/06/2007 14:12

portonovo, how did you find that one? I know Penzance actually and it would be a good location for us.

Helicopter! Wow, dd wouldn't know what's hit her ...

OP posts:
portonovo · 01/06/2007 18:52

I've used www.chycor.co.uk quite a lot, seems to have a lot of different types of accommodation, many at reasonable prices.

We've had 3 family holidays in Penzance over the last 14 years and really enjoyed them. We've been for day-trips to St Mary's on Scilly twice, once with the helicopter (you're right, children really loved that one!), and once with the ferry. Really great. I'd love a week's holiday on St Mary's but that gets a bit pricier.

Two of the times we went, we left the car at home and took the train. Really easy - we even managed it taking our own towels and bedding! Although obviously easier if you find somewhere that provides all linen.

Loads to do without a car - bus to St Michael's Mount, train to St Ives or Truro. You can even do special train/bus combinations to Eden Project.

We did stay here one year - penzance - very cheap (only £450 even now in high season), fairly small and basic but clean and had all you needed. It's about a mile from Penzance town centre so very walkable. The website doesn't show availability so you'd need to email the owner. Very friendly owners.

You've set me off now, we've been talking about it and everyone wants to go back to Penzance next year!