Holidays seem to have shot up in price?! Or is it me??

[YourHandInMyHand]

I'm soo in need of a holiday! Currently pregnant and poorly on and off so am planning ahead to next year instead of this year.

Last year we were away loads, I am shocked at the prices for next year! Last year we did a week in an all inclusive villa resort in Portugal (1600), a weekend in Amsterdam (about 300), and 2 short uk breaks (a haven and a camping pod).

Has anyone booked a nice, affordable family holiday for next year, or seen any good deals?

What I'm looking for:

Short flight (4hrs or less)

Nice hot weather (23 degrees up as rough guide)

All inclusive or affordable to eat out a lot (otherwise I will be cooking and pot washing just like I do at home, no thanks!)

2 bedrooms (eg 2 bed apartment or 2 bed suite)

For 2 adults, a 13yr old and an infant.

Ideally in school holidays as DS should by then finally be in a specialist school. But I could maybe take him out the week before a school hol starts if it's a massive saving.

I've even looked at UK breaks out of desperation but they all involve either a costly budget for eating out every night, or me being on a busman's holiday of still having to cook/wash pots. Plus I would like the guaranteed sunshine of going abroad.

Yes prices have shot up .... a friend has just booked a week at a caravan park in August in .... £1200!!! For a week in a caravan!!

Yes, they have increased. I think partly due to concerns about travelling to turkey/egypt/Tunisia I which has resulted in Med hoteliers being able to increase prices as more people want to go. There's also issues with Brexit.

During my searches I found the Spanish resorts popular with Brits seem to be better value compared to other places.

Bulgaria is still cheap.

Oh glad others have noticed, I wondered if I was missing something!

Yes even UK breaks I've looked at I've been shocked at the price.

I don't think DP would want to do Turkey/Morocco/Tunisia. Personally I'd maybe do the first two but I know DP would be too anxious. I've been to Tunisia before with DS but it was in 2011 if I remember right, it was def before the attack on a tourist resort. Me and DP went to Morocco a couple of years ago and he was massively on edge.

Personally I think you're taking a risk even booking London and Paris so may as well go where you want to go. But yes, I think it's that and Brexit issues that are to blame.

I really want to find something marvellous and not eye wateringly expensive. I'm determined! If I do find the holy grail I shall report back ha ha.

Yes, that's the quandary really isn't it? Terrorist attacks could happen anywhere. A while ago I looked up the hotel in Tunisia which was attacked. It changed owners and names and is apparently very popular with Germans now.

We looked at booking somewhere on the south coast for two nights for this weekend/weekend after. Admittedly it is last minute during a heatwave but we were being quoted £450-£800 for two nights(!). Most caravan parks want a minimum of 3 nights so that's out for us as DP can't get anytime off work.

Last year we looked at a caravan park in Devon for end of August and were quoted over £1000. Centre Parks also want the same for the first week of September this year. Unsurprisingly we've booked to go abroad as it's better value given we are going AI.

We have a mobile home in France - through the operator they quote £1800 for a week in peak. You can rent direct from owners for half that or less, for exactly the same thing, n fact often better as the owners have higher spec kit out.

I think you were exceptionally lucky to get a week AI for 3 for £1600 - was that school hols? I've already been looking at next year and for 4 of us am getting quotes north of 4k for AI in August.

aperol yes it was school hols, but October half term. It was still gorgeous weather to sunbathe and enjoy but the outdoor pools were freezing. We enjoyed paddling in the sea at the beach though, and used the indoor heated pool too. It was a lovely holiday! I even looked at the exact same resort for next year, which I usually never do but it's shot in price just like everywhere else.

I really loved Tunisia when I went, and would go back but like I say DP is a more nervy traveller than I am.

I've looked at the eurocamp type places too as an option but even they seem to add up once you add on travel costs, food costs, etc.

It's so tricky!

We are currently in Gozo - 10 night for 4 adults and a child, 3 bedroom apartment, flights, hire car for £1800. Eating out is v reasonable. We could have done it much cheaper if we didn’t want 3 bedrooms and a pool. We come a lot and it’s a great place for kids and always good deals to be had.

How about looking at booking it all seperately as I'm assuming you're looking at tour operator prices? The budget airlines won't be releasing their flights for summer 2019 until later in the year (you can sign up for an email alert when they go live). If you book them on release and fly out a Monday or Tuesday you can usually get a bit of a bargain. Booking.com have AI places and most hotels they feature have a pay on the day option if you need to save up. Hoopa are good for hotel/airport transfers and always seem to have a special offer on if you Google it. I know it's all more of a faff & you'll need to work out where you want to go in advance of flight releases but in my experience it does save a lot! Maybe it's just Europe that's shot up - I've booked ten days in Sri Lanka with transfers & 4 star hotels for just under £2200 for the 3 of us. Maybe you need to look further afield?!

At 13 your oldest will be classed as an adult for most so reality is you’ve lost any free child place eligibility except for turkeyvwhich usually go older
Brexit is making tour operators nervous too

Would love some Gozo recommendations welsh weasel. I did a day trip there years ago and would love to go back with the DC. Is it stupidly hot in summer?