Holiday spends

[BLACKTUESDAY1]

For a family of 4 for 10 nights self catering in mainland Spain? DCs 13 and 15. Not planning excursions but will be hiring a car (this cost will be separate so not included in spending money). Myself and DH both drink alcohol. Planning on eating out about 6 times in the evenings with a few meals on balcony. Most lunches will be prepared in apartment and taken with us. I know it's difficult to say but how much would you budget for this type of holiday? Thanks!

Same family set-up as yours, we usually budget around £100 a day, taking into account that some days we'll spend next to nothing (beach, picnic & dinner at apartment) and another day we might go on a trip or have dinner out. This includes supermarket food and alcohol and small expenses like kayak hire, drinks, ice-creams, etc.

I find the most expense goes on eating out at night, so we usually do alternate nights and maybe go out for a couple of drinks before or after eating on the balcony.

We had £1,500 'put by' last year in Croatia, and spent around £1,100 of that (10 days) - and Croatia more expensive than Spain.

Oh, and we only ate in apartment twice in 10 days, due to small kitchen, ridiculous heat and me sitting on terrace, drink in hand, refusing to even boil a pan of pasta. 😬

Thanks for your reply. That sounds sensible and the kind of budget I was thinking of. I was just worried it may not be enough. Alternate night meals out is probably a good idea! What kind of meals do you make when abroad? Our apartments sound quite well equipped but we would like to spend as least time cooking as possible

I used to budget £150 a day but I do not cook on holidays! DD's sometimes did return to apartment in evenings with food from market (obsession with bloody internet and vegetarian) but now they are adults they want to stay out and drink. Haven't got a budget tbh costs what it costs

Haha. Cross post... That sounds exactly like how I will be!

Eating in is usually a quick pasta of pesto or prawns with a salad and some crusty bread. Maybe some tapas from the supermarket, chorizo, cheese, Spanish tortilla, salad. We might get a takeout pizza and rustle up a salad. To be honest, as long as I've got a supply of wine and crusty bread on the balcony, I'm happy! 😁

Yes, wine, crusty bread and pasta sounds perfect to me. Def not slaving over a hot stove for too long. Thanks for the advice. Usually go all inclusive but fancied a change this year

Depends what part of Spain tbh. Marbella area very expensive but Benidorm much cheaper! A pint in Marbella £5-6 and in Benidorm £1-2. Just two examples

Black - will you have access to a BBQ? That always helps. My family suddenly become interested in cooking with a BBQ!

Benalmadena area Mummyshark so I think that's a cheaper part? No bbq unfortunately.... Unless we could use a disposable one on the balcony but doubt that's allowed. shame though because that would be perfect!

Yes that is a more reasonable than marbs!

Not a Spanish holiday expert but we do go to Greece sc on a budget a lot!! Best thing I ever did was buy a wee mini toastie machine which comes along with us. Keeps teens fed as they make toasties before leaving the apartment meaning I spend less on snacks. If we're round the pool I'll make them toasties for lunch rather than paying for them in the snack bar. Can also fry eggs and cook bacon in it if you really want!
We always have breakfast in the apartment (or I do as they're not always up!) and have lots of cereal and snacks around. I budget for about £120 a day and we like having meals out and drinks! No desert in a restaurant though, can get ice cream cones from the ice cream place or supermarket.
In Greece we often go to the grill houses the locals use and have souvlaki pittas for around €3 which really fill you up. There will probably be something similar in Spain but I've not been for a while.