Is everyone spending a fortune this year?

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

We're going to Florida in October and that's taken a huge amount of time to plan and book, and is expensive - so we didn't want to spend much this summer.

I can't bear the thought of weeks at home with no plans, but the more I try to find something reasonably priced, the more I despair.

Can I ask if anyone has reasonably priced holidays booked (outside the UK)? Or is everyone just accepting the prices have now gone up?

Depends what you class as reasonably priced, we managed to get a free child place with Jet2 for the middle of August (booked it this week). I found Jet2 to be generally cheaper than Tui.

If you can book last minute you might get it cheaper, we booked 9 days before departure in May to Greece and saved £1500.

What is ‘reasonably priced’? All my flights this summer are costing 10-20% more than usual, except the long-haul ones which I booked a long time ago. I’d say that’s in line with inflation and the general increase in costs?

I do believe that £30 return flights shouldn’t be a thing, but nowadays I can afford to pay £50 instead. Five years ago I couldn’t have, so it would’ve meant not seeing family as regularly.

If you can’t afford the increase then yes, it’s noticeable. For me it’s been a case of cutting back on takeaways / subscriptions so I can pay dearer flight costs.

It’s not just a 10-20% increase. My usual £70 return is now £280 and I still don’t know if it will be relaxing, or whether I’d worry about getting stranded or losing my luggage.

Just to add, I think the cheap flights were the anomaly. I just resent paying so much and still not having enough leg room or a cup of coffee or more than a micro-bag.

Went to florida recently so sticking to UK holidays this summer. Jet 2 well priced albeit bog standard, but I don't fancy summer holidays travel chaos. Cancelled flights are too much heartache and hassle. I'd rather have 3 UK trips in the hand than a week in Malta in the Bush!

It does depend on routes, that’s true, and on what you’re prepared to compromise on. A direct flight between my local airport and my parents’ used to be €125 return. It’s over €350 this year. I’m doing a 2h layover instead and managed to get it for €150. The price more than doubled because the direct airline reduced the frequency during Covid and never went back to their usual offer… it sucks, I agree. Travel is not as easy (or short and cheap) as it used to be.

All the UK holidays I've looked at are pretty pricey too and after a wash out fortnight last year in Cornwall costing £3k, I'm not taking that risk again

Just a quick warning. We are just back from Florida and it was really expensive. Parking at Universal was $27 and a gallon of milk was nearly $5. The inflation rate in the US is running about 10%.
I would take that into account before booking another holiday.

We looked at Majorca (TUI and Jet2) and were quite shocked by the prices. £900 pp for self catering in a fairly standard aparthotel. Mainland Europe was much more reasonable.

We are driving to France 1 week 5 people ... £1300 for travel and accommodation. All we need to add is food and day trips. But where we go, this can be done on a budget.
I wouldn't fly this summer, to many uncertainties.

We are spending a lot more than recent years, but I thought a lot of our journeys in past were stupidly cheap, so net long-term change not so great.

Nope £3.5k for a week in spain is not value for money
Id rather not go

What sort of thing are you looking for OP? If you want something reasonably priced I'd get tickets for Eurotunnel and gite somewhere in France, for instance. A quick search on the Gites de France website shows plenty of place with 2 bedrooms for under €500 for a week in late July.

Nope £3.5k for a week in spain is not value for money

Woah we are having two weeks all inclusive in the Canary Islands for that, we did book a last year though.

All the package deals I'm looking at are way more expensive than pre-Covid which seems to be the general trend. Am sure that inflation across Europe is not helping. But I really don't way to spend £8/900 pp for a week in a 3 star hotel.

To the PP who said what am I looking for, we're happy to drive to France and do something there. We camped before but I don't want to camp this year (fed up of 3am wees in the dark!) and would like a lodge or mobile home rather than a gite - but finding something is quite difficult. Have spent hours already and most of August is, understandably, sold out.

There is some availability on the Eurocamp website OP. Not a lot for August, admittedly, but there is some with 2-bed lodges/mobile homes. I don't know if this link is going to post, but I'll try. Domaine des Naiades near Port Grimaud has several options for a week in August: www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/rivieraandprovence/rv053-domaine-des-naiades/ataglance.html]]

Siblu has several options too OP for closer to £1k for a week in a mobile home on one of their parks siblu.co.uk/camping/france/loire-valley/domaine-de-dugny?startDate=06-08-2022&endDate=13-08-2022#siblu-moonda-widget-search-form

I've only done a very cursory search, but there is plenty of stuff still out there!

Thanks for the suggestions, will take a look

Domaine des Naiades is a long drive if you're only going for a week (used to go there as a child ). Have a look at Yelloh Village, Siblu and Sandaya in France for campsites with chalets.