How much spending money?

[Whycantistaymotivated]

Hi All

First holiday abroad in 5 years, trying to work out a budget for spending money

Going to the Balearics Oct 2023, 5 of us going (3 kids, 13, 11, 6) how much would a realistic for spending. Going for 7 days.

Thanks 🙂

Depends on what it needs to cover. Does your accommodation cover meals and if not, will you be self catering, eating out all the time or a mixture? Are you hiring a car or using public transport or can you walk to wear you want to go? Are you planning to mostly sit by the pool/on the beach all day or do you want to visit lot of places/do lots of activities?

Are you going self catering or all inclusive ? If self catering are you planning on having breakfast and lunch in the apartment and only eating out at night ? When we went away last year 2 adults one 16 yr old I budgeted 50 euros each per day so 150 euros x 7 days = 1050. Son also had 300 euros of his own money to get himself some bits. We also took some english money and a credit card should we have needed it.

Will be self catering, hoping to do most breakfasts in the apartment and take packed lunches/ snacks while out, will probably eat out most nights. No hire car. Public transport but hoping to stay local. a few days out planned to small theme park/ fun fair, splash park and safari(they provide buses) rest of the time will be in the hotel pool, activities or the beach

I'd aim to save £2000 and consider it a happy bonus if you bring anything back.

I’d say £1000 give or take a few hundred depending on where you like to eat.

We’re in Mallorca now and surprised at how cheap it all still is.
the averages across the island (we have a car) are:
Paella up to €25 each
glass wine €3.50
Large beer €3
lunch burgers or baguettes with chips €7
fish dishes €14+
cocktails from €8 even in Palma
sunloungers on council run beaches €18 for 2 with umbrella

car hire is pricey at €80 day for basic car whereas the day we got the bus was €2 per person each way.

Do you want me to check the prices of anything else whilst I’m here?

I’d say £1500 minimum

you can do cheaper but I wouldnt want to scrimp on holiday

for evening meal for 5 it’d be about £120-150 per day with drinks

£2k. Probably be £150 per night for dinner for 5. If kids want wind surfing or similar money will soon go. I would take a debit or credit card too.

We've done Majorca on a really tight budget (stayed at a friend's place) with 5 people incl 3 kids similar ages.

It can be as cheap as you can, or as expensive.

UK cereals can be very expensive (and the milk can be wierd) so it might be worth buying bread and having nutella/jam/cheese and meat for a more substantial breakfast which means lunch can be lighter and cheaper.

Deffo go for picnic lunch if you can. Freeze half-filled bottles of water to use as ice packs (then top up with water). This can be as fancy as you like, or buy a lighter lunch.

Self-catering teas again, as basic or fancy as you like - can you bbq? When on a tight budget we ate out only a few times; local beers/wine/spirits are much cheaper.

Eating out for dinner I'd budget min €20 for an adult main, €12 for kids, plus starters/dessert/drinks. Up to megabucks for something fancier.

We're not hiring a car this year as we know the routine for busses and trains. But when we have, it's been cheaper to book in the resort (make sure you take driving licences and have a credit card).

Finally, if possible try and find a big supermarket - Lidl or Carrefour are MUCH cheaper than corner shops. You can buy in bulk (pastries, pasta, sauces, veg/fruit/salads) and still have a much wider choice of groceries than from the spar!

€30 per adult, €15 per child per evening meal for normal price bracket meal

Many thanks for your replies, I should have said we don't drink alcohol so don't need to factor in the extra cost.

£200/£250 per day, you could swap a couple of dinners out to lunch out to save some money.

Thanks, we were thinking €100-€150 a day for food

I started typing a realistic reply, but then realised you are talking about next year.
I'd ask nearer the time - who knows what will happen before then !