How much does it cost to holiday abroad in the summer for a family of 4?

[ShowOfHands]

I know that's like asking how long is a piece of string but bear with me...

I don't travel abroad, only ever camp in the UK. I don't even have a passport.

Eldest DC finishes high school this year and youngest finishes primary. Eldest is off to boarding college and the start of high school for the youngest feels like the end of an era. We've spent six years doing up the house (serious project including some rebuilding) and we have finally nearly finished. I had an idle thought that next summer, we could go on a big holiday to mark what feels like a lot of endings and new beginnings. DD is practising her french speaking exam and one of her comments about where she goes on les vacances basically says camping gets a bit boring after 16 years. I've never left Europe and I've never taken the DC further than Scotland.

I thought I'd pick a random far flung destination and check out flights. Friends have just come back from Canada so I chose 2 weeks in August, economy flights and it's 3k for flights. Presumably, with accommodation, food, entertainment and all that stuff, it's going to cost more than my new kitchen and bathroom combined to have a holiday.

Is that normal? Are there cheaper ways of doing it? I don't even know where to start. Is Europe cheaper? How do you decide where to go?

The children - quite honestly - admitted they'd love to experience a holiday that isn't so basic or such hard work for me. Often DH can't come with us so I'm used to setting up the tent, cooking in the rain, doing laundry in a tent etc. Some of dd's best friends went to Malaysia, Costa Rica, South Africa and Portugal respectively in the holidays and we camped in North Devon. Her friends aren't from a remarkably different socioeconomic background but I'm not sure how they're affording it if my cursory googling is indicative of general costs.

We don't like beaches or heat. We like history, hiking/trekking, culture, arts, steam trains, theatre, literature, curiosities, whimsy. It would be once in a lifetime so would like it to be memorable if we were to do it.

Before I start hoping or planning, is it possible for it to cost less than significant renovation costs? I don't need fancy or first class. Just different to a tent in the drizzle (which I adore!).

It depends where you go and what you do once you're there. Here are some indicative all-in costs from our last few holidays (2 adults, 2 children):

• Costa Rica for two weeks, touring around and doing all the activities on offer: £15k

• Mexico for 10 days, 2 centres, lots of activities: £12k

• South of France for a week, staying at a basic but completely fine Eurocamp site: £2k

• Belgium and the Netherlands for a week, staying at a Center Parcs village, with one day at a theme park: £2k

We're thinking of going either to Majorca or the Pyrenees next summer. Majorca is coming in at £3.5k for flights and accommodation. France is about £2k.

Depending on where and when, your normal package type beach holiday in Europe would be about £2.5 to 6k.

It sounds like you'd be looking for more of an activity type holiday or maybe one that was more city based?

Long haul will generally be more expensive in terms of the flight costs due to the fuel needed really.

In europe why not look at somewhere like Austria? The ski type resorts usually have some summer activities and you can use the ski lifts for access to higher mountains than you otherwise might. Or somewhere like croatia who I think do good cycling holidays.

We quite enjoy a beach holiday, especially a villa. Swimming in the sea, jumping of rocks etc but appreciate that is not for everyone.

I'm sure there is a website where you can plan out whole trips across europe by train which would be fun.

Wow! Our Devon holiday this year cost less than £500 all in including petrol, food, days out etc.

Activity holidays wouldn't be easy because DD has EDS and has to pace herself. She can hike but it has to be planned carefully with rest days either side.

Definitely no beaches. None of us likes them outside of winter or fossil hunting. We like historical interest, culture, galleries etc. I wouldn't want to stay in a city but am happy to be close enough to visit. Personally, my dream holiday would be on a steam train and a close second would be an isolated cabin in the Highlands. But the DC probably would prefer more to do.

DH has suggest battlefield tours maybe. Perhaps we'll just go to Scotland. I don't think we can afford anything like the stuff her friends do.

Somewhere with a lot of history and cultural things to do could be anywhere in Europe, and certainly a lot cheaper than Canada or Costa Rica etc. I do think if you are going to try something so far out of your comfort zone then you should at least try a beach afternoon, day at a water park type activity etc? Don’t try and recreate your camping holiday in a hotel with the sun if you see what I mean?

With kids your ages is ask them what they would like to try - they may have ideas from things they’ve heard from friends and start there.

We did a week in Greece, with TUI 5* all inclusive hotel with great facilities (family of 4 but one child was free) for £3,200. They then arrange excursions like boat trips, visiting local markets or beaches, shopping towns, snorkelling, or can arrange a hire care for you if you’d rather travel under your own steam.

Normandy would be a great option, amazing museums if you are into that kind of thing, my DD's liked the Juno beach one best. The beautiful but poignant cemeteries are very interesting (if visiting the British one take crosses available from the rbl and put in the graves of people from your home town or near with messages, there's lot). The there's the tapestry of course at bayeux. I found a great b&b at arromarche to stay but consider stopping also at a holiday village eg pierre et vacances which have pools. Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistreme is an added adventure but overall it's fairly affordable, less than the flights alone

Oh and Normandy has great food, inland there's chateaus etc

My great grandad's brother is buried in a French cemetery. He died in 1915 and I have his war diaries. We've always said we'd like to follow his path during the war. DH is a military history buff and I like social history.

Definitely no beaches. We loathe them. We do go to them sometimes with my brother/nieces/parents and hate every minute.

DD likes what we like mostly. DS is a bit more keen on things like theme parks but does love history. We all like second hand bookshops, historical tours, castles, exploring etc.

DD would like to kayak on the Ardèche or go to Paris apparently and DS likes the idea of German Christmas markets or cable cars.

I've been to Normandy but nobody else in the family has.

I think this is a "how long is a piece of string" question but here's my input for what it's worth

We are planning a holiday for 5 to Florida in the next year or two, 3 child tickets, 2 adults, although we will be going with some extended family. We will probably stay in a villa about 30-45 mins away from Disney rather than a Disney hotel, and hire a large car. We are budgeting at least 10k for a 2 week holiday not in August- I haven't looked at flights etc but I'm hoping we can do it during the Easter holidays, or at the very least over a long half term so that the kids don't miss too much school. Included in that 10k would hopefully be about 7 days in Disney, 2 days visiting family, a visit to the Kennedy Space Centre and a couple of quiet days at the villa. Given how the £ is going in comparison to the $, we may actually have to increase our budget if we want to include all spending money.

We save a lot to do holidays like this, and they are rare for us- usually we go camping but even then we'd be looking at spending easily £1k on a week in Devon. In August, I'd personally expect to spend roughly £3k on 3 adults and 1 child airline tickets to the US/ Canada, given how much flight costs have gone up since covid.

Yes Europe is cheaper. You can fly to US cheaper but probably not during school holiday. You can get budget flight and rail around European cities easily. I’ve done few trips which have been £1000 for flights, travel / car hire and Airbnb apartment for a week. France is cheaper last week August as French schools have gone back. Germany/Austria ski areas often have tourist passes to get people to come in summer eg free local travel and activities. There’s usually lake beaches. Italy is easy food wise with teens. You could do Italian lakes and a city or two easily. And fly in and back from different cities eg I’ve done Berlin and Prague. Apartments mean you can self cater. If you go away from obvious tourist spots or hire a car and stay in countryside you can get price down. Some youth hostels are also surprisingly nice especially in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia which are very clean and efficient. Look at Man in Seat 61 for scenic train journeys and tips to get fares cheaply.

Decent 4 star in Canaries , All inclusive is about £5-£6k

We went to Mexico for 2 weeks a few years back - definitely didn't cost 12 grand. We had flights with Tui, stayed all over the place booking with airbnb and booking.com, and got around by the brilliant buses (or taxis for short distances). We went to Holbox, Valladolid, Tulum, Chichen Itza etc. Prices to fly long haul seem to have sky rocketed though since covid.

A cheap trip to Europe means flying Easyjet, booking early and checking out their 3 week view to find the cheapest flights. We are flying to Split for 10 days next summer for about £120 each - but you won't really find anything cheaper than that. Then we will stay in airbnb's with kitchens - so we can make our own food sometimes, and I had a look and can find places for about £80/90 a night.

Why don't you email a Travel Counsellor and tell them what you like doing and what type of accommodation you want etc?

From my experience they are really knowledgeable and can put together packages in locations I'd never have considered! And it's just a quote. You can say no to it if it doesn't turn out to be affordable.

Where do you find a travel counsellor? I've never heard of them. Are they like travel agents?

I quite like the idea of trains in Europe. My passport expired in 2004 and I have no idea how to travel abroad which feels very parochial. When I last did it, you exchanged your money at the post office (francs back then) and carried cash in a beige money belt. Presumably, it's all different now. And no mobile phones so remember trying to call home using the international dial codes. Oh and film cameras.

A person who will arrange it all for me is what I need!

I think it sounds like you're putting your ideas of what you'd like from a holiday onto your kids tbh. You said your son would like a theme park, your daughter would like to see Paris but you'd all prefer something historical/steam trains. But if your son would like a theme park and your daughter would like to tour Paris, then only you and your husband would prefer something historical/steam trains.

At some stage your kids will stop going on holidays with you. Probably very soon if your daughter is going to college. So do something they would like.
Go inter-railing, go to Paris, spend a day at Eurodisney. Travel to some other cities.

You and your husband have many years to go off together doing what you want to do. So for now, do what your children would prefer and listen to them.......instead of focussing on camping and steam trains.

I would book cheap flights to somewhere in Europe and then rent an apartment for a week or two.

OR if you're feeling adventurous - take your bikes on the Eurostar (hopefully bikes allowed back on in 2023) or ferry and do a tour of (somewhere in) Europe. It's a popular holiday in Europe (the west coast of France bike route, the Velodyssee, is very family friendly) and can be a vey cheap way to do quite a long holiday in several countries.

@Gr33ngr33ngr4ss what is a travel counsellor please and how do I find a good one?

How about camping in France? Take your own kit in the car on the ferry or tunnel and go inland to the Loire or the Jura, or Brittany (there is loads more there than just beaches!)

Look at Eurocamp for ideas of destinations and then book directly with the camp site for the best prices.

Here.

For those looking for travel consultants, try Trailfinders!

I've used one for years . She's mostly cheaper than booking directly too when I've checked it out. And on hand if something goes awry!

Interail- we did it in the summer. 17 days - France and Italy, £7,500 approximately.

I think you might all enjoy the Dordogne with loads of castles and the ability to go canoeing.

You can either fly to Bergerac or it's not too far away from Toulouse where we enjoyed a nice weekend recently plus a visit to Carcassonne. St Emillon is worth a visit too.

If you're not bothered about having a pool, then gite prices shouldn't be ridiculous, check out VRBO or booking.com to get an idea of prices.

Oh and you're putting a lot of expectation into one holiday. I'd settle on it being enjoyable rather than trip of a lifetime. Once you've got past the initial expense of passports and your first abroad trip, you may find yourself becoming a dab hand at finding a bargain by getting cheap flights and picking a location.

By the way Canada us never going to be a cheap holiday. We get very little done to our house - I'd much rather spend on holidays.

I would do France, Germany and Switzerland. Cheap flights/trains and AirBnb. Can start in Paris, then take train to Strasbourg, visit some cute Alsatian villages and castles, then train/bus to Europapark and Rulantica, and then some scenic train routes in Switzerland.

You can certainly combine Normandy with 3 nights in Paris, easy drive from Caen

Northern Ireland could be an easy and fairly cheap option? Lots of landmarks to see. We stayed in an airbnb in Belfast a few years back for a week, used it as a base. Airbnb and ferry crossings (with a car) came to about £550. I'd expect both will have increased in cost a bit but might be worth a look.