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!).

I've done some travel counselling work, loved it but covid struck

Most things in the school holidays are expensive. Most of Europe is going to be hot in summer, Scandinavia is cooler but pricy. However, a couple of ideas:

How about a cruise, Baltic capitals for example? If 4 of you would share an inside cabin you can get a real bargain.

Look at British airways holidays, perhaps in a European city, a flight/accommodation package which can be incredible value. They often offer budget options.

I’d do something like Eurocamp or Huttopia in the Loire - massives of historical stuff to see, great food and if you get one of the lodges you’ll be in a bit more comfort and less work than camping with your own tent, but can choose to eat in/ eat out as much as you like/ can afford.

Plus you could stop off in Paris either end for a couple of days if you fancy it.

We did 10 days in Huttopia this summer holidays and it was c £3k all in including petrol, tolls and food - we probably ate out more than others might.

I can imagine. My lovely lady was still re-booking covid struck holidays recently. And obviously she's not getting any money as they've already paid three years ago! Nightmare.

She's so knowledgeable though. And if she doesn't know, she'll know who to ask.

Hi OP,
I am similar to you in that I prefer doing holidays rather than beach ones (I have no love for resorts!) This summer we went to the south of France and hired a campervan and drove to Spain. While it was great and an adventure it was hot as hell and busy! It was quite a shock to the kids who are used to drizzly Cornwall!

A few years ago we went to stay in the French alps which was lovely. Chalets are cheap out of season and the cable cars and various French leisure activities were fun. We had great weather though which made a difference. The lure of Canada is strong for me too. I went as a student and loved exploring. I think for a holiday of a lifetime it be worth thinking about but will be pricey.

www.rickshawtravel.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjwv4SaBhBPEiwA9YzZvLwUjmAJCEBoQJFXBRneTMVQo4G_liR_2lIivByMEUFRKOWO-vrczhoC6qIQAvD_BwE this site is good for ideas if nothing else. I've used them before and they were fab.

Term time is cheaper than school holidays
Self-catering is cheaper than all inclusive
3 is cheaper than 5
Shorthaul is cheaper than long haul
7 days is cheaper than 14

It depends on so many things - where, when, for how long, which airport, whats included, how fancy do you like your accommodation.

We usually go term time (Scotland no school fines) and pay about £1K per person for 4* all inclusive in places like Lanzarote staying about 10 nights.

We had an amazing 3 weeks in Canada but was £1000s. Have also been to the Ardeche many times- lots of hiking, kayaking etc. Can be boiling in the summer though. You could drive or train and combine with Paris and Disneyland?
Domaine de Sevenier is a lovely place to stay in the Ardeche.

I didn't actually answer your question! My alps holiday was £1k for 10 days for me and 2 kids but I was sharing with my friend and her kids and it was pre covid when car hire was much cheaper.

The holiday this year was about 3k all in but we could have done it cheaper by driving our own car.

We spent just over £2k on our holiday which was 5 nights in Spain

Given what you like, maybe you'd be better with a weekend or shorter out of season city type break in Europe. See where you can get cheap flights to and work from there?

If you do decide on Scotland the end of August can be good as our schools go back earlier.

Where do you live? Would you consider doing a house swap? I've got friends who did it this summer and had a great time exploring a city they didn't know, and their swap family got to discover the Devon coast. Might be worth a look.

They love steam trains and camping actually!

DD likes literature, history, art, culture, local history etc. Same as me. And I mentioned that DS quite likes theme parks because we could go somewhere that was historic/cultural (which he also loves) that has a theme park nearby for a day out.

I'm not focussing on camping. I'm specifically looking for a non camping holiday. Somebody asked what they'd like to do and I asked them. DS said Christmas Markets somewhere like Germany appealed (probably because they're in the book he's reading right now) and DD mentioned the Ardèche as she was suppose to go with school but Covid happened and Paris because she's reading Les Mis!

Believe me, every holiday involves catering to them more than us.

You've entirely misunderstood. We ALL love history. Best day out in the summer was Beamish. Both DC are desperate to go back. Maybe we should just do that.

I teach so has to be holidays.

Self catering every time. No way to all inclusive. I like to cook and then eat out a couple of times.

Probably 7-10 days as DH won't be allowed a fortnight.

Don't like fancy or frills. Like youth hostels or a basic cottage for example. No fripperies. Somewhere to eat, sleep and read a book. It's a base only. We like to see the place where we are staying.

I would like a remote cottage on a Scottish isle and the DC probably would as well but looking to do something different and see somewhere new.

Is it better to hire a car once there or drive ourselves? When I went to Paris - in 1999! - we went on a bus...

You can hire a hotel in Brittany France for 2 weeks over summer for about £1500. Go on Ferry so you have use of your car there £1200 Brittany Ferries overnight berth. £2k spending money so under £5k. You could cut back with less spending money and not eat out as much, and go from Dover to Calais much cheaper on P& O or DFDS. So maybe £3.5k

www.trailfinders.com/rail-travel

Might be worth a look
Or I'd fly to Rome, spend a few days there then get a train back to France, visit a few places in France then a few days in Paris and then fly home (called a Jackdaw flight, where you fly into one place and fly out of another)
Price...whatever you're willing to spend.

Could easily combine northern france, Paris and puy du fou-

www.puydufou.com/en

If you drove!

Would you drive to France? You could stay in Paris and do a day at Eurodisney (if that’s your thing). We usually holiday in the Alps. Stunning scenery, activities if you want them, lakes to swim in, biking, and the weather is usually fabulous but not too hot. You could camp or find a self catering place which won’t break the bank.

If I go away in Europe I drive. If you look around you can do 2 or 3 weeks for less than £1000 all in. I was looking at a few places in the mountains in France+ for next year, I found a few cottages/gites for less than £400 for 2 weeks.

A resort in Austrian Alps could work - you could do a day trip to Salzburg

Poland? Short flights, loads of history, inexpensive hotels and eating out. The salt pines are really interesting.

Ooh or another thought Bulgaria.
We have friends who have an apartment at Sozopol. I haven't actually been, but here's what he told me about it. I don't know if they rent it out commercially but it could be somewhere to look at. Flights to Bulgaria are generally cheap and so is cost of living once there.

Our apartment is in Sozopol just above the main beach (harmanite), and 2 minutes walk from a quieter 500m equally sandy covebeach, about fifteen minutes walk from centre of town and five minutes walk from the beach street cafes and shops. Sozopol is an old town dating back 2000 years when the Greek called it Apollonia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sozopoll_  We are also about 3 minutes walk from the Temple complex (see Archeaology)

Other entertainments, when you have done all the Sozopol things:

Boat to St Ivan Island, and St Peter's island and Turkey island (best done late afternoon in Summer , or earlier in Spring)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St.IvanIslandd_

Traditional Bulgarian dance show (and food) evening, with firewalkers after - the easiest to get to is Flamingo restaurant, on way to Paradise Bay, about 10-15 minutes walk from our apartment away from town along the beach road. The son of the Bulgarian owner famously studied at Nottingham Uni. Paradise Bay is worth a walk in itself.

Free shows in the town amphithreatre (varies).

The beach at Duni , 5 miles South is even longer than Sozopol, but has less facilities.

At Ropotamo River estuary, 9 miles away, you can take a lazy river boat into the 'mini-jungle' and see the turtles in the river. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/bulgaria/black-sea-coast/attractions/ropotamo-nature-reserve/a/poi-sig/1534252/13247777_  (I thought it was about 15 miles, but Lonely Planet says 8-9 miles so we stand corrected!)

Bus or boat trip to Nessebar, the other ancient promontory town on the Bulgaria sea coast. 3200 years old, it is UNESCO site now, even a little older than Sozopol and one of the most ancient towns in all of Europe. The upside of UNESCOis preservation, and downside it can more crowded 10am-3pm now than we first were going,

X like SInemorets. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/bulgaria/articles/sinemorets-bulgarias-secret-seaside-villagee_//_
15 minutes further down the coast - A day trip to the Turkish border at Rezovo is interesting, and, in my opinion, a little underrated. Rezovo has cool cafe, cliffs and beach, and horses by the border. (about 1 hours drive, 66km from Sozopol).

You could go to Amsterdam and
catch the train to Romania OP. It's beautiful, affordable and has loads of mountains, castles, old towns & bears.

www.europapark.de/en for your theme park. You could stay in France or Germany - Strasbourg, Colmar, Freiburg. Beautiful towns and scenery. Not a beach in sight. Opportunities for cable cars etc.

So much to do in France without you having to spend a fortune. You could easily base around Paris- amazing art galleries, River boat tour, etc and so much culture!

And do spend a few days in eurodisney. We're very much like you and I kind of liked that we hadn't been... but we had such a fantastic time. And enjoyed eating crepes by the eiffel towel and musee d'orsay etc etc.

There are castles too! You could have a really lovely time without travelling too far or costing too much (ferry is quite cheap and can take your own stuff across)