Budget Holidays Abroad

[BusyBrain3]

Hi all,

wondered if anyone has any recommendations on anywhere abroad potentially away from the usual AI resorts etc. I was thinking maybe a euro camp type place, that sort of vibe? Two adults and 3 children age 10-17, do not want to drive so preferably somewhere with local ish airport and near the sea? Aware there isn’t such a thing as a ‘cheap’ holiday but thought I may be missing a trick as I tend to head straight to the main websites etc.

thank you in advance!

You can look on eurocamp and then Google the sites directly. They usually have an English version. Sometimes they work out cheper then through a uk broker as their prices will be in €, so subject to the exchange rate.

I have priced eurocamp a few times and we were always much cheaper doing an all inclusive in the Balerics or Canaries by the time you factor on travel, food and activities. We live in Scotland though so would be flying, not driving.

What dates and budget?

Eurocamp is only cheap outside of the school holidays. For a bargain break I'd look at jet 2 packages instead.

Hi, have you tried allcamps? They cross-check all providers so you can see them all on one site 😉

Thank you all. It would have to be school holidays, sorry I should have mentioned that before, I work in a school so absolutely no wriggle room on that one! We definitely wouldn’t drive anywhere other than the uk airport! Potentially Eurostar but would depend on the transfer situation the other side.

I have looked at a euro camp price and it does look like a pp may be right about it not actually being much cheaper than a package holiday somewhere else! Just thought/hoped that there may be some sort of lesser known similar alternative that was lovely and a bargain (A girl can dream!).

Germany is great and flights are cheap with Ryanair and the like. Budget hotels are easy to come by.

They have huge outdoor pool complexes (Freibad) where it'll cost you around 15 euro for you all for the day. Take a couple of picnic blankets, pack up a picnic and spend the days sunbathing there. Michaelibad in Munich is a good one and there's a biergarten there too as well as indoor pool.

You could take the scenic train across the alps to Garmisch from there easily.

This might be an option... although not the seaside!

The good news is, it's easy to get to via public transport (you'll need a taxi for the last stretch with suitcase...) Airports are EuroAirport (Base)l in Switzerland or Karlsruhe Baden Airpark. Both have links to bus & train to get to your destination.

You'll also be giving a card to access free local public transport which is fabulous for days out.

camping-kirchzarten.de/de/camping/ferienwohnungen.php

Define cheap holiday? Cause we’ve done plenty of what I would think as cheap holidays.

4 people summer holidays all two weeks or so

spain - apartment, shared pool, flights, car hire £1200

Sweden - villa with pool. Fligts, car hire, two nights in hotel - also 1200

France - less but was a boat and drive holiday. Done several different locations house for two weeks and ferry - 1200-2000

Belguim / Netherlands / Germany - 1 week CP, 3 nights Brussels, 3 nights Cologne 1 night Lile under £2k

until we went Long haul we never spent more than £2k for four of us. and even long haul Canada was just under £5k and currently in Thailand for Nearly 3 weeks which will be about £7k all in.

Could you look at booking flights and accommodation separately?

Use Skyscanner 'search everywhere' feature from your nearest airports and see what it brings up. You can then look for accommodation in that area. I personally use Booking.com, but you might spot a deal on Airbnb.

For an example, we've (2a 2c) previously travelled to Southern Italy and stayed in an Airbnb with pool for less than £1k - in August holidays. This is even cheaper in the June/October half term - which might be worth thinking about.

If you go in May half term you can fly to Venice and stay at Marina do Venezia campsite in a mobile home - you can get bus there from the airport and prices are much cheaper than in the summer holidays. I usually book Marina do Venezia via venue holidays but it's worth doing a Google search to see if other companies come up cheaper

Other cheap holidays I've done:

Eurostar to Marseille then Airbnb stay inland in Provence (but I hired a car for this). However you could use trains?

Fly to Milan Malpensa then direct bus to Lago Maggiore (we stayed in Arona at an Airbnb place)

If you want a jet 2 package they are very flexible on dates. First look at flight only and that will give you a table of flight prices, lowest price dates are highlighted, also look at non standard durations like 12 days or 8 days as they can give you better prices. Once you’ve identified the cheapest dates and duration search jet2 holidays for those dates. Sign up as a jet2 member and you get discount codes, my current code gives you 120 off the holiday even if you are choosing a cheap deal

See above, I meant look at jet2 flight only prices first not all airlines

We tend to book flights, car hire and accommodation separately- accommodation usually in an apartment block with shared pool . If you are happy with your holiday weather being pleasantly warm rather than hot, you could look at May or October half term - May probably better as it's lighter for longer . We use VRBO for accommodation but you could use AirBnB if you prefer .

Wow you’ve done well with these prices!

thank you to everyone, I think I maybe need to spend a bit more time scouring around for good deals and doing things a bit more savvy in terms of how I book.

have a look at centre parcs in Europe, I think they go back to school before the UK so the end of the summer holidays might be a bit cheaper

what is your budget and what is the date want to fly? Are you looking for a local guide as well? Just fine resorts.