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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

How much is your holiday costing you this year?

296 replies

Supernova23 · 31/01/2023 17:31

I was looking to go to the US for a week but the prices were astronomical and out of my price range. So going to Europe for a week. Destination undecided but looking at flights, accommodation and spending money, I'd still be lucky to spend less than £1000.

OP posts:
updownleftrightstart · 01/02/2023 18:33

TomAllenWife · 01/02/2023 16:28

@Supernova23 were currently in Florida
10 days in Disney hotel plus tickets for 3 adults was approx £2600

Flight for 13 yr old was £264
Ours were approx £400 each

So we've done parks, flights & hotel for approx £3500

That is amazing. Maybe you should do a Florida on a budget post when you're back!

This year we're spending £4200 for 10 days AI in Greece, £5400 for a fortnight AI in Turkey, and around £700 for a 4-day break in this country.

heyyouitsme · 01/02/2023 19:18

SecretPeston · 01/02/2023 09:55

Agreed. But MN is full of liars and fantasists, so take most things on here with a large pinch of salt.

Some people just like to brag and exaggerate.

Show quote history

I am sure plenty of people do lie. However if you go check out the Maldives peak time, the resort I am going to be staying at is £3-5k a night. We actually got a good deal booking early. Also made use of reward flights, companion vouchers. If we hadn’t the flights by themselves would have been £40k in business class.

PotKettel · 01/02/2023 20:30

I’ve managed to sort out two weeks for 4 of us in France/Belgium/The Netherlands for £2,850 - that includes day trip costs but excludes lunch and dinner costs.

Abcdefgh1234 · 01/02/2023 20:43

£30k to Indonesia
5 weeks
family of 4

XelaM · 01/02/2023 21:51

PotKettel · 01/02/2023 20:30

I’ve managed to sort out two weeks for 4 of us in France/Belgium/The Netherlands for £2,850 - that includes day trip costs but excludes lunch and dinner costs.

Amazing! Please share your cheap booking tips

Rowthe · 01/02/2023 21:52

We are probably not going abroad this year

Vinniepolis · 01/02/2023 22:22

Plitvice · 01/02/2023 16:54

While we are on the topic. My pet hates are:

  1. The belief that people must go away for one fortnight
  2. On a beach holiday, usually AI
  3. To a resort featured in a brochure like Tui
  4. and do something like one tour during the whole time when there is loads to do in that region
  5. I could go on and on but those are the main ones.

Have you actually ever been on an AI holiday? I went on one (TUI too!) about 5 years ago and it was the most relaxing thing I have ever known. I’ve just booked another for this summer (in answer to this thread, £4.5k for 4 of us for a week).

I’ve had plenty of holidays where we travel around, full itinerary, mix of hotels & airbnb, exploring all the sites - but this year I just want to RELAX and not think too hard. And if I only do one or two tours, so what?

My pet hates are travel snobs and travel snobbes.

Bunnycat101 · 02/02/2023 04:01

Plitvice Why does it bother you what other people do though? I used to love ‘travelling’ for a break. I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than do the sorts of holidays I used to do with young children. I’d happily take 2 weeks AI on a beach. Not happening this year but booked 10 days luxury holiday for 2024 and I can’t wait.

SpanielSocks · 02/02/2023 07:44

@Plitvice - Do you have young DC? I used to be a bit of a travel snob and would never have considered all inclusive, would have shuddered a little at the thought.

Later on - with 4 DC in tow - we tried it, and didn’t look back for years 😁 Never mind the fact that DH and I didn’t have to cook, or even think about what to make at any point, we also discovered kids clubs - so we could sunbathe and read for a couple of hours - and kids evening entertainment.

It went from my idea of hell to heaven. Tui do these holidays well (although going to a busy holiday village in August turned out to be a step too far for me, but the DC loved it)

We have started to city breaks now they are older, where they enjoy some guided tours and sightseeing, and are looking at a long haul trip to an area where they will be more immersed in local culture.

I’d still never turn down a week by the pool in the sun though, sometimes that’s just what’s needed.

Reclining · 02/02/2023 07:54

DP is a teacher so despite DC not yet being school age we're tied to school hols. First holiday in 5 years, £2000 for 7 days eurocamp in France

Plitvice · 02/02/2023 10:13

I have done AI pre-DC and I found it mind numbingly boring. My DH is an avid scuba diver so he was sorted but it offered nothing for me personally. I don't like the beach culture, swim up bars, waterslides, banana inflatables, watersports, snack bars.
The resorts can be miles away from anything cultural so without a hire car (which DH needed for his gear) it was impossible to leave the resort/dive site. The buffets were also a nightmare. They were high quality but I disliked the concept and the repetition.
Dcs are with me on this one. They need to be learning and discovering constantly. Our nightmare would be somewhere like the Maldives where it takes sea planes to escape!

Maroon85 · 02/02/2023 12:57

I felt similar pre-DC and we went on much more adventurous trips. But my DC are young and all they want is a beach, a pool and a playground so for the moment AI suits us perfectly. We tend to go to resorts with very nice a la carte restaurants as I’m also not a fan of the buffet concept.
When they get a bit older we will start doing different types of holiday but when I think about our pre-DC trips they absolutely weren’t suitable for a 2 year old.

TiredandLate · 02/02/2023 13:22

SpanielSocks · 02/02/2023 07:44

@Plitvice - Do you have young DC? I used to be a bit of a travel snob and would never have considered all inclusive, would have shuddered a little at the thought.

Later on - with 4 DC in tow - we tried it, and didn’t look back for years 😁 Never mind the fact that DH and I didn’t have to cook, or even think about what to make at any point, we also discovered kids clubs - so we could sunbathe and read for a couple of hours - and kids evening entertainment.

It went from my idea of hell to heaven. Tui do these holidays well (although going to a busy holiday village in August turned out to be a step too far for me, but the DC loved it)

We have started to city breaks now they are older, where they enjoy some guided tours and sightseeing, and are looking at a long haul trip to an area where they will be more immersed in local culture.

I’d still never turn down a week by the pool in the sun though, sometimes that’s just what’s needed.

100% agree. Sometimes being away and being able to switch your brain off for a few days and only worry about whether to have a dip in the pool or another cocktail first is extremely healing.

I enjoy a mix of interesting holidays and sun and pool holidays. No need for the snobbery that I only ever see on MN

Intemperatefatty · 02/02/2023 13:46

Nobody should feel the need to justify what sort of holiday they enjoy or the reasons why they can afford a holiday to anyone, especially not to a bunch of internet strangers!

Marymary77 · 03/02/2023 20:33

I was actually searching for this exact topic - love hearing about other people's holidays. We haven't booked anything yet but am browsing. Looks like we'll be paying about £2k for a week in Portugal in June. Not used to regular sun holidays so it seems pricey to me but it's probably not bad value...

PotKettel · 03/02/2023 20:46

@XelaM Top tips: plan, plan, plan.

  1. book early. We got 10% off 6 nights at Eurocamp in Netherlands + repeat customer discount
  2. use Tesco club card vouchers to reduce cost of Le Shuttle by 2/3
  3. Go early. We are lucky to have inset days so we can get the kids away a few days ahead of the crowd.
  4. Self cater and pack enough food for journey and the first day at your accommodation - don’t be tempted to stock up at a local shop, drive and find a supermarket or market
  5. Look for places a bit off the beaten track. We are staying a few nights in a gorgeous little b&b in Bergues - it’s so cheap and within reach of Dunkirk and Plopsaland as well as a lovely local park, and there are some fantastic local places to eat in town (helps if you don’t just speak English)
  6. we have 2 nights in a nice hotel in central Bruges, mainly cos my dd wants to visit the French Fries museum and we’ve already done Ghent (I love Ghent). It’s nice to have a city stop although £££.
  7. look for local events, markets, historic sites, nature reserves or parks etc. if you research you can find some amazing cheap/free things that just don’t feature on the “top 20” on TripAdvisor. This is how you build great value day trips.
XelaM · 04/02/2023 13:45

@PotKettel Thank you! Sounds great

MajorCarolDanvers · 04/02/2023 13:49

US trip for DH and I about £5K for flights and hotel plus more for food and excursions

Paris including Disneyland Paris for DH and I and 2 DC Flights just £8 using avios points. Paris hotel £800 and Disneyland £2K plus food etc on top

Underparmummy · 05/02/2023 14:55

I always hated AI too on principle but then did one last year after years of self catering and will not go back. A break from the dishwasher and the washing machine turns out to be what I ACTUALLY need from a holiday...

WE have just booked AI in Turkey, for 5 for October half term for £5.5k

Iguanainanigloo · 05/02/2023 15:24

Will probably spend about 10k in total this year, but that's spread over 3-4 holidays. Only booked one for Feb half term so far. We don't usually go away this much, but decided we want a good holiday year after the past few shit ones! We certainly aren't rich, but we do prioritise holidays, as DH works long hours and it's nice to have that quality time to look forward to as a family

Winemygoodenemy · 05/02/2023 18:49

@Plitvice i was same as you. But last 2 holidays were so busy trying to find hotels and flights. Exploring and restaurants I choose AI. not been away for 2 weeks in years.

it appeals to me that I can get up and do what I want in a sunny place. We chose a hotel that has many restaurants, close to a town and decided to do 5 tours out to see culture. If we did this not AI it would of cost lots more

AI isnt just about the sun. Choose carefully and you can chill and see culture.

StillWantingADog · 05/02/2023 18:52

heyyouitsme · 31/01/2023 17:42

£40- 45k flights and accommodation

Omg

StillWantingADog · 05/02/2023 18:55

We are paying about €1800 for 10 days self catering accommodation for the 4 of us plus about £500 travel (overnight ferry for us and the car). Spending money extra. Which I think is a lot but I’m v fortunate that we can afford it.

friends are going to the US and the price seems crazy. Also other friends have just come back from US and say how hideously expensive it is. Europe is expensive these days but still doable, IMO.

Oneanddone88 · 05/02/2023 19:03

3k for 2 adults and one child all-inclusive in Greece in summer holiday. Hoping for a week in a city somewhere too

CottonSock · 05/02/2023 19:17

I'm actually glad to read about the expensive holidays. It makes mine feel less ridiculously expensive.

Centre parcs £1100 plus food
Glamping £400
2 x UK breaks £1000 each . Nice accommodation in peak season.
Visit relatives £0.

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