How to afford a holiday? I feel a bit desperate.

[ShowOfHands]

Apologies if this is long.

Holidays in our family are nearly always camping and we've spent a lot of time in Devon for example. We've also seen quite a bit of Scotland. However, because DH is a police officer and never, ever gets any time off in summer, it's usually me taking the children away while he carries on working and him joining us on rest days. He also uses a lot of his leave to take his army cadets away (we live in a socially deprived area and are very short of adult volunteers for anything and as he points out to me, if he didn't take them away, the detriment would be to already disadvantaged children). DH is a police officer of the best part of two decades and I teach part time so we can and do take the children to the things they enjoy like theatre, museums, galleries, local events, festivals etc and they have hobbies. They certainly don't miss out but we've never had big family holidays.

This year, my parents invited us to a long weekend at Center Parcs a few weeks ago and due to how DH's rest days fell, we booked 3 nights in an Airbnb in Northumberland over Easter. Those were our holidays this year. Sadly, DH had a nasty accident on day one of CP and ended up in quite unwell in hospital. He needed surgery once he'd recovered from the initial injuries, sod's law saw the surgery scheduled on day 2 of us going to Northumberland. So the DC went to grandparents for a few days and I took DH to a specialist hospital miles away for surgery. The Easter holidays were a wash out and we didn't even manage a day out as a family as DH's recovery and ongoing concussion meant he wasn't well at all.

DH's work have - for the first time in his entire career - found a way to give him time off in summer in recognition of things being a bit crap right now. He is on light duties for another 4 weeks and needs more x-rays to make sure he's put back together/holding together properly. He has his normal 4 rest days and 6 whole days after that. 10 days off together in summer! That never happens. We talked about it and thought maybe we could go abroad for a week. DD is mid GCSEs, DS is doing SATs and it seems like a landmark summer. It's been a tough year in myriad ways. I got a bit excited/carried away and ordered passports. We talked about it with the children, they both said Amsterdam was somewhere they wanted to see. Me too.

I've tried my hardest to make it work. I've tried looking at package deals, booking things separately, ferries rather than flights, trains rather than ferries. I can't find any way of affording it. I knew summer holiday breaks are expensive but I'm flabbergasted.

I'm trying to make it work in my head. I considered camping via Eurocamp or similar but we've camped. We always camp. We're campers. The children want to do something else and if I'm honest, me too. I take them away myself every summer and I usually don't mind the whole putting up tents in the rain, beans over a stove, making it fun stuff. I've done it for years. But part of me does wonder what it's like not to sweep the groundsheet each morning and to have to walk to the toilet block in wellies at 6am. And I do love all that stuff. When talking to DD's friends about their trips to Costa Rica or Spain or Disney or whatever, I've never felt a single pang of envy. But right now, I'm feeling so miserable.

DD is doing French GCSE and her answer to the oral q about holidays is a very honest "we camp and my Mum works really hard, it's always an adventure and I used to love it but it's become repetitive and I'd like to see the world when I'm older". I know it's an effort to use lots of tenses(!), but there is probably some truth in there. Definitely some truth in there. I know it.

So do we stay in the UK? I thought about staying somewhere really nice but tbh, we tend to only use accommodation as a base so what about some amazing days out. I asked DD this morning and she said "what about Ireland?" Probably a good suggestion actually. Or Wales maybe but I'm aware I want to go there because of the mining museum and I'm trying to make it special for the children. Trouble is, one likes art, history and galleries and the other likes anything naff, ride-based or celluloid.

Can anybody suggest anything? Location? Anywhere considered. Ways to cut costs? What works for you? Should I scrimp on accommodation and spend on days out?

I don't like hotels really as eating out is always so expensive and we like to cook/watch a film in an evening. Self catering preferred.

Is there a brilliant holiday for two 40 somethings, a 16yo girl and 11yo boy that we can actually afford? Has anybody ever put a holiday on a credit card?

If it's all just pie in the sky, I'll forget about it entirely but I'm ill in bed with Covid and feeling glum and wishing I could book just a week away with my family who've had a challenging year in so many ways.

Budget? I don't know. We usually book a £25 per night camping pitch. Everything in Amsterdam was coming in at 3k for just flights and accommodation. Under 2k, we could probably borrow from savings and cut right back to afford it but I don't think that buys a week abroad does it?

I feel a bit of a failure that at this point in my life, I can't afford a week's holiday for us but at the same time, feel like an ungrateful wazzock because holidays are a luxury and we could afford to camp for a week somewhere quite easily but we are wanting to do more and that feels ridiculous and silly and the sadness is pathetic isn't it? It's probably the Covid talking.

Plenty of people have managed to be helpful without first thinking that it entitled them to make personal and unfounded comments on the OP's husbands assumed behaviour, what they presume the OP must be 'accepting' and speculating about their households budget/spending.

You are too kind. But I was unfairly defensive and snippy. Genuinely, I'm feeling pretty crap and took offence when I shouldn't. Mostly because a few weeks ago, I was very worried that DH wouldn't recover from his injuries. He is a very, very good man and I was typing without thinking.

Everybody has been so helpful.

Thank you @HoHobaaa Your kind defence of my misery made me smile!

Room only, free child place but flying from Stanstead. Under budget so could include fuel and parking.
Train ride to Barcelona for a mini adventure within your relaxing week.

I live in Amersfoort which is around 30 minutes from Amsterdam, and 10 minutes from Utrecht, it's really gorgeous and should be a bit cheaper. It has museums, 3 cinemas, a nice outdoor pool complex in the forest, wee festivals on throughout the summer, great bars and eateries, and chalet parks in the vicinity

Apologies. I have reported my post. I meant to start my own thread. It wasn’t meant for this post.

Am in the process of booking 3 nights in Venice in the summer for 4. Easy jet flights/air BnB is coming in at under £1400 so far.

Have another look at eurocamps. It's a world away from camping in Devon. The campsites are huge and so much to do and normally near a beach.

We are off to a site near Venice this year so combo of pool, beach and site seeing

Try EasyJet package - they have Stn to Ams for 6 night on 2 Aug staying in a quad room Botel Amsterdam £2147

Amsterdam seems to be very pricey.

For 26th July to 2nd August (these dates seem cheaper for travel);
Eurostar to Amsterdam - £583
Botel £1350.11
= £1933.11

There are cheaper hotels near the airport.

Would you consider Paris? Plenty of galleries/museums/general fun to be had.
For the same dates;
Eurostar to Paris - £584
Novotel Paris East - £584.69*
= £1168.69

Or driving;
Le Shuttle - £242
Hotel F1 PARIS PORTE DE MONTREUIL - 2 rooms £489.56*
= £731.56
Obviously well outside the centre of Paris.

Or alternatively for either;
APARTHOTEL ADAGIO ACCESS LA DÉFENSE PLACE CHARRAS - £584.69*
La Defense should be easy to get to the centre

*Prices subject to getting a free Accor membership

With the Aparthotel, you generally have basic self catering facilities, so you can get your own bread and stuff to make your own meals.

@NannyOggsWhiskyStash Amersfoot looks incredible!

Get well soon OP. My budget is similar to yours on what seem like similar incomes. I also can’t complain but I do often feel clueless when everything is so expensive. Loving the ideas on here!

If you do this, OP, note that you can’t take dairy, meat or fresh fruit and veg into the EU from the UK anymore.

Check Travelzoo. We have had lovely family breaks with them.

Check p and o cruises for extra guests sail free. We’ve got a cruise for £1.5k for 4 first week in September including coach to Southampton.

There are kids areas, all day dining and different cities to explore. And if you have a blue light card and book on the phone they’ll give you money to spend on board.

Not Amsterdam but look at La Croix du Vieux Pont Eurocamp near Paris - either camping or a caravan. Pick a random cheap Eurostar time and drive. From there you can do a day or two at Disneyland Paris (tickets are ££ but get cheaper the more days you do) and a couple of days out in Paris for history / culture for your daughter. Cheaper than a city break but should tick a lot of your boxes and the RER train is really easy. If your daughter gets tired book Eiffel Tower lift access early so not doing the stairs!

Out of interest are you renting a car or is it do able without?

Weirdly when I was looking I found Rome really cheap / try easyJet and Jet2 for holidays. We found Jet2 brilliant last year.
Bear in mind insurance esp if dd is having ongoing investigations

Nothing useful to add but just to say I hope you get to have a lovely holiday

So many wonderful ideas here!

The Op already has so much to think about but I can also recommend Sunvil.

https://www.sunvil.co.uk/

Their website is a little difficult to navigate but we have had 2 holidays with them now and just ring them up; give them our preferred dates and price range plus whatever else we might need (pool, close to beach etc) and they come back with packages that fit. I used to be a 'do it myself' sort of person but they do it better and usually cheaper. I think they are great and just this morning was saying to DH that going forwards I don't think I'll bother trying to sort a holiday out myself I'll just call them. (Barring city trips which we try and do once a year).

very best of luck!

I was in Amsterdam last week, it's so expensive to eat and drink there now.

Hi you asked about a car and eurocamps - we are driving down from Calais - making it a two week holiday - drive and say in motels and a week in camp.

We did a eurocamp last year and only sued the car to and from airport and a run to the supermarket.

Have a google as you can probably cope without. Campsites do have a supermarket probably closer to a co op than a spar so use that day to day for bread and milk but use a big supermarket to pick up basics. We actually don't do much cooking (salad, bbq, pizza) but you still need tea, coffee etc.

The camp we are heading to this year is on the beach and states it has a shuttle to the ferry

We are going to Milly la Foret near Fontainebleau for a week and have found this lovely gypsy caravan that is very reasonably priced. Has a bathroom, stream outside and ping pong and not on a campsite.
Site

would be about £700 for six nights and £300 for the tunnel. While we are there we will do a day at Disney (£400) and a day in Paris which is only 45 minutes by train.
it is a bit of a squeeze but in the summer you can be outside most of the time.

I know many people won't agree, but honestly, for two hard working people with secure jobs, who clearly aren't extravagant spenders, for a one off opportunity like this I'd consider putting the cost on a 0% credit card.

I agree. It sounds like this summer is a special case being able to get leave, so I would borrow in order to utilise it, assuming you're financially comfortable enough to pay it off. Life is too short, your daughter is 16, you don't know the next time you'll have this summer opportunity with your family again.