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

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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.

Hmmm, well- Amsterdam is an exceptionally expensive place in terms of accommodation, so not surprised.

Belgium is much, much cheaper - if you're set on Amsterdam, maybe consider staying just over the border in Antwerp (also an interesting city, I believe).

I am surprised that, living in the E. of England, you haven't considered Eurostar though? You know it also goes to Amsterdam? Bought in advance, tickets can be pretty cheap.

If it wasn't for your daughter's energy levels, I'd suggest a 4 day Interrail pass. Would cover the journey Norwich- Amsterdam/ wherever and back, and also a couple of day trips. Cost is 200 odd quid for an adult, significantly less for a "youth" of 16, and did you say you had an 11 year old, because the pass for under 12s is FREE! You do have to pay a 30 euro supplement for the Eurostar pp regardless of age though, which bumps costs up 🙄

Because I love scrolling AirBnB for a pastime I just had a look for you, and recommend you have a look at Alkmaar. Pretty little town in itself, with some decently priced AirBnBs, and half an hour from Amsterdam on the train.

Try Love Holidays
Looks like you can get a week in Holland from Norwich for under 2k

https://www.loveholidays.com/holidays/?departureAirports=NWI&nights=7&rooms=2-17-14&date=2023-07-27&flexibility=1&sort=PRICELOWWTOHIGH

They are staying in The Hague or Eindhoven, but can get train to Amsterdam for a day trip (1-1.5 hours)

Definitely put the cost on a 0% credit card.
I’m astounded a 16 year-old child of 2 working parents in good jobs has never been abroad (sorry OP), I totally think you should make this happen now. Good luck.

We do house swaps. It means you’re only paying for the flights, and we mostly cook at home when we are there or maybe lunch in a cheap cafe. The app HomeExchange is good, we have used it several times.

I'm taking a party of 6 to euro camp towards the end of August for a little more than £1k to stay in a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom mobile home inc return ferry. The site looks amazing

My DS just returned from Amsterdam and he couldn’t believe how expensive it was so be prepared for that.

It sounds as though you and DCs are ready to sample something different to your usual UK holidays. Have you considered the Barcelona coast (Costa Brava)? Often Ryanair flights from Stansted to Girona are reasonable and you can either base yourself in a beach resort like Tossa/Santa Susannah or on the outskirts of Barcelona (where there is accommodation such as Travelodge/Holiday Inn Express). It is quite reasonably priced along that coast as a bit unfashionable with Brits nowadays, so is usually much cheaper than Balearics for example. Self catering apartments are the best value although worth comparing with half board. You can have beach/pool days, visit street markets, enjoy flamenco evenings, plus there is masses of culture, art, history and shopping in Barcelona.

Flipping heck just go. Put it on a card or do whatever. Life’s short kids will be gone soon.
Theres loads of stuff out there. I did a brilliant cruise in the summer holidays first two weeks of August balcony, free drinks and food 10 nights and the whole thing ( including our own booking of flights and hotel beforehand ) was less than £800 quid each.

Sorry to hear you've all been through the mill.

Stena ferry from Harwich is £399 from the 26th to the 1st including a car. That gives you a bit more flexibility on where you go.
Annoyingly my booking.com account is stuck in dollars but it's giving me 1500USD for the same dates to stay in AmcitiA (it's a boat! Breakfast included) for the same dates. Bunk hostel looks good too and has a Utrecht branch as well but website is fiddly (appears cool, there's a statue of a dinosaur). It's a bit more expensive but should come under the £2k mark including the ferry and there's a parking option.
Flights are also available from Stansted, I'd look on Google flights and click on explore. Have a play with the price graph and dates to view different prices. It's similar prices to the ferry.

Once in Amsterdam a lot is walkable and the public transport is ok too. I reckon you could get a load of lunch bits and do picnics for a meal a day and eat out otherwise to keep costs down.

I think if I were you I'd get the ferry and go to somewhere in the Netherlands then get the train into Amsterdam for a couple of days rather than just doing the whole time there. You could try a couple of different cities that way.

Going a bit more left field, have you looked into Eurostar? They generally have deals pop up fairly regularly and it's a fun experience. You could pick somewhere in France and practice that GCSE french whilst gorging on carbohydrates and cheese. Personally I like the Languedoc for relaxing but there's interesting history too. There's a nice water park outside Carcassonne that could be a great activity for teenagers and it has a man made beach if your husband isn't up to it yet. Eurostar is currently £88 per adult return to Paris and TGV to Carcassonne is 80 euro per adult return. I don't know the costs to get to st pancras for you but train in, Eurostar to Paris, lunch, TGV to Carcassonne. You can stay in Carcassonne for £100 per night.

South wales air b and b??

Travel to cardiff castle. Castle coch, cardiff museum, cardiff bay barage for a walk and get the aqua bus back from penarth.
Check out some of the beaches where you can pick up fossils, such as penarth and lavernock.
See the medevil newport ship remains.

Tui often have pretty decent deals but the hotels wont ve fantastic so it depends...

We looked at a cruise to the fjords from South hampton which included all meals and was around £550pp for an inside cabin. This was in may. There are deals for August, but will be slightly over the 2k budget. I think a cruise is a good and exciting option for teenagers. I use that iglu cruise website.

Nijmengen or Indeed Rotterdam are in fact lovely and interesting places. Antwerp also, though it's a bit further to Amsterdam. Take the overnight ferry (a great experience imo) and it's only a short drive thereafter. You could easily take a day trip to Amsterdam. You sound like you both deserve a fab holiday I hope you get one

have you looked at getting the Eurostar to Amsterdam /Brussels?
try private rooms in hostels (basically a hotel!). Stay okay in Amsterdam is very good and family friendly.

Absolutely home exchange! We've done it for years and love it. A ready-made, fully equipped home, and the security of knowing your house isn't being left empty. Your post is being taken in, pets being fed, plants being watered, etc.

Once you don't have the cost of accommodation, you have a lot more to spend on the actual holiday.