How much was your holiday?

[xyz111]

We're looking at booking a last minute holiday. Like going on Monday! But prices seem to still be sky high.
If you've booked/ gone on holiday in the summer holidays, 4/5 star all inclusive for a week somewhere in Europe this year,how much did you pay? Just wondering whether prices have changed compared to people that booked a while ago. 2 adults, 1 child.

Generally speaking… airlines work in pricing buckets.

So many seats at Price A, then when they are sold Price B, then when they are sold Price C etc. as such, it’s generally cheaper to book earlier. Not always the case, as they may have sales on etc. but outside of that book early.

One of the key reasons the cost of holidays is so expensive this year (outside of inflation… if it costs the hotel more for their electricity then it’ll cost more to stay there) is the exchange rate. The OP mentions holidays in Europe - as such, the tour operator will be paying for that room in Euros - and your £ gets less than it used to. Airline fuel - worldwide - is paid for in US Dollars - and again, your £ won’t get as much as it used to.

@colouringindoors

£280 for a pitch at lovely campsite in Cornwall. I'm clearly in the wrong job.

I have no idea how people afford these holidays. We are both working (teachers) & not exactly on minimum wage but not brilliantly paid. We are stretching to Huttopia & Eurocamp in France for first time. Not in a tent but in cabin/mobile type accommodation. It's come to £1500 for accommodation & £220 for Eurotunnel which for us is really expensive as a holiday. But nothing like what is being mentioned here.

@colouringindoors I hope the weather improves for you.

£1800 for 3 adults one teen b&b ens of august to kefalonia. Will probably spend about £1600 when they’re ok food, drink, activities and car hire. Now the kids are older we wouldn’t get a reasonable AI for that price and we like eating out.

Some people just prioritise holidays, they go without all year to afford their break.
Some use credit cards/Loans and pay it off.
Some book in advance and pay it off monthly.
Others are just on more money then you.
Some will have come into inheritance or money some other way.
Less outgoings then you.

We spent about 13k last year going to Disney world including spending money. It was all paid before we left.
This year we only spent 2.8k not including spending money in Spain as we wanted a much cheaper holiday.
Next year will be LA so looking at 7-8k again at least.

I love taking the kids on holiday so will go without and save when I can .

We are going to Majorca next week for 7 days all inclusive. Me and 2 teens. Cost was £2100. Includes daily access to the water park across the road.

Just looked on the Tui website and some bargains on there for last minute August holidays.

I’m exactly the same. If breakfast is optional I always de-select it and venture out for coffee and breakfast at a local cafe.

The only exception is business trips where I don’t have time to sample local cafes in the morning, and having breakfast on the hotel bill means one less thing to expense.

Another reason I’ve never done AI is that I don’t drink anywhere near enough to make it worth it. I can’t drink every single day, for example, even on holiday.

Totally agree with this . Top AI like Ikos , Barut etc . are incredible .

@Tapasgoofy

Others are just on more money then you

I think it is probably this tbh as we rarely eat out, own two old cars, don't do big days out or festivals, don't do mini breaks. It makes me realise that teaching probably is reasonably low salary. I think lots of people must be on more.

This is impossible to judge, as there are so many variations. I would expect to pay £3,500 to £4,000 for two adults, B&B, in a reasonable hotel in Europe, on Easyjet or similar airline, in summer. Food would be extra, as we would never go all inclusive. Someone I know was quoted £17,000 for 2 adults, 2 teens (so adult prices), and one child - 2 weeks, Europe, in August.
So the quality of the hotel, the timing, the flights etc will all make a difference. All you can judge it on, OP, is what might suit you within your budget - why not rent an apartment, which would give you flexibility?

@Hbh17 that's exactly what we do and usually around that price range- maybe slightly cheaper as we go outside of school holidays- (early July or late September) usually for 10 days.

I posted the example of the nice villa with pool in playa Blanca (lanzarote) I found on last minute offers on James villas for last week in August- £829 - even factoring in flights in august for 2 adults and 2 kids - this would come out about £2600 - factor in £1400 spending money (£200 a day for a week) - and it's around £4K with spending money and an ability to drink and eat out somewhere different every night or even make meals round the pool on the barbecue. I do get why if you can afford Ikos type money they may be amazing- but in the middling level I think many are being ripped off- personally I would prefer the space and the variety. I guess we are all different.

2 weeks BB Greece 4 adults booked Jan £5400

Greek Island end of May next year for 10 days, we went for the half board option, as we like to eat out in the evening.
2 adults & 2 children (x1 free child place)
£2300.
Lovely 4* smallish family run hotel in a great area.
We’ve not been abroad for a few years & I was quite shocked at some prices but I thought 2.3k was pretty good.

£2800 approx for me, husband, 3 kids. Croatia, returned home yesterday. 7 nights self catering in lovely 2 bedroom apartment, flights, car hire and food plus activities. We ate two lunches out and one evening meal. Catered rest of meals ourselves.

@colouringindoors

I've done camping holidays and I've done staying at my parents... but I'm now at the point where the kids don't come and are earning (well 2/3) so we get to go term time and more

£309, for a week in self-catered accommodation on the coast in Norfolk for 3 people.

Approx £4K for 4 of us all inclusive.
You will be looking at least £1k per person for the summer hols if you want 4 or 5 star so I don't think you're being realistic.

(and we're on a high income)

£2.8K,2adults,one child,one week hb in Maderia. early Aug.Booked.earlier this year with free child place. More than I wanted to pay really but was one of the cheaper options across many hols.I.looked at for good rated hotel.

Spain, £6k for two adults and two children all inclusive.

Glad you have found a holiday OP. Enjoy.

I've been reading as am fascinated. I've never been on an all inclusive holiday. I don't think it would be for me, but it must be relaxing. I know I'd get bored. Part of the fun is planning an itinerary, finding transport, travelling from place to place, eating in different places, seeing sights, going to markets, finding out about the history.

It's made me think of a funny conversation with my ex MIL. On her return from Cuba (all inclusive holiday) said "the shopping wasn't up to much"

Me and partner 600 quid each in Kefalonia self catering in August. Boys holidaying with their dad this year.

@MiniTheMinx that is exactly us. We tend to plan holidays around places that have decent restaurants and bars. I feel I am missing out if I eat breakfast in the hotel every day, let alone all our meals. But people want different things from holidays, we are not big beach/resort holiday people and tend to enjoy cities and towns much more (if we go for a beach boldiay we tend to go for ones that have a decent town/large village).

If we go somewhere more isolated we tend to self cater, but that is not too common for us.

Current holiday for two adults:
£3056 - hotel
£1233 - flights
£200 - ferries
£560 - car hire.
£4000 - maximum spending money. Hoping to spend less but wouldn’t want to spend any more than this.
We’re island hoping in Greece for 2.5 weeks.