How many weeks of the school holidays are you actually away for?

[SneakerShoulders]

First year with school age DC, so just curious.

How many weeks of the school holidays are you actually away on holiday for (ie not based at home, any kind of camping/self catering/hotel etc time away whether in UK or abroad)?

I'd count Mon-Fri as being away for the week, but not if it's just one night away.

At that age, 1 week usually. Maybe 2 nights staying with a relative during a different week.

As they got older, could add in Scout Camp too.

Once they were teens, on the years we went abroad, we'd go for 2 weeks, as not much additional cost to add on the extra nights (taking flights into account).

Summer - 2 weeks

Some years 1 week either at Easter, May half term or October. It depends on what we do in Summer and if we visit grandparents abroad (that is always less than one week and I do not count it as a holiday).

Thanks everyone. I did mean over the whole year, sorry not to be clear.

It seems that half terms and Easter are all cheaper for UK stuff, so I'm thinking to have a week one half term and one at Easter, but don't know if the six weeks will really really drag without a break!

None this year. We have saved enough to go away during October half term

We did twice our main break during the Easter holidays and the first year only planned a long weekend in Summer. It did drag on, while I had time off, it definitely wasn't relaxing or fun for DD who spent a lot of time in holiday clubs.

So the second time we saved and squeezed in a week UK break, it was better for all of us.

1 week Easter (caravan/holiday park uk)
1 week May half term (camping uk)
2 week summer Holiday (abroad)

Over the year average 4 long weekends camping in the UK. 1 long weekend centre parcs trip.
We don't usually have an abroad holiday but are for Oct half term with an additional week off school) Australia for a wedding

4 weeks. 2 at the start and 2 at the end. Then year did a hotel then a cheapie to my family .

13 weeks school holiday this year and we were away for 4 weeks in total across the holidays. Will be the same next year.

One in summer (week in the UK by the seaside), one in Feb half term (skiing). Sometimes one at Easter, depending on finances (Europe city break). All self catering.

We do also go down to visit my DM for a couple of days most holidays as well - she lives by the seaside. We might go away more over summer if we weren’t doing that.

We don't always go away at the same time of year, but over the course of school holidays (private school, so lots of time off) we do:

2 separate weeks abroad
1 or 2 weeks in the UK (usually Center Parcs or Lake District)
2 or 3 long weekends (either city breaks or countryside)

And a few overnights dotted about

3 weeks this year. 1 week at the beginning and 2 weeks at the end.

2 weeks abroad summer holidays
1 week in UK Easter
2-3 long weekends (eg camping)

Basically we go away most school holidays, but I prefer to do the longer trips during the longer holidays. I find a week away during half term is too rushed - DC like to have a bit of downtime - so we might do a long weekend or just visit family for a couple of days.

Last school year it was
2 separate weeks in summer
10 days Easter
3 long weekends

So about 4 weeks in total. That was more holiday than usual and tbh it was tiring (long weekends were theme park breaks and youngest dc is 2, so not at all relaxing!). And the Easter holiday was visiting PILs overseas, so I don't consider it to be a holiday (but the dcs do).

On a really good year we manage to afford a total of 5 or 6 nights away over the course of the school holiday year. Other than a 5 night break 16 years ago, we’ve never had more than 4 nights away in a row.
It takes a lot of planning but we find cheap Premier Inn/Travelodge deals and have takeaways/hotel picnics!

We have a pony so we barely go away at all. Went abroad for 11 days this summer for first time in 2 years

We've been able to go away for 4 weeks this year;

• 7 nights in Cyprus for February half-term
• 8 nights in Turkey for Easter holidays
• 12 nights in Turkey for Summer holidays
• 7 nights in Portugal for upcoming October half-term

I can buy extra days holiday through work and DH can bank flexi hours to use for extra holidays.

2 separate weeks, both self catering in UK. So more of a trip than a holiday really - same shit different locations! Took the drudgery on holiday with me sadly.

That's why we don't do self catering anymore. Same crap with a kitchen you don't know, appliances you have to get to grips with and IME tends to be fun for others but not me!

We did 2 weeks s/c this year, we cooked twice, Penne with Pesto after a long day out and didn't fancy looking for a restaurant.

Yes, we did breakfast and made 3-4x sandwiches for lunch when we had a lazy day. Everything but the wine glasses went into the dishwasher.

Out of 14 weeks school hols across the year, we're usually away 4-5, plus some weekends to see family.

Would love more!