Feel a bit sick at how much our one week trip cost

[smacke]

We had a one week trip over Christmas to Barbados. Never been away before at that time of year but for various reasons, DP and I wanted a week just us two.

We just finished paying our holiday credit card off and realise that on one week of food and reasonable excursions like museum tickets, we spent £2,000. We knew Barbados would be expensive and we didn’t eat out every day, but even mid range meals for two were coming back at £200+.

Our 7 night trip cost over £2,000 per person. Not staying anything luxury and flying economy!

I guess it's all relative. I'm feeling the exact same as you op. We've just returned from a 10 night, family trip to a different Caribbean Island. Our flights were £2k each (£8k in total!!) Accommodation was another £2.2k. Then we paid for food, drink and entertainment on top of that- thankfully we could eat and drink like the locals, so it was probably it bit more reasonable in that respect.
We also had a trip to another Caribbean Island ( a few years ago) where we spent nearly double this- with 2 growing teenagers eating ridiculous amounts every day.
Sometimes ( much as I hate to admit) all inclusive works out much better value.
Still, we have fantastic memories of both trips, so I guess that makes those holidays worth every penny.

Each year we pay around 2k for a week away in various nice parts of the UK during August (DP works in education and it's the only time of year he can get a decent bit of leave).

I think double that costs is fair for a peak season somewhere with quality winter sunshine!

The Caribbean is a freakishly expensive place. I have a lot of time here (am here now) and love every minute of it. But I would never spend my own money to come here. Just open your wallet and let the $$$ fall out…

Well, this thread has put me off ever going To the Carribean!

@FlyingCatGirl

We actually went all around the island and on a number of excursions, it just wasn’t our type of place tbh wasn’t meant to be taken personally. I didn’t get the hype but that’s the thing, some people click with a place and others don’t, don’t take it personally. For context I like Central Asia, Africa and adventure type holidays, but we went out to Barbados as a big group for a family event staying in a villa and my DH and I had to break away to try to find things to do. There was a car rally which was fun on the wilder side of the island. I did like swimming with turtles. Neither of us are big drinkers. The history is very sad too regarding slavery and I found it hard not to think about it when there with the plantations etc.

My point was meant to be more around the pricing. We’ve been on luxury slower holidays where your money goes a lot further than Barbados (and I clicked more with the place). It’s exceptionally expensive.

incidentally some of our are friends are there now and for NYE… their hotel was charging 2.5k USD per person to attend the NYE dinner and hotel festivities (that’s on top of the room rate). Another restaurant they looked at was charging USD 1.5k per head and they went to one in the end for USD 650 per head as it was also an important family birthday the same day.

If you only spent £2k on flights & accommodation, that sounds like a bargain. A total of £4k for a week in Barbados over Christmas (ie peak season), sounds like very good value, as I'd expect to spend more than that for a week in Europe.

If it was nice and you’ve paid it off then meh, who cares. Prob don’t go again!

if you’re going to be paying for it for the rest of the year and can’t afford any other holidays in the meantime, then yeah that wasn’t the best choice

I think a lot of us are guilty of spending too much money on holidays. We went for a week in Spain last year, in school hols, it cost £5k for the four of us. It wasn’t really worth that much, but we were lucky to be able to afford it so I haven’t really dwelled on it

Miaow

@FlyingCatGirl

just to add also before you come at me again, a third of our group there were Trinidadian and love the Caribbean but Barbados in particular / the celebration was booked there because they love it so much. So we were there with Barbados ‘veterans’ as it were and it still just didn’t do it for me. Different strokes for different folks

£4k for a week in Barbados sounds quite reasonable for me.

That doesn’t sound terrible. The food and entertainment seem a lot but the apartment and flights weren’t bad. I think winter sun is worth way more than summer sun for the benefit you get from it.

£4K for Barbados over Christmas is good going.

I think you got a bargain getting a hotel for a week plus flights for £2k over Christmas. I have a Barbados trip in mind for Easter and am expecting it to cost quite a bit more than that for the 4 of us. I don't know if I can get time off work yet though. The food is a big chunk of your total trip cost, but based on my research it's in line with expected costs for eating out over there, for not particularly luxurious venues. The food is presumably flown in and it just costs a lot. Thailand/ Malaysia/ Indonesia would definitely be more budget friendly for winter sun for future trips.

Doesn’t sound outrageous! YOLO and it’s a one off. I wouldn’t beat yourself up over it.

I’ve spent more than that on holidays and also felt sick when I was pressing ‘pay’.

I think it’s just cause it’s such a big chuck of money in one go and if you’re not used to spending like that it is anxiety inducing!

For a holiday in Barbados over Christmas I don’t think it’s an outrageous amount. Next time pick a cheapest destination if you want to save $!

plenty of cheaper places to eat - it will only of cost you that money if you don’t shop around and choose to eat in the swankier places every day - the best food is often where locals eat it’s a small island so not sure why you didn’t try out lots of different establishments and areas

December is the most expensive time to visit Barbados. It’s a tiny island and pretty much everything is imported, hence the high price of food. A trip to Barbados can be done for a lot less. Don’t dwell on it too much, I bet you had a fabulous time.

Sounds really reasonable to me - if it ended up as £4K in total including spending money - I’ve just spent £3000 for new year ( 6 nights in Stockholm ) for the 2 of us - that was lovely flash hotel, nice time flights and eating out every night including £240 for the 2 of us for New Year’s Eve .

We spent way more than that. It is within our budget but it does mean sacrificing in some other areas and we are fine with that. We lean toward spending money on experiences rather than things.

Aah, this wins bitchiest comment of the day which I guess is what you were aiming for.

I would not go to Barbados over Xmas as I could t afford it, who the fuck goes over Xmas and thinks £4k is off the scale??

Are you saying you don’t think 4k is extravagant or don’t think 8k would be? I think the average person would find 4k for a week quite extravagant, but that doesn’t mean it’s too much. OP if you enjoyed it, great!

It’s all relative I suppose. I personally save about £2.5/3k a month, but I feel a bit “broke” to go on holiday. I don’t know why, cause I love travelling and have the funds but it just seems to be a slippery slope for me when it comes to holiday cost, breathe and £4k is gone! But I’m not a very savvy holiday planner, I don’t have the headspace and would want the peace of mind that things are safe etc instead of trying to make the cheapest possible option work.

In the nicest possible way, this sounds like something you should try to get over. What’s the point of saving all that money if you never do something - travel - that you enjoy?

@smacke Well, yes YABU if your ability to recognise numbers, comprehend basic maths and have a general awareness of personal spending fluctuates from month to month.