I'm curious, how much did your summer holiday cost this year?

[StoppedToTieHisShoe]

How much are people paying to go on holiday this year?

Our stats:
2 adults 2 children
1 week in July to Lanzarote
Basic 2 star self catering apts, small pool, all clean and pleasant. No luxury.
£1800
Spending money approx £1500

We eat out for lunch and dinner each day, visit a music bar/play pool after dinner and do a few local day trips but kids happy with pool/beach/playparks. They could run up and down a wall beside stairs for hours!

I pass by some of the bigger hotels with the entertainment and activities and wonder if we would like that. Would anyone share how much they are paying for these types of holidays?

Just wondering how much people are paying for different holidays and also, as an aside, when is the best time to book for best deals?

We've had a week in Berlin in March - 2 adults - flights were £75 each return approx, 7 nights in the EasyHotel (clean and basic and we are out so much it suits us fine) £490, all meals were out but that could be a quick pastry / snack from station platform or cafe for breakfast to a higher end evening meal or long boozy lunch. Loads of walking / museums / sights. Spends probably totalled about £1200 when we paid of the holiday credit card. So about £2k factoring in taxis to and from airport as well.
'Main' holiday not until October as we have a family wedding / I have hen do for that / some dogsitting responsibilities. Initially looked at cheap and cheerful to Turkey or somewhere then thought "fuck it" and have 2 weeks in a nice AI Royalton in Mexico we've stayed at before, adults only with a swim up suite. Cost £4.5k so far, we will do a couple of trips while there but have done loads previously so spends won't be high and airport taxis will add about £80 total.
Loving this thread! We also do a lot of self catering UK breaks with our dog and used to have a camper van so a lazy AI is well overdue for me 😀

10 nights, mainland Spain, all inclusive, 2 adults & 2 DC - £5k

Yes, we’ve been to this one in Corfu before as well as one in Majorca and in Andalusia. We used to go to the TUI Sensatori hotels a few years ago and had some good holidays with them (although I think they’ve re-branded those now) but we tried Ikos and unfortunately now everything else pales into insignificance! The hotels are stunning, beautiful grounds, great service and the restaurants (and the buffet) are excellent quality. I’d definitely recommend although obviously the price is the downside. We have always booked with Jet2 as it has been cheaper and their service has also been great as you get fast track through security and a good baggage allowance. Hope that’s helpful x

Exactly. If you are flying business, for example, the costs mount up. Dh and I paid £10k for return business class flights to South America this year.

This seems good value. Is that in August (school holidays) too?

Funny enough we have booked a sensatori for next year and its our first time doing an AI holiday and im excited to try it, but seeing the Ikos ones has made me think I should have booked this instead, they look amazing so think that will be the one we try next. Have an amazing time.

£500. Ferry to Ireland for me + 2 DCs + dog, in the car. Booked it in February.
Free accommodation in a family home.

£9800 on a week at a (allegedly) 5 star Neilson resort in Italy. 2 adults and 2 teenagers so 2 rooms and half board. Including flights.

I concur you don’t need to spend much for kids to have a good holiday so people shouldn’t feel bad reading this thread. Mine loved the year we did an air BnB in Wales/

I need heat and a bit of luxury though now and we can afford it.

I would never criticise people spending ££ on holidays if they can afforf it and are not getting in to debt. Life is short and holidays and travel are a joy.

2 week med cruise in June for 2 adults, holiday cost £4200, spent about £2000 while we were away, that did include quite a few duty free spends though.

We are doing Silversea, taking my parents who are elderly. My favourite is Explora, an ultra modern, absolutely beautiful boat.

These look like a lovely cruise line. We have only been on one cruise but hasnt stopped me looking at all the cruise lines available and having a list of ones to try when I can convince my Daughter go give another cruise a try.

3k for 1week all inclusive in Spain in August . 2 adults, 1 teen. Not a luxurious hotel but prices have jumped so much this year and our finances have worsened too. Bit worried seeing some of the reviews and it's a lot of money if it's horrible but hoping it's fine.

Also had 2citybreaks. Just over 1keach.

All booked before the finances went to pot...no holidays for the foreseeable.

2 adults 2 week cruise everything included (food, drink, tips, WiFi etc) £10k

First of all the prices during school holidays at least double as compared to prices outside of school holidays. Especially the flights are crazy.

second of course there is a massive difference between going away as 1 or 2 and as a family of 4. Not all places have free kids places and definitely not 2 - you ll be lucky to get one. and then some places require two rooms.

plus with kids we are limited as extra early or extra late flights are very hard on them, and long transfers too.

For those worrying that their kids won’t love a cheaper holiday, we arrived at Ikos Odisia today and the kids (4 & 6) found out their sharing a sofa bed (rather than having a 2 bed suite like we usually do) and I just know that’s going to be the one thing they can’t wait to tell their friends!!

Hmmm maybe it's just that I am usually not tied to a date, e.g. having to fly on a Saturday, or having to do this in August? But sometimes I am and even then I don't tend to pay anywhere near as much?

I do tend to put time into planning and book on price though. To an extent I also choose destination on price, e.g. if I want to go to Switzerland, I'll go in May or September as opposed to July if it's better value. I do tend to stay away from crowded places, e.g. avoid Spain and Italy in August. If I was tied to school holidy dates, I'd probably choose a less popular destination like Montenegro.

E.g. always use Skyscanner for flights, if Wednesday flight is 100 and Friday is 300, I will fly on Wednesday. Their calendar feature I find very helpful, showing which days are higher and which ones lower prices.

Hotels is the same, I tend to choose 1-2 hotels I want, open the 'shop by price' calendar and find the week that's best priced. Usually that also means quieter, which makes for a better stay for me. I'm also happy to Airbnb for more space/ if a bigger group is travelling.

I don't really do budget airlines if I can help it and out-of-way airports or 6am flights as they stress me out 😂So tend to choose an afternoon or evening flight and generally prefer a relaxed transfer approach.

Usually book fairly close to travel time, maybe 3 weeks. Booked a flight yesterday and BA price had dropped below Ryanair's now that we are closer to travel dates, so booked that instead.

With hotels, sometimes I book a loooong time in advance with flexible cancellation. The closer to time, 1-6 weeks out and once flights are booked, I monitor prices and see if a better hotel is available at an improved price.

Have never used an agent or booked a package holiday or an all inclusive. That's what I assumed created the high prices quoted here. But equally it does remove the time spent on self-planning.

My mum paid 3K for a package holiday recently and I was shocked as I knew I could have booked her the same holiday but with much better hotels and more tailored to her needs & wants for half the price.

Sorry for the long post, hope it's somewhat helpful, if nothing revolutionary.

Indeed, maybe the difference is that I am fairly free with when and where to go, or not go at all, e.g. if I fancy going to Spain, I can just wait + go in September, and if I don't fancy a 6am flight, I can just avoid it - which I appreciate not everyone can do if 2+ people are involved in scheduling.

If I did have to plan holidays with kids though, I'd probably look at less mainstream destinations, if the financial aspect was important. Definitely comfort and ease over everything, no chance I'd be trying to get to Stansted for 6am Sunday morning flight with toddlers in tow!

I take my hat off to people that fly with under 5s, airlines should pay them for their commitment to holidaying, not just give a free place 😅

£510 plus about £400 for food and drinks - week in Wensleydale just me DH and the dog , can’t wait til we head off tomorrow

About £250 4 nights in Wales camping, that included petrol, pitch fees, a couple of attractions and eating out, took a bit of food and camping gear previously purchased throughout the years

heading out tmw / 10 nights Portugal 5star hotel - staying in a two bed apartment on the resort - ‘free’ using points. Flights £1200 Jet2 - 2 adults and 2 children

Feb half term skiing around £10k including full board and flights ,. Stunning hotel 5 star and private lessons

I’ve spent ££ thousands in the past on UK cottages - most of which were disappointing and over priced.

caribbean? 10k is mental!

Florida and short cruise with my friend 2.5k

Greece with DH for a week 3k

Med cruise with DH and friends 8k

What’s Mauritius like in the summer?

1k flights to Portugal
1.5k apartment for 10 nights
£100 airport accommodation for last night (early flight)
2 adults 2 kids

but already splashed on May AI holiday in Mexico

Pembrokeshire, 10 minutes walk from a beautiful beach: Accommodation is £3,000 for 2 weeks (sleeps 4, we are 3), £200 on trains, £500 on food and alcohol, £150 on a meal out. Probably £10 per day on other stuff, mainly buses and ice creams and we just go to the beach or for walks.