How important are holidays to you?

[nkf]

I don't mean time off work but the going away etc...
My husband is mad about them and I want to rein in our expenses. I can't bear how much our summer holiday this year cost us. And yet I feel like such a meanie for saying we shouldn't.

I think most people have completely misinterpreted the thread as being about whether you should have no holiday rather than whether you should spend less than £6k on your holiday!

My kids all have fair skin so tbh I wouldn't even consider going somewhere as hot as Spain during the summer holidays - plus I am always at the prices then. Would it be cheaper to have your "sun holiday" at the May or October half-term?

Some of the best holidays I've had (even pre-kids) didn't cost a lot. Next year we are planning 9 nights in France in a luxury mobile home - if you book directly with the campsite it is ££ cheaper - and will use clubcard vouchers for the ferry/tunnel crossing. The accommodation will cost around ?600. I'd rather spend my money on nice meals out (so I don't have to cook!), etc than lining the pockets of a travel company!

But it does depend on what sort of holiday you and your family enjoy - if baking in the sun by the pool in July/August is your cup of tea then even booking accommodation and flights direct will be expensive...

We like Spain but it's expensive. I'd happily stay in England but he won't. He is obsessed with hot weather and won't tolerate a UK holiday.

Is £1k impossible for a week for four in the Med?

I'd stay in England and do day trips and overnights but compromise and all that....

Maybe it is doable for 1k if you were prepared to compromise on accommodation - would your dh consider camping or a mobile home?

All the things suggested are fine by me. Mobile home no problem as far as I'm concerned. Sun holiday at Easter no problem. UK holiday no problem. I don't care about eating out. I'd skip a year and do day trips.

But I am trying to find something that will satisfy my husband's desire for a flashy holiday in a hot country and not cost the earth. Not easy as you can imagine.

we never go abroad as I find all the travelling so stressful
last summer we didn't go away at all and I did feel sad not being able to contribute to the endless holiday conversations....
this year we're going away to Wales for a week in July
I am looking forward to it already, although I do have to say I do find holidays stressful too

I was going to suggest houseswaps, but think our ideas of economising on holidays maybe somewhat different from yours !

£1K for a week may be doable but probably not if you want to go during school holidays. However our relatives stayed at a great caravan site in Spain that they raved about and I'm sure that wasn't expensive. I find its much cheaper to book flights and accomodation separately and s/c villa/appartment is always cheaper than a hotel, and to be honest I find it better because you can self cater for some of your meals and you have a lot of room to relax so less need to be out all the time.

If your DH wants good quality then it would be perfectly possible to find self catering somewhere for 4 that is luxurious, has good facilities but costs considerably less than £6k.

My DH is a hang the cost type of person on holiday. We compromise by booking good quality accomodation but cutting costs by flying using cheap airlines and arranging car hire ourselves.

Which airports are easy for you to get to ? I'm sure if you list what your DH wants, as StarlightMcKenzie says, sure that MNetters could come up with something.

Very important and we have done both ends of the scale, the other year huge blow out in Florida which cost thousands.

Have also done self catering in Holland we stayed here sorry Dutch sight in a chalet that was lovely Huge walk in shower and jacuzzi bath that we shagged in constantly! We also visited http://www.efteling.nl/ the Efteling park which was wonderful The accomodation and ferry for ten days came to about £600 that was four years ago. The profile picture that everyone loves of me and dd was taken at the efteling park. You can also camp at the holiday camp where I stayed.

We have also done self catering in this country but the accomodation can get outrageous in the school holidays.

We mostly camp now to keep the costs down.

de efteling park

How about somewhere in the south of France - you could probably drive down more cheaply than flights would cost and you wouldn't need car hire then?

Ok saw your latest post. Can recommend La Manga. We went out of season so it was less expensive, but due to credit crunch etc if you do a lot of fiddling on the internet I'm sure you could find a good bargain even during the school hols.

The standard of the appartment was excellent, very spacious living room and two bathrooms. We ate out for every meal except breakfast ( DH likes eating out a lot on holiday) and the non Hyatt owned restaurants are not expensive.

If the weather is good, there is loads to do, nice outdoor pools, tennis, golf, cycling, football training for children that sort of thing. It feels up market, and the activities are dear, but might be enough of a compromise for your desire for frugality and your DH requirement to be in luxurious surroundings.

Can I ask if you want to reign in holiday costs because you genuinely can't afford them or do you just feel that the money would be better spent on something else ? If its the latter your DH and yourself need to reach a compromise and I would suggest somewhere between £6K and £1K is sensible.

Okay.

My list includes:

• Not having to drive.
• A proper town/village nearby.
• a pool (we're all fanatical swimmers)
• Free things to do. Festivals. Interesting walks etc.

HIs lists includes:

• Heat. The hotter the better
• Sightseeing places. Lots of them.
• Day trips and overnight trips on top of the holiday.

We're in London.

We may look into Dunnreill Teapot we were talking the other night about going back to Holland

I'd like to go but we haven't had a family holiday since 2002. And that was the first ever! I sometimes wonder if this will affect the kids or make them resentful (dd1 did bitch about it a bit)
I take ds2 camping on home education camps so he's ok. But its too tough taking dd2 as we wouldn't get a break. At home we get 15 hours of help a week with her to allow us to talk to the other kids or just rest. If we could afford a holiday we'd have a week of caring for dd 24 hours a day in a strange place. Wouldn't be a whole lot of fun I imagine.

but then I grew up without a holiday - first ever was was inter-railing at 19 after I'd left home.

I want to rein in holiday costs because we can't afford them. It's a long story with some profound differences about money at the heart of it. But I'm trying to find a compromise on the holidays.

How about somewhere like Turkey? I have a feeling it would be cheaper than Spain esp if you organised it yourselves..

The day and overnight trips are usually organised by him. God, I sound wet. It always involves car hire. And yet another place to stay. And meals out. I'm sure you can see how it adds up.

I would consider the Greek Islands. Definitely.

holidays away with dh and kids - I would happily do without.

Overnight trips myself with girlfriends or dh - fantastic and not too costly either.

How about looking at a cruise - loads of day trips, swimming pools on board, no car hire.