Page 5 | How much do you spend on holidays per year?

User135792468 · 2022-07-18T06:25:39+00:00

As the subject says, how much do you budget per year for holidays / weekends away? We are a family of 4 and we currently budget 6k per year. It used to get us a few long weekends and a main holiday abroad for a couple of weeks. With prices going up, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere near as far, yet the £500pm going into the holiday account feels like a decent chunk each month. Others seem to go away so much more (like we used to before dc) and I’m struggling to make it stretch.

BiddyPop · 21/07/2022 09:35

Oh, I put away money to credit union from every paycheque for holidays and Christmas spending. We only use the credit cards for managing cash (pay them off in full every month) so don't have any debt for holidays.

And we also haven't been away much recently due to sporting commitments locally for Dd as well as pandemic. This year, we are having a week in NL while Dd does a sports training camp there, renting an apartment, will use public transport and got flights months ago while still cheap.

rookiemere · 21/07/2022 09:45

I have to say I'm a huge convert now to Jet2 package holidays. Pre covid we did all holidays DIY so there was usually a huge credit card bill at the end for accommodation.
I love the fact with Jet2 you can pay up monthly, so one more payment in August for our October break and we are done. As it's HB I'm not expecting huge spends when we're there.

Alarae · 21/07/2022 09:48

We don't really budget for it per se (no separate account) but it's always within our means. With a 2 year old we tend to do more weekend trips as opposed to a long holiday.

This year:
Weekend trip to Alton Towers (~£150 as hotel stay was a gift)
Weekend trip to Chessington (~£250)
5 day mid week to Weymouth (~£750)
Weekend trip to Essex - fancier stay (~£650)
4 day trip to Disneyland Paris (~£1.5k)

So totting up the above is £3,300. Which actually looking at it all is a lot! Also doesn't include buying annual passes to the local park place, which was another £150 or so for DH and I.

As the trips are all spread out I haven't actually realised how much it all added up to. While my DH doesn't mind, maybe I will let him think of the totals on his own!

MsPincher · 21/07/2022 15:37

PeggyGa · 18/07/2022 07:44

Did you just come onto boast

Show quote history

She came on to ask the question that was asked. Unlike you

Thejugglestruggle · 22/07/2022 06:42

Holidays are the one area we don't especially budget for unless we have a big holiday like Disneyland, or generally anything long haul, planned. I think that's probably because our holidays really vary year to year.
We have two kids under 5 and so, for us, we have put long haul on pause as we just can't be bothered with the stress of lots of travel with them!
This year we have had a Center Parcs stay, a week in Cornwall, and will be going on a 10 day stay in Greece together. My husband and I also have a spa break planned too.
Like everything, I do think holidays have sky-rocketed, though. That, plus the absolute nightmare at most airports etc...I'm sure will put a lot of people off travelling abroad.

Perfectlystill · 22/07/2022 06:57

I'm amazed how cheap everyone's holidays are, even the ones who spend £20k and £30k.

I looked at both of their holiday list vs cost and thought they are getting a lot of holiday for the money!

coolernow · 22/07/2022 07:23

We have a good income but could not afford 10k plus on holidays every year. Maybe it's because we are younger so housing takes up more cost.

handbagsandholidays · 22/07/2022 07:50

We do t really budget as such but we generally save and then use savings to pay for holidays as and when we decide we want them. We don't budget based on a fixed amount to spend. We tend to look at things like when we are going, how long for, is it a main holiday, adventure/experience holiday, city break or is it just fun in the sun to relax?It has to feel like value for money and worth dipping in to the "savings" pot for. In the last 12 months, we have done 3 city breaks abroad and a couple of u.k weekend stays, also 10nts in the u.a.e over spring bank. The total cost of all the trips combined was probably around 10-15% of our annual income which felt worthwhile. I don't like fixating on numbers but rather value for money within a budget I can afford. We often compromise by staying in no frills luxury hotels for city breaks as we know were unlikely to use the facilities to avoid unnecessarily paying extra. If you don't feel like your budget is able to take you as far as you'd like it to go and unable to increase your savings, perhaps look at ways to stretch it further by either making compromises or stretching the period between which you holiday e.g from once a year to once every 15-18 months. A holiday over Xmas /October half term/spring bank can be just as lovely as one at Easter/summer but often costs considerably less. If you're away for two weeks/10nights then splitting your stay between hotels may also be a good cost saving option. Hope that helps OP x

Libre55 · 25/07/2022 20:11

About 15k, but we do fly first class. Having 3 weeks in Sri Lanka in December, a week in Dubai next March and a weekend in the Isle of Wight in September!

Metabigot · 25/07/2022 20:57

handbagsandholidays · 22/07/2022 07:50

We do t really budget as such but we generally save and then use savings to pay for holidays as and when we decide we want them. We don't budget based on a fixed amount to spend. We tend to look at things like when we are going, how long for, is it a main holiday, adventure/experience holiday, city break or is it just fun in the sun to relax?It has to feel like value for money and worth dipping in to the "savings" pot for. In the last 12 months, we have done 3 city breaks abroad and a couple of u.k weekend stays, also 10nts in the u.a.e over spring bank. The total cost of all the trips combined was probably around 10-15% of our annual income which felt worthwhile. I don't like fixating on numbers but rather value for money within a budget I can afford. We often compromise by staying in no frills luxury hotels for city breaks as we know were unlikely to use the facilities to avoid unnecessarily paying extra. If you don't feel like your budget is able to take you as far as you'd like it to go and unable to increase your savings, perhaps look at ways to stretch it further by either making compromises or stretching the period between which you holiday e.g from once a year to once every 15-18 months. A holiday over Xmas /October half term/spring bank can be just as lovely as one at Easter/summer but often costs considerably less. If you're away for two weeks/10nights then splitting your stay between hotels may also be a good cost saving option. Hope that helps OP x

What on earth is a 'low frills luxury hotel'?

shivawn · 26/07/2022 10:35

I don't really budget specifically for holidays and I think I'd rather not know what we spend to be honest! We have a campervan and go away in that 1-2 times a month which doesn't cost much, although more now with diesel being so expensive.

Foreign holidays... probably around 20k is my best guess? Around 3 holidays a year. We used to stay in cheap accommodation and spend all our time out doing stuff. Now we have a baby so we like to rent really nice villas with heated pools so we can enjoy the pool during his naps rather that sitting in a hotel room waiting for him to wake up. It's definitely different but still great to get away. We also stick to places that only have a 1 hour time difference now (so Europe or Africa), we pay extra for flights that suit nap times and have less layovers, we need a bigger rental car etc. We were able to get better deals when we were more flexible.

LondonQueen · 26/07/2022 11:41

However much you can afford. I have previously spent 20k on a holiday and it was no better than the one I spent 4k on most recently.

Lomex · 27/07/2022 21:36

This year we've done / will do: £600 for a few days in a cottage, £300 for long weekend in hotel, £400 for long weekend in caravan, £2000 for 10 days in France, about £250 on a few camping trips (to break up the summer mainly) and another few days in a hotel for £600. These are all school holiday prices for family of 4, and the french trip was at the luxury end (but really good value i think) whereas the rest are pretty budget. We take our main holiday during one of the cheaper school holidays, not the summer.

Weirdlynormal · 28/07/2022 19:00

We spend a bloody fortune BUT we do t spend on lots of other things that seem ‘normal’ to many. Travel is my passion and I’m prepared to work until I drop to fund it (despite my pension being my other main concern).

NMAI · 11/03/2023 08:30

I agree!!! .... Some people LOVE to trump other people and grossly boast. It's really rather sad!

NMAI · 11/03/2023 08:37

What is the purpose of the answers here? What are you trying to gauge?

For some, it might be a few hundred pounds a year given a range of factors. For others (who can't help but grossly show off!) It's 20k! I'm surprised they found time to reply amidst spending their thousands & booking their 18th holiday this year. 😂.

Anyway, it depend on income, outgoings, number of children, financial commitments etc etc etc.

We earn a decent combined salary but haven't been abroad for 13 years. We've always gone away in our touring caravan. However this year we have booked a five star all inclusive week in term time at 4k which to us is very expensive & some will go on the credit card (we've never used credit cards before but who cares!!)