All inclusive holidays - what are people sacrificing to afford them?

[blacksmiths09]

Morning everyone.

As I sat trawling through Thomas Cook or Thomson last night looking at 2 weeks away somewhere in August I began to wonder the following:

Due to the CHEAPEST being around the £4000 mark (during August school holiday) how are average families looking at this cost? I mean surely most people would be making the decision to basically spend an entire years savings for the holiday? Am I right? Is this what some people work an entire year for? Just to go and have 2 weeks in the sun with food and drink?!? I know some people who go away abroad twice a year on an all inclusive plus a few Center Parc holidays as well!

We COULD afford to go on a nice all inclusive but I'm not sure I would want to look back at the end of the year and see very little savings in our bank because of it..........am I being tight? Or should I take the view of we only live once and you can't take money with you?

My sister did one and she got it last minute for £450 I each.

But it depends on what level of all inclusive you want. She wasn't bothered by 4* with a pool bar you can swim up to.

I think people do spend that much on holidays. Not an option for me.

I cant afford that! We have got a cheapy break away planned. 3 nights basic hotel with breakfast and flights for a total of £350 ish for 4 of us.

I'm spending more on holidays and days out rather than things this year. We have so much stuff and I want to give the kids experiences rather than more things. However we tend to arrange them when we have the money, hubby is commission based so will save some and splurge the rest. Not talking £4K holidays but probably spend around half that on things throughout the year.

We went away to Menorca three years ago for one week on an all inclusive. It cost about £2500 and WAS nice. Afterwards we decided we shouldn't do that again but instead have days out in the school holidays instead. What has actually happened though is that as the kids have gotten older, all they want to do is look at iPhones or Xboxes and moan and whine when we try and take them away from the house. Last year we went to Robin Hoods Bay for a seaside picnic. It was really nice weather. Myself and my DD were walking along the beach (we had just got there) and after 10 minutes she wanted to go home. She is 13.

Myself and my wife work hard all year and I'm beginning to think we owe it to ourselves to give us some proper time off (no cooking etc) in the sun and force the kids into some nice family time where they know they have to get on with it. But this comes at a cost. I'm just trying to get my head into it and decide if it's something we should do knowing it's a choice between that and having something saved for a rainy day.

I am very much one for living and experiences. With teens you will prob get them hiding from the sun and displaying the same behaviour as at home. What about doing a city break or 2 with them instead to start with. Honestly they will get more out of it.
The ability to take a selfie in front of the eiffel tower or leaning tower of pisa, use public transport.
And 3 or 4 days is plenty. Put the difference into an account and the second they are old enough to leave takr yourself and partner on a lovely holiday