Holiday abroad with 3 children - can we afford it?

jap200

I have tried to search for 'family holidays' in this forum, but unfortunately they are both words which are too popular - so it can't be done.

Basically, I am looking for ideas for a holiday with 2 adults and 3 children - boys aged 3, 5 & 7. For the last few years we have gone to France for a Europcamp type holiday as we live close to Dover, and it kind of made sense. However, this year we would like to fly somewhere - partly to give the children the experience and also for more guaranteed weather.

Our budget is about £1500, which does not seem much - but it is all we can afford. We are prepared to take them out of school to keep the price down if necessary.

However, the problem is that most brochures contain very few hotels/apartments that sleep 3 children (we would prefer them all in one bedroom and us in another). Also, free child places (if you can get them) are only for the first child and the child price is for the second. You them seem to have to pay adult prices (or almost) for the third child, taking it way out of our budget.

There must be load of you out there with 3 young children - I would really welcome so advice and ideas please.

jaymac_2

Try booking cheap flights first then book an apartment from somewhere like holiday- rentals.co.uk. Look on the Spanish coast near Alicante/Murcia - there are so many rental apartments there now that prices can be very reasonable. You can get 3 bedrooms high season for £320 a week (property6691) You'd need to hire a car but again prices are reasonable so you're budget should be adequate. Good luck!

sammyy

Have you thought about hiring a villa?We have three children and for us this works out the best.Have a look at James Villas for a start.If you look under offers they have some good deals.

MINMOUSE

We've had just this problem, 3 kids 12,9,2 years old. Prices for Spain etc priced 1st child & 2nd child low but 3rd was priced as an adult. In the end we opted for Florida via Jetsave as they charged £199 per child and £719 per adult with no surcharges apart from fuel/ All other companies charged a lot more.

barbie_babe

what about staying with eurocamp book tent /caravan as you normally would in spain maybe this time then get cheap flights.we went with haven year before last caravan was 600 a lovely big eight birth job for three adults and four kids .then are flights came to 350 .so hoilday for 7 was 950pounds .
we take are hoildays in sep just as kids sould go back to school as headteacher said these were best two weeks to take .

Funkymum

When are you thinking of going & what airports can you travel from?

Saint_Chris

What about somewhere like Tenerife. You can usually get cheap flights to here. then hire a private apt which will sleep 5 you can usually do this for about £300 a week.

there is also a list of things for you and your family to do whilst in Tenerife.
WaterPark
Funfair
Lorque park (parrot show)
day out on a boat dolphin and whale watching.
visit up mount tiede
day trip out on a boat over to La Gomera
bus ride out to the capital

Night entertainment is great most if not all of the bars have entertainment on at night. Ie singers and comedians.
There are amusements arcades.

Eating out is priced reasonable, set meals can be have for 6 euros.

Taxi transfer is only 30 euros return and family insurance can be purchased for £50

Just a thought.

bad_harry

we had a lovely holiday with our 3 in sweden - ryanair to gothenburg was dirt cheap, hired a car through hertz via the ryanair link and had a lovely house through novasol.co.uk - that was cheaop too because at the last two week sof August children are back at school and off season. Warm all week and I was surprised how warm the sea was. Very clean and uncommercial.
My other favourite holiday site is gitesdefrance.fr - loads of gites many very reasonable. £1500 is plenty!

Cumbrian_Male

jap200 wrote:

I have tried to search for 'family holidays' in this forum, but unfortunately they are both words which are too popular - so it can't be done.

Basically, I am looking for ideas for a holiday with 2 adults and 3 children - boys aged 3, 5 & 7. For the last few years we have gone to France for a Europcamp type holiday as we live close to Dover, and it kind of made sense. However, this year we would like to fly somewhere - partly to give the children the experience and also for more guaranteed weather.

Our budget is about £1500, which does not seem much - but it is all we can afford. We are prepared to take them out of school to keep the price down if necessary.

However, the problem is that most brochures contain very few hotels/apartments that sleep 3 children (we would prefer them all in one bedroom and us in another). Also, free child places (if you can get them) are only for the first child and the child price is for the second. You them seem to have to pay adult prices (or almost) for the third child, taking it way out of our budget.

There must be load of you out there with 3 young children - I would really welcome so advice and ideas please.

As you have done the eurocamp holiday, how does the Italian Adriatic coast sound to you?

We have holidayed at Union Lido which has been European campsite of the year numerous times. It's got a private beach and is about 30 minutes by bus and ferry to Venice.

You can book direct with the site or as we do go with Bolero who are a family run firm. You can travel by coach or book self drive and fly Easyjet from Gatwick to Venice Marco Polo.

Its cheapest in a tent but hot, or most comfortable in an airconditioned mobile home but may stretch your budget. The site is amazing and self contained you could spend 2 weeks comfortably without going out!! I would but the wife has other ideas!!

se999

Hi,

Have you thought of home exchanging? It's very popular with families with young children as you can look for a 'match' with children about the same ages, and so you exchange to a house that is geared up with similar age toys/bikes/videos etc.. People normally also put together an info pack on things to see and do in the area.

Most people want to exchange during school holidays, so you probably wouldn't need to take them out of school. By all accounts home exchanging started with teachers who had very long holidays but limited budgets. The UK tends to be quite popular with families as lots want a holiday where the children can improve their english.

I used https://www.homelink.org.uk but there are other alternatives. You do pay an annual subscription. Your other costs would be travel insurance, flights. Also car hire if you don't exchange cars, we've always hired cars when necessary.

rede

try http://www.medhotels.com they have alot of options that include free kids

you will have to find separate flights but you will probably be able to hit your budget.