2010 School Holidays

kprigg

This is my first year of having to fit our Summer Holiday around school holiday time & would really appreciate your advice as how to get the best deals.
Usually we go in June & leave it pretty much to the last minute so we can grab the best deal. I am assuming it will be a case of grab it while you can when it comes to going away in the school holidays?

There will be myself, Dh, MIL, FIL, & 2 children (3 & 5). We do not want to go abroad, but are pretty easy going about where in the UK we go. We would prefer a 7 night holiday, but if it comes down to it a 4 night one will do.

Last year we had a lovely cheap break for 4 nights at Haven in Norfolk. I nearly choked on my cuppa when I saw the prices for a similar thing during the summer holidays!

I would really appreciate your tips & advice as to how to get the best MSE holiday during peak time.

Thanks in advance x

susieb

Hi
I dont know if a travelodge is your cup of tea, but we book the £9 sale rooms for August, they are ideal as just a base, each room sleeps 2 adults and 2 children. Much as some travelodges are not great others we have stayed in have been lovely, and it the only way we can afford a weeks holiday in the summer break. The £9 sale starts next Thursday and we often try ot get 4 nights at one and 3 nights at another for a weeks holidays and the kids think they get 2 in one LOL

kprigg

That sounds like a good idea - Ill have to look into them before I book so we can get a nice one. I have been in travel lodges before & have always been pleasantly surprised.
Only thing I am not so sure of is we quite like to have a base to come back to as once my boys are in bed we cant go out, are you all in one room or is it seperated?

Rachel85

You and your two boys would all be in one room in a travelodge, but if you were to go with your in-laws you'd have their room to spend the evening in. You may be able to request interlocking rooms.

Have you thought about a holiday cottage? Or even a house swap? We've never done a house swap, but would definitely think about it if we had a family.

leveller2911

We have 2 children and were looking to go to Ireland and rent a cottage.Next year is typical of this year the weeks before and the weeks after the school holidays cottages are generally 50% cheaper.
Before and after school Holidays £600 .......During school Holidays £1060...:eek:
We have decided we would be quite happy to take our children out of school for 2 weeks.The holiday companies need to make profit but they are taking the "P".

In the past we have used English Country cottages,Cottages 4 U and a few others and all act the same,even independants are acting the same way.

What ever happend to the Government/Holiday company initiative????? They allegedly lower many holidays during school holiday time???

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

after grabbing a last minute bargin Haven in May 2008, i have booked last minute since then.
Both may 2008 and may 2009 (whitsun half term) we went to Haven for a week for £350, booked 7-10 days beforehand, through there website.
Even in summer hols there are bargins to be had, especially if you are not too bothered were about you are going to.
We stayed in cornwall at a private owned site in aug 2008 booked to only 3-4 days before we went.

Haven is definately cheaper at may half term if you can get away then, almost double (even when reduced) for summer hols.

hope this helps

Spendless

Where abouts are you? As Scotland breaks up and goes back earlier than England and Wales often has a different week off.

My tips-

May 1/2 term 2010- the May (Whitsun bank holiday) falls on Mon May 31st and the kids are off the rest of that week, so you are really getting a week in June (except a couple of days) rather than a week in May. I *don't think* Scotland has this holiday, so you might find some cheaper deals if you were to holiday there.

Look at both your council's website for your school hols and also other area just in case you have a fluke of a different week. This once happened where I am, when my area was off a week later than the rest of England for Oct 1/2 term and I got a cheap hol.

Look at when you kids finish and go back to school in the summer again there may be a weeks difference area to area when you might get a cheaper deal.Also look at Scotland when their kids are back at school, or look at England/Wales before their kids finish if you live in Scotland.

Look at when teacher training days fall,
see if you can find a cheaper deal by starting a holiday a day earlier. Also for a long w/end mini-break hol look at 'random' teacher training days, where they are usually on a Fri or Mon but not attached to a longer school hol.

kprigg

Thanks for all these tips, I will definitely look into going in May - that seems like a good option.
Now the work begins of trying to find something affordable but good each & every year for the next 16 odd years. Yay!