Fair priced holidays during school holidays

chettysmith

As a parent, I find it hard to afford holidays away during the school holidays. I think holiday companies discrimate against parents by increasing their prices during this time. I looked in to starting a petition to the government to try to prevent holiday companies increasing their prices - it seems someone has had the same idea.
Anyone who has children and doesn't want to take them out during term time for a holiday (this is becoming increasing difficult to do), should visit the following website and sign the petition. This would obviously benefit all those involved in the education system:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SUMMERHOLIDAYS/

saveapenny

good idea...ive signed it.
But too all parent out there STOP paying package prices and try DIYing your holiday the tour ops will soon get the message. Its always been best to act with your money

budgetflyer

Some companies already signed up to a stupid scheme to give better value to families during holidays. surprise, surprise:rolleyes: turns out holidays were dearer going thru special scheme than not:rotfl:

Theres not much the government can do really. Its supply and demand. To be honest, unless you work in a school (like my wife ), its really only for 10 years, then you can take advantage of the cheap deals other times as once your kids reach 16/17 they wont want to be seen dead in the same country as you. never mind go on holiday:j

chettysmith

budgetflyer wrote: »

Theres not much the government can do really. Its supply and demand. To be honest, unless you work in a school (like my wife ), its really only for 10 years, then you can take advantage of the cheap deals other times as once your kids reach 16/17 they wont want to be seen dead in the same country as you. never mind go on holiday:j

Thanks - but I'd like to take my kids with me now whilst I can enjoy them. Time goes by fast enough without looking forward to holidays without them.

budgetflyer

I always took my kids with us during school holidays.I just got more creative with booking our peak season fortnight. Pointless pleading with the government to do something . When was the last time the government tried to save you money? They have just added extra tax to flights. Next it will be an extra tenner if you go to the beach, in case little jonny Ps in the sea.
If you seek-you will find. If you want to go along the high street ask for a fortnight in Aug at one of the big 4, youll get ripped and the gov wont to jack all.

lisaab70

I have signed the petition, you never know, somebody might take notice (yeah right!)
School children are allowed 10 days authorised holidays a year. I have 4 children, 3 of them at school and we always take a holiday during term time because we can't afford it any other time.
I always check with their schools (2 in primary, 1 in high school) before I book to make sure that their holidays wont clash with anything important that they might miss out on at school eg exams. I also always get a bit of homework for them to do while we are away. Even though they are on holiday there are always times when they're sat around the caravan (or chalet, hotel whatever the case may be) when they are bored and its quite useful for them to have a bit of homework to do to keep them occupied.

I think its disgusting the rise in holiday prices during school holidays, which is why I have signed the petition, but unfortunately I dont see the goverment doing anything about it. But signing a petition wont do any harm!

Sam_Bee

OK, i'm not playing devils advocate, and as a father appreciate the cost implications of future holidays but I have a couple of points -

- Travel Companies make very little money as an industry - it's one of the most competitive going.
- Higher prices at peak periods (i.e. holidays) subsidise the low / below cost price outside of these periods (of course they don't make money on 7 nights for £99!).
- As this forum consists of money savers of all family sizes & commitments, would those paying the very cheap off peak prices be prepared to pay generally higher prices to enable holiday prices to drop?? I'd guess not.

How about looking at far more practical options, such as staggering holiday dates across the country? That would bring prices down.

Or if you're so incensed, quite literally, don't pay them. Stay closer to home.

I'm personally looking forward to lots of summer holidays youth hostelling in the lakes with my daughter....

notakid

I have a family and a job that involves term holiday dates only but I agree with Budget Flyer and the above poster.
It is a matter of supply and demand why should anyone be forced to sell something for less than someone is prepared to pay for it? If we all started to be more creative on how we thought about our holidays and the bookings decreased they would soon bring down the prices.


The thing that really bugs me is the way travel firms hit the family with hidden charges, things like "free child places" but then give high room supplement charges because your child is not classed as a person! Also family rooms tend to be horrible, esp. s/c the children have to sleep next to the fridge on a hard sofa bed and you have to pay extra for that! If you want another bedroom in your apartment its an extra £200.00 plus.

"Family" hotels tend to be run down and further away if you don't do your homework. Also whats this charging adult price for children over a certain age, children don't work! It’s these charges which get my goat the most! And I pity the families with more than 2 children they really get ripped off!

frank_potter

The travel companies and others involved in the holiday industry are NOT to blame for the term time holiday problem.

By law a head teacher may allow a child to take up to 10 days holiday in a calendar year - this is however at the individual head teacher’s discretion.

The government has however mudded the waters by issuing guidelines advising that head teachers only permit term time holidays in exceptional circumstances. This has lead to a situation where some schools allow term time holidays and some don't. If one casts ones mind back the current difficulties rarely existed (if at all) prior to the current government's (politically correct) intervention.

I will not be adding my name to the aforementioned petition. The politicians are entirely to blame for the situation.

mcfisco

If schools were to stagger the main summer break a little - it could help some
It does however look like some of those areas that had different dates are starting to move to the last week in July - first week Sept model

THETRAVELAGENT

Hello All

I think i have the worst job in the world sometimes am the travel agent so know when its cheap to travel but my darling wife is a teacher so i cant use all my knowledge to get the deal i really want but would like to make few points back on this topic

i understand completely why ppl feel there getting ripped off but if the school were to be staggered lets say accross 8/10 weeks in summer it would just make the tour ops put the prices in the brochure up on that period however its all about demand and dates so when the tour op cant sell its holdiays fast enough for the much larger date period it would soon realise it and prices would have to drop

Another major tip and sorrry mainly for north ppl or anyone happy to drive and save !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you were to look for a holiday now for 18/08 or after flying from say man or lgw and then look at gla or edi airports you will see its cheaper for the same holiday or should be at least scotish kids are back to school before this date but the same summer flights are still going hence they are cheaper

its a lovely drive up anywhere from lancaster to glasgow as well quiet motorway

i have travelled from glasgow every sumer for 8 yrs im lucky live in cumbria so nice drive believe me family of 4 main hols can save a large anount of money and thats why were all here

ive seen me take a villa holdiay from glasgow to mah/pmi for les than £300 holdiay from manchester was £400 more pp

Many Thanks and hope this helps someone at least