Budget Family Holiday Needed in Summer Holidays!

Spendless · 23 July 2017 at 7:52PM

greenface wrote: »

that's also the week when the kids go back to school after 26/8 - 02/09 . Its a week I always find difficult to shift as a holiday home owner as a full week and knock some money off just to clear it as a full week , ( we are north wales so a bit far for the op) my weeks in august went a while ago for 20% MORE THAN THAT LAST WEEK.

It varies area by area, but mine have never returned to school any earlier than 2nd September. This year my daughter returns 6th September, but the teachers at her school have to be there from 4th.

The full week that contained Aug BH was always one I looked for when booking a hol on a budget as plenty of other schools are back during it.

YORKSHIRELASS · 23 July 2017 at 10:05PM

I think that a caravan on a holiday park is going to be out of reach if your budget is tight. We went camping for holidays for 10 years with our boys. We gradually upgraded our tent and kit and getting an electric hook up added a bit of comfort. Yes it was wet and cold at times but we had some amazing holidays. I think that if you go with the right mindset it can be great fun.

UKcampsite website is great for advice about getting started.

We have done YHA holidays too (and you can self cater using the shared kitchen) but there are downsides. You will all have to sleep in one room, the bunk beds can be really uncomfortable and hostels sometimes are really not suited for family holidays. I remember one where you could only use the self catering kitchen at certain times and you will have to share the lounge and communal areas.

culpepper · 25 July 2017 at 11:23AM

Another one in favour of camping. You might see camping stuff on freecycle or could you or hubby borrow some from family, friends or colleagues?
I think you would need at least a 4 person tent so there is room for you all and a stove of some kind, (the little gas cannister stoves from millets or wilkinsons are very easy to use). You dont desperately need sleeping bags if you have blankets and pillows (although its easier with them )but something soft under you makes night time very much easier.
Some camp sites will rent out tents and equipment but I cant say what the prices would be for that.
You dont need electric hook ups but you would definitely need to look at campsites with toilets and hopefully showers.
The campsite link already mentioned is very good and also there is pitchup which also has reviews and a booking facility .
Lots of campsites will freeze your cooler ice blocks if you take a cool box that uses them and enough blocks to swap them out every day.

JVRMac · 6 August 2017 at 11:01PM

What about city stays? We have had lots of short breaks on the cheap, staying at premier inn for a few days, spent 4 days in Manchester which cost about £170 for a family room, also spent a few days in edinburgh including train fare it came to about £200, lots of free stuff to do when you are there too, which keeps the price down.