How the hoo do you afford a family holiday abroad?

copperclock

It's that time of year, isn't it? All those ads for holidays on TV for amazing-looking summer holidays. And I have to admit that I am feeling quite poo about it. We're a family of 5 and we have a pretty decent income, but holidays abroad in the school holidays are sooo pricey. How does anyone afford them?

Examples: TUI search for a random week in August in a hotel in Turkey or Spain is £4k plus

Villa Plus search for a random week in August in Spain is about £2700, plus food and car hire

My children don't really care about going on holiday abroad, but I feel like I have let them down by never affording/prioritizing one. And my eldest is nearly an adult so I feel like I have run out of time.

How does everyone else afford their family holidays? And do you pay upfront of put it on a card and pay it back over the year?

suki1964

And that's what ads are supposed to do, make you feel inadequate if you don't buy in. The Disney one is the worse I think

If you really want a holiday abroad with the kids, start saving now for next year. When our kids were in school we only had a foreign holiday twice, both times we saved up a year or more in advance. And August is too hot for Turkey, look at half term , even October the sea is warm enough to swim in around Turkey and the Greek Islands


Also look further afield from these big complexes where everything is included on site. A three star self catering will be half that price and food and drink is very cheap in Turkey. Take your normal cereals for breakfast, buy the beautiful fresh baked bread, some cheese , meats fruit and salads for lunch and just eat out once a day. I always used to take a freezer bag full of frozen sausages, bacon , butter etc to last a few days

z1a

If we book a package it's usually with Jet2. Low deposit & pay random amounts off the balance over 9 months. Almost feels like a free hol. when you're not lumbered with a big bill 2 months from your hol.

k3lvc

We're in a similar situation - good income but balk at £4k+ for a fortnight away (and only 4 of us)

2016 we managed £1.8k for 10 nights AI in Marmaris - flew from Glasgow at end August (when Scottish schools are back) which knocked £1.5k off flight prices compared to local airports Leeds/Manchester/Liverpool

2018 we've just booked a week in South of France over May Half Term - £600 for 2 bed appt on a seaside site and £300 on taxes for flights using loyalty points built over last couple of years - suspect we'll double that with meals/car hire and trip to Monaco GP (for me at least). Doing the same in August the accommodation would have been £1.7k :eek:

kingfisherblue

I don't holiday abroad - apart from not being able to afford it, one of my children has multiple disabilities and I don't want to risk being in a foreign country with a language barrier. Instead, we try to holiday in this country and I save all year round. WE haven't managed a holiday for a couple of years because of other expenses that have taken up my savings, but instead we have days out, which can work out quite cheap.

Putting a holiday onto a credit card and then spending months paying it off is for mugs IMO. If you can't afford it, do without. Incidentally, it is sensible to pay for holidays on a credit card for the protection they offer, but only if you can comfortably afford to pay it back within one or two months.

onomatopoeia99

When I was a child, holidays were in a CI Sprite caravan that was about 10' long which my dad towed with a Hillman Avenger. We never had a holiday abroad.

There is no obligation to take your children to a villa in Spain and I find avoiding commercial television pretty effective for not seeing TV adverts.

lika_86

Having (I assume) three children doesn't help because apart from the day to day costs it means when it comes to holidays that you have to often have another room or have one on a sofa bed, if available. Plus the extra costs of flights.

Have you tried airbnb?

clairec79

We don't tend to go in the summer holidays (makes a big difference)

We didn't take the kids abroad until a few years ago - because passports for 6 makes a huge dent in the budget to start.

Also depending where you go makes a big difference to price and may not be as expensive as you thought - for example we went to disneyland paris, for the 6 of us (and 3 of my children count as adults for disney) for £1,300 for 5 days half board (half board which was breakfast, which was more than they eat for breakfast so they each had a croissant then about 10-11 which was left over from breakfast - a afternoon snack (hot or cold drink, doughnut/icecream/fruitsalad), and an all you can eat meal - so we didn't buy any food) and we drove over during their half term - we spent about £500 there but to be honest could have halved that easily


As you have more than 2 children it does bump up prices no end. Also look at different airports as you can get cheaper flights if you go further to the airport - then work out if with petrol, parking and time if it saves you money (and if it's worth it to you)

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Me personally: I budget all of my bills, any extra cash goes either in savings or towards a holiday.

When I'm looking at a holiday i will look around, for a long time.I'll barter the cost down before booking. I dontr go to popular destinations, I research the areas and figure out in advance what our itinery will be, how much it will cost etc.

This year Matt5 from MSE booked my holiday to Morocco, he was only able to beat Thomascook by £10 but that was our meal deal on the flight

Similarly to clairec79 - We've done Disney too (3 times now) but we've never once booked through the UK site and often find that better deals are offered to different countries (Last time we booked through the Netherlands site) ok, so your confirmation email is in dutch, but its emailed to you and google will translate the text if you cant work it out.

trailingspouse

All In is probably the most expensive way to have a holiday - and if you just stay on site you're not seeing the country at all, so why bother? Just stay home and put the heating up.

When our kids were little, we went camping in France. Took our own car, had picnic lunches and took it in turns to do the evening meal. Spent our days sightseeing, walking, playing silly games.

If I had my time over again I wouldn't bother doing anything more exotic than the nearest beach until the kids were at least 6 - it's hard work, they won't eat, and they don't remember it afterwards. All little ones need is some sand, the occasional ice cream, and their own bed at night. All you need is your own washing machine.

We had two 'major' holidays - one to Canada, where we stayed with relatives and camped in the Rockies, and one to New York/Washington when the oldest was 14/15 and we realised she probably wouldn't be coming away with us for much longer.

You say your kids aren't that bothered - so don't let the adverts get to you. As a previous poster has said, they're designed to make you feel inadequate. If there's somewhere you particularly want to visit ('abroad' is a big place), then save up and do it properly.

LilElvis

Going to South Africa and Zambia (Victoria Falls) for 3 weeks over Easter with the 7 year old. I've done most of the booking already - flights, hotel at the Falls for 3 nights, lodge in the Kruger Park for 3 nights, car hire - think its just the last night in Johannesburg I need to sort out. Fortunately we will be staying with friends for the rest of the holiday or we would be adding a couple of thousand more for additional hotels. Hoping that our daughter enjoys it!