How the hoo do you afford a family holiday abroad?

jackieblack

fred246 wrote: »

One year we had 2 weeks in Brittany planned for August. Fab campsite with waterslides etc Loads of activities. Beach. About £700 with ferry, site fees, diesel etc. Wife came home. Some friends invited her to go to California to visit. Flights RV hire etc £10K. I remember saying I would love either holiday. Seeing that one cost a fraction of the other and I would love either we went for cheaper option. Maybe people go for exotic holidays when you'd enjoy a cheaper one as much.

It all depends what you want from a holiday. Campsite/waterslides/activities/beach are some of my ideas of holiday hell (AI resorts and cruises are the others).

For me, it's all about exploring the places I've always wanted to visit. I am perfectly happy to live quietly and pretty frugally 50 weeks of the year, so I can explore somewhere new that I've dreamed of seeing the other 2 weeks. I am on a low income and my trips cost me about 1/3 of my annual income, sometimes more, but I much prefer this than filling my house with 'stuff'.
When my daughter (now an adult) was younger we preferred that she'll have memories of visiting amazing places that most people her age have only seen on TV/in books/movies. She was never going to reminisce about a new kitchen we'd installed or a new car we'd bought in the same way. I also wanted her to grow up knowing that very few places in the world are more than a plane/train/car journey away, and wanted her never to be one of those people who look back and say 'I always wanted to go there/see that but never did'.

jackieblack

svain wrote: »

Spending quality time chatting over a coffee is also an experience (even in Costa). Eating out as family, sharing a takeaway .... all experiences that can be fondly remembered. Makes more sense to me to reduce annual holiday cost so can loosen the reigns on the modest stuff.

Spending quality time chatting over a coffee at home is also an experience. Eating anything as family anywhere, sharing a picnic.... all experiences that can be fondly remembered. Makes more sense to me to reduce unnecessary spending on the small stuff so you can experience amazing stuff.

Still, it'd be a boring world if we all thought the same (or all wanted to holiday in the same places)

jackomdj

We have done quite a few villa holidays in the south of France. We have used the tunnel (fairly cheap and good crossing times) then driven down (since the children were very young, just find things to do, DVD, games to play etc). Unfortunately I am limited to the middle of the school holidays, but time it right and it will be a better price (I've right at the start/end). If you go inland by 40 mins/an hour it is a lot cheaper. We get a good sized place with a nice pool. We self cater rather than eating out, although you can eat out for a good price too.

I love taking the children away and building those memories.

newgirly

I defiantly agree with the "experiences over stuff" route, however often that's not the choice, it may be a case of holiday or after school clubs or maybe holiday or car to get to work reliably.

FBaby

svain wrote: »

Although i agree with the reason to holiday I cant agree with this kind of daily/weekly sacrifice for an annual holiday. Life is short and tomorrow may never come.

That's what we're all different. I find people waste a lot of money weekly on stuff they can't think back what's it's gone on and only brought them very instant and limited pleaside. Our holidays have left us with amazing memories and better understanding that there is more to the world than our little island.

FBaby

svain wrote: »

The good memories of a family holidays can be made whether holidaying on the QE2 or camping 5 miles from home. An annual modest type holiday is far more beneficial to the family than a once in a lifetime holiday that requires years of saving/sacrificing.

I disagree. When you can swim with turtles it's an amazing experience that is more than just spending time together as a family. Same with meeting cultures that are nothing like what we experience in this country. Spending £150 on boots because it's got one name on it rather than George is to me a total waste of money but again each to their own.

Red-Squirrel_2

consumers_revenge wrote: »

Lets face it, its a huge ripoff with the government and holiday companies in cahoots.


We are going abroad this year and its in the summer holidays, 7 nights in 2 bed ( lucky TBH ) in spain. That's £1830 plus food/spending. We could decorate the front/back rooms, plastered and recarpeted for what were paying for a week. This will be a 1 off I'm afraid. The family has plenty of UK holidays but will be nice to not be driving and somewhere unvisited.


Time Disney right and use the correct sites and last year for 4 of us 5 days was £1180 inc Eurostar and breakfasts in the resort. You have to play with dates to hit the sweet spot.


The spain hol we booked just after august this year. I have kept an eye on the price and its gone up by an eye watering £500 since


Its madness to be honest.

Not a one off then!

Primrose

Have you looked at doing a house exchange in another country with a family? This will save accommodation charges and often you can agree to exchange cars as well. Might not work for you but worth seeing what options are available. There are various organisations that put potential families in touch with each other.

goodwithsaving

fred246 wrote: »

One year we had 2 weeks in Brittany planned for August. Fab campsite with waterslides etc Loads of activities. Beach. About £700 with ferry, site fees, diesel etc. Wife came home. Some friends invited her to go to California to visit. Flights RV hire etc £10K. I remember saying I would love either holiday. Seeing that one cost a fraction of the other and I would love either we went for cheaper option. Maybe people go for exotic holidays when you'd enjoy a cheaper one as much.

Funny you should say that. I had a couple of really posh holidays as a child but the one that we all remember most fondly is one exactly like you mention, where we had absolutely no money but a brilliant time.

I agree with the sentiment that using credit to pay for a holiday is ridiculous. I wouldn't be able to enjoy the holiday knowing it was on credit.
I also agree that having children is a privilege, just as going on holiday is. Nobody has a right to a holiday abroad. If your children aren't fussed and would rather you paid the mortgage, be rightly proud you have brought up your children to be appreciative.

Try EuroCamp. (It isn't camping per se). There are also some lovely parts of the UK with lodges etc. You can't beat some areas in Britain, they're beautiful.

AylesburyDuck

In 34 years of marriage i've had 1, yes you read that right, one, holiday abroad.
Holidays are a luxury and not a right, yes i could probably have scrimped and saved, done without, but why? When i prioritised wants and needs i found that a holiday was merely a want and not a need, and after a few years it didnt even come up as a want.