How do you holiday with school age kids? £££
Discussion
Looking for suggestions on what people do with school age kids and summer holidays?
This is the first year that we're having to go in normal school holidays - the eldest has turned 5.
So do people tend to take kids out of school & risk the fines / penalties or do you just stump up? - and the moral bit about taking kids out of school for a jolly....
Any suggestions for 'cheaper' destinations?
We have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so ideally looking for all inclusive, pool / splash area near to a beach - actual destination isn't too important - would consider Egypt (been before) wouldn't go as far as Tunisia (also been before) - but literally anywhere from the Costas to the Maldives.
The mark up for the majority of hotels seems to be anything between £500 - £1500 for going first week in July vs one of the weeks in August.
I refuse to blow £3k on a week in Spain.
Ideally somewhere around the £2200 mark would be useful for us.
This is the first year that we're having to go in normal school holidays - the eldest has turned 5.
So do people tend to take kids out of school & risk the fines / penalties or do you just stump up? - and the moral bit about taking kids out of school for a jolly....
Any suggestions for 'cheaper' destinations?
We have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so ideally looking for all inclusive, pool / splash area near to a beach - actual destination isn't too important - would consider Egypt (been before) wouldn't go as far as Tunisia (also been before) - but literally anywhere from the Costas to the Maldives.
The mark up for the majority of hotels seems to be anything between £500 - £1500 for going first week in July vs one of the weeks in August.
I refuse to blow £3k on a week in Spain.
Ideally somewhere around the £2200 mark would be useful for us.
Edited by Dan_1981 on Wednesday 23 March 14:07
Dan_1981 said:
Looking for suggestions on what people do with school age kids and summer holidays?
This is the first year that we're having to go in normal school holidays - the eldest has turned 5.
So do people tend to take kids out of school & risk the fines / penalties or do you just stump up? - and the moral bit about taking kids out of school for a jolly....
Any suggestions for 'cheaper' destinations?
We have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so ideally looking for all inclusive, pool / splash area near to a beach - actual destination isn't too important - would consider Egypt (been before) wouldn't go as far as Tunisia (also been before) - but literally anywhere from the Costas to the Maldives.
The mark up for the majority of hotels seems to be anything between £500 - £1500 for going first week in July vs one of the weeks in August.
I refuse to blow £3k on a week in Spain.
Ideally somewhere around the £2200 mark would be useful for us.
Whilst you can of course refuse to pay those prices, that is what they are and you will have to get used to it. It will never change. This is the first year that we're having to go in normal school holidays - the eldest has turned 5.
So do people tend to take kids out of school & risk the fines / penalties or do you just stump up? - and the moral bit about taking kids out of school for a jolly....
Any suggestions for 'cheaper' destinations?
We have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so ideally looking for all inclusive, pool / splash area near to a beach - actual destination isn't too important - would consider Egypt (been before) wouldn't go as far as Tunisia (also been before) - but literally anywhere from the Costas to the Maldives.
The mark up for the majority of hotels seems to be anything between £500 - £1500 for going first week in July vs one of the weeks in August.
I refuse to blow £3k on a week in Spain.
Ideally somewhere around the £2200 mark would be useful for us.
Edited by Dan_1981 on Wednesday 23 March 14:07
I have a 7 and 4 year old and when the eldest first started school we did Butlins for year one and Haven for year two. This year we are paying the money and going to Spain for a week. I wouldn’t bother moaning about it too much as no one will care especially parents of school age children. It is what it is,
By all means take your kids out and save £700 on a holiday. However, if your kid has a bad absence record that won’t go down well with the school and could cause you issues later on weather it be indirectly or directly.
Another key point is the price of UK Holidays has changed significantly in the last 18 months all thanks to Covid.
We paid £1300 for a week in a decent Haven caravan with all activities included and around £600 on food and activities for the week. This is of course significantly cheaper than a week abroad.
That holiday was ok, but both my wife and I fund it exhausting and it wasn’t much of a holiday for us at all.
That exact same Caravan at the same Haven site is now £2200 booked 11 months in advance, so the same holiday is now £3000 all in and I decided to pay an extra £300 and go to Spain for a week. Haven have suddenly realised they can increase the prices and people will pay it regardless. If you rent the caravan independently, you can do it cheaper, but it will still be around £1300 all in. You’d get a better caravan though.
You might be able to get self catering abroad with flights for about £2500-2750, but not much cheaper than that in school holidays and that is based on booking well in advance. Also, you’d have to do a lot of hunting for that. TUI offered us £2600 just before the Pandemic, but I bet they couldn’t do that now.
I married a teacher and have worked from home for the last ten years, so my experience is somewhat different from most.
Eurocamps are great in France, Luxury camping in good quality chalets.
https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/paris/pa012-l...
Been here a few times, it's an easy drive to EuroDisney and Parc Asterix and a small independent theme park called La Mer De Sable (Wild West theme)
Eurocamps are great in France, Luxury camping in good quality chalets.
https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/paris/pa012-l...
Been here a few times, it's an easy drive to EuroDisney and Parc Asterix and a small independent theme park called La Mer De Sable (Wild West theme)
We started camping when the kids got to school age & have had probably 5 years plus now of good camping holidays.
We've been just south of Bordeaux a few times, more central France and lots of south coast England (Dorset / Devon).
Works out much cheaper than most other holiday options, although this year are pushing the boat out & going in Eurocamp caravans.
We've been just south of Bordeaux a few times, more central France and lots of south coast England (Dorset / Devon).
Works out much cheaper than most other holiday options, although this year are pushing the boat out & going in Eurocamp caravans.
I equally refuse to pay a lot for europe and wont go camping etc...
Looked at May and the canaries ... super cheap flights but any decent hotel was well over £2k for a suite so around £3k overall (excl. spendies)
Instead, Dubai, flights £550 each and a suite at a nice hotel was peanuts so overall cheaper and nicer / warmer / etc.
Looked at May and the canaries ... super cheap flights but any decent hotel was well over £2k for a suite so around £3k overall (excl. spendies)
Instead, Dubai, flights £550 each and a suite at a nice hotel was peanuts so overall cheaper and nicer / warmer / etc.
In the pre-pandemic world, EuroCamp was the source of cheap summer breaks with Haven like entertainment. In the post pandemic world, the pricing was no way near as competitive as it once was.
When I first started looking at some of the popular northern France Eurocamp sites, they were well prices at around €1000 for a decent three bed accommodation. When I looked earlier this month it was €2200 for the same accommodation and that excludes ferry and you must take into account transport time too, which was something like 12-18 hours and a stop over in a Travelodge or similar
when you total all that up and take into account the faff factor, you are better off get on on a plain for all inclusive for around £2.5k to Turkey or similar.
We drove to Yorkshire for Haven and it was 7 hours each way with a stop and it was exhausting and even the kids were pretty bored. There is only so much TV they can watch in the car. Also our Mondeo Estate muches miles well, but feels cramped and cloesphic on the inside compared to our previous C4 Grand Picasso (Piece of S&%£)
When I first started looking at some of the popular northern France Eurocamp sites, they were well prices at around €1000 for a decent three bed accommodation. When I looked earlier this month it was €2200 for the same accommodation and that excludes ferry and you must take into account transport time too, which was something like 12-18 hours and a stop over in a Travelodge or similar
when you total all that up and take into account the faff factor, you are better off get on on a plain for all inclusive for around £2.5k to Turkey or similar.
We drove to Yorkshire for Haven and it was 7 hours each way with a stop and it was exhausting and even the kids were pretty bored. There is only so much TV they can watch in the car. Also our Mondeo Estate muches miles well, but feels cramped and cloesphic on the inside compared to our previous C4 Grand Picasso (Piece of S&%£)
I have looked at some of the Eurocamp type places as I think they look great.. but drive from home down to get a ferry or whatever is basically an extra day, fuel cost, ferry cost, drive on the other side.
It's not feasible either unfortunately.
Plus most of them are self catering so with food cost on top - you might as well bite the bullet with TUI.
Tempted to take him out of school he's 100% attendance otherwise but it's the moral thing as well - I know missing a week of school at 5 isn't going to hurt, but it doesn't quite sit right with me.
But then again for the sake of saving up to a grand....
It's not feasible either unfortunately.
Plus most of them are self catering so with food cost on top - you might as well bite the bullet with TUI.
Tempted to take him out of school he's 100% attendance otherwise but it's the moral thing as well - I know missing a week of school at 5 isn't going to hurt, but it doesn't quite sit right with me.
But then again for the sake of saving up to a grand....
Dan_1981 said:
Tempted to take him out of school he's 100% attendance otherwise but it's the moral thing as well - I know missing a week of school at 5 isn't going to hurt, but it doesn't quite sit right with me.
But then again for the sake of saving up to a grand....
We always used to get taken out of school early for family holidays. Never thought anything of it. But then again for the sake of saving up to a grand....
If you can do it.
Camping for us, we spend enough on NZ flights every couple of years to see family. Although a nice campsite can be £60+ a night these days.
When I was in primary school, my mum was a supply teacher and thought nothing of taking us out for a couple of weeks in june/july for cheaper, quieter Eurocamp holidays.
Much of reception year they're not yet compulsory school age anyway. Even if they are, the school won't/can't authorise absence for a holiday but nothing will happen beyond a fine.
When I was in primary school, my mum was a supply teacher and thought nothing of taking us out for a couple of weeks in june/july for cheaper, quieter Eurocamp holidays.
Much of reception year they're not yet compulsory school age anyway. Even if they are, the school won't/can't authorise absence for a holiday but nothing will happen beyond a fine.
I would say that children in year 2 or younger, taking them out for a week or two isn't the end of the world.
However, once they get Year 3 and older, especially 5,6 or even Year 7, taking them out for a week or two can lead to them falling massively behind and playing catch up (which they may never really do).
We took ours out for a week for the first time ever in January this year as the in laws had paid for us all to go to Finland as a surprise.
With one of ours in Year 5 and the other in Year 7, I wouldn't want to do it again. Certainly not for a fortnight. Both parents get a £60 fine per child.
However, once they get Year 3 and older, especially 5,6 or even Year 7, taking them out for a week or two can lead to them falling massively behind and playing catch up (which they may never really do).
We took ours out for a week for the first time ever in January this year as the in laws had paid for us all to go to Finland as a surprise.
With one of ours in Year 5 and the other in Year 7, I wouldn't want to do it again. Certainly not for a fortnight. Both parents get a £60 fine per child.
GT03ROB said:
Leave them at home with the grandparents….. a win all round!
This is what my parents used to do.with us in the 70s 2 weeks in Cleveleys 1/4 mile from the beach. 2 weeks in Middleton Cheney.
Then 2 weeks in a tent somewhere. Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, the Black Forest.
With our kids, my wife doesn't do camping, so we had cottages in Northumberland. Or Wales or Cornwall.
We once swapped houses with a cousin and had a week near Edinburgh and they had a week near Liverpool (1 mile to the beach)
My parents had a caravan near Llanberris so got to stay there too. But they got rid of it, and bought a house on Ynys Mon. Spending too much time with them was never a holiday.
Our best holidays were in fact overpriced Eurocamp in a tin hut (chalet) in Annecey south of Geneva.
The best when the hire car was upgraded to a C6 which had delivery miles on.the clock. Pulling onto.the camp site and we felt like mafia.
Rosscow said:
However, once they get Year 3 and older, especially 5,6 or even Year 7, taking them out for a week or two can lead to them falling massively behind and playing catch up (which they may never really do). .
It WILL vary child to child, but I think you are wrong. As I said above every year we would take 2 weeks out going on holiday. Both myself & sister went to uni when uni’s were proper uni’s & a very small % of comprehensive school kids went to uni. Whatever we lost in education which I’d dispute we made up for in a sense for travel. my sister has lived in Oz now for close on 20 yrs, me….. I’ve barely lived or worked in the Uk since I left uni.
Don’t knock taking the kids out, it doesn’t have to be the problem the authorities would have you believe.
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