How expensive?! Family holidays in August...
Discussion
So I got the all clear from cancer a few weeks back and we have started looking at a family holiday for the summer, in fact our first overseas holiday for just the 4 of us alone (2 family reunions aside - fun but not very relaxing 
) since 2016.
I very naievely thought that (to me) a chunky budget of £8k would get the 4 of us something truly memorable, somewhere exotic and also something fun to put the last year of hell behind us nicely and move on. The last 'fancy' to us foreign holidays we had which cost £6-7k in 2015/16 are now well north of £12k++ and looking at all inclusives or half-boards in nice hotels in Europe/Caribbean were coming in at ridiculous prices like £14-18k. Honestly I have no idea how people afford it, I have a well paid job and my wife earns a decent salary too, but being quoted £14k for 2 weeks in pretty average hotels just strikes me as crazy.
The Dominican Republic looks pretty decent value but a) it's almost hurricane season when we'd be going and b) a travel agent told my wife not to go as it is well dodgy outside the hotels. We'd love to do Asia but it's either Monsoon or too difficult/expensive to get to the non-Monsoony bits we like. So we are back to Europe - Villas look reasonable value although my wife is not quite so keen given she would end up having to sort meals out if we couldn't afford to eat out 2-3 times a day for 14 days. So we are back to hotels in Europe and it's pretty depressing that nothing exciting is coming up - we have been offered nice looking hotels in Sharm el Sheikh but think it might be a bit too hot or Turkey, but looking at reviews lots of complaints about p*ssed Russians everywhere which doesn't fill me with excitement. We sound like a right old pair of snobby whingers, but the last holiday we had was a week in a static caravan on Anglesey, which was just amazing - but we were very lucky with the weather and I am not so sure we would be again!
Any left field suggestions for a family of 4 in Jul/Aug? We've done Spain, Greece, Italy, Turkey, France - probably thinking either Croatia (but looks expensive) or back to Greece again....
) since 2016. I very naievely thought that (to me) a chunky budget of £8k would get the 4 of us something truly memorable, somewhere exotic and also something fun to put the last year of hell behind us nicely and move on. The last 'fancy' to us foreign holidays we had which cost £6-7k in 2015/16 are now well north of £12k++ and looking at all inclusives or half-boards in nice hotels in Europe/Caribbean were coming in at ridiculous prices like £14-18k. Honestly I have no idea how people afford it, I have a well paid job and my wife earns a decent salary too, but being quoted £14k for 2 weeks in pretty average hotels just strikes me as crazy.
The Dominican Republic looks pretty decent value but a) it's almost hurricane season when we'd be going and b) a travel agent told my wife not to go as it is well dodgy outside the hotels. We'd love to do Asia but it's either Monsoon or too difficult/expensive to get to the non-Monsoony bits we like. So we are back to Europe - Villas look reasonable value although my wife is not quite so keen given she would end up having to sort meals out if we couldn't afford to eat out 2-3 times a day for 14 days. So we are back to hotels in Europe and it's pretty depressing that nothing exciting is coming up - we have been offered nice looking hotels in Sharm el Sheikh but think it might be a bit too hot or Turkey, but looking at reviews lots of complaints about p*ssed Russians everywhere which doesn't fill me with excitement. We sound like a right old pair of snobby whingers, but the last holiday we had was a week in a static caravan on Anglesey, which was just amazing - but we were very lucky with the weather and I am not so sure we would be again!
Any left field suggestions for a family of 4 in Jul/Aug? We've done Spain, Greece, Italy, Turkey, France - probably thinking either Croatia (but looks expensive) or back to Greece again....
Some lovely 5* seaside hotels in Morocco - very plush, all inclusive, outstanding service etc., which also work out at much better value than European equivalents.
The downside (for some) is that outside of the hotels you get to see the 'real' Morocco, which is often in complete contrast to the hotels.
The downside (for some) is that outside of the hotels you get to see the 'real' Morocco, which is often in complete contrast to the hotels.
Fully agree on the rip-off price of holidays now. As a result, we tend just to buy flights then sort our own accomodation
My own recommendation would be to hire a villa in Spain (virtually anywhere) - you’ll be able to eat dinner out almost full time. Lunches and breakfast at the villa, with bread, eggs, ham and cheese from the local Spar … I find good-quality groceries in Spain pretty inexpensive !
That will give you something relaxing, without breaking the bank and what we will be doing this summer. We stayed ina hotel last year for first time and it was a miserable experience compared to having own apartment / villa. Our kids loved the hotel as there were other kids to play with, but they’re young and a holiday is about yourself as much as the kids
On the flip side of all of that, I can’t even imagine having a cancer scare, so you do anything that makes you happy
My own recommendation would be to hire a villa in Spain (virtually anywhere) - you’ll be able to eat dinner out almost full time. Lunches and breakfast at the villa, with bread, eggs, ham and cheese from the local Spar … I find good-quality groceries in Spain pretty inexpensive !
That will give you something relaxing, without breaking the bank and what we will be doing this summer. We stayed ina hotel last year for first time and it was a miserable experience compared to having own apartment / villa. Our kids loved the hotel as there were other kids to play with, but they’re young and a holiday is about yourself as much as the kids
On the flip side of all of that, I can’t even imagine having a cancer scare, so you do anything that makes you happy
A14RGS said:
Some lovely 5* seaside hotels in Morocco - very plush, all inclusive, outstanding service etc., which also work out at much better value than European equivalents.
The downside (for some) is that outside of the hotels you get to see the 'real' Morocco, which is often in complete contrast to the hotels.
Thanks - Morocco is somewhere I like the look of, my wife didn't sound too enthusiastic when I suggested it though.The downside (for some) is that outside of the hotels you get to see the 'real' Morocco, which is often in complete contrast to the hotels.
Sociopath - yes we have only gone in school holidays for the last 10 years - it's quite how much those same holidays have gone up in the last 5 years that has surprised me.
I personally think the Villa option would work for us. Our last foreign holidays were Villas in Spain (family reunions) so much as we loved it we are giving Spain a break for a while. I found some reasonably priced Villas in Crete but no idea about the place other than it looks very pretty! I think I'll keep pushing that tbh, we have found some very cheap flights to greece £800 (total) for the four of us in Aug, so it makes a holiday reasonable again and gives us some spending money to throw at meals out.
A cruise would be ace but my wife is totally against them, no idea why. Thanks for all the suggestions and help
Having been through the full cancer journey in 2022 (surgery, Radio/Chemotherapy) I do feel like we have earnt something nice - not just me but my wife and the kids. Our daughter is 16 this year too so how much longer she holidays with us I do not know, so maybe one of our last 'family' holidays.
A cruise would be ace but my wife is totally against them, no idea why. Thanks for all the suggestions and help
Having been through the full cancer journey in 2022 (surgery, Radio/Chemotherapy) I do feel like we have earnt something nice - not just me but my wife and the kids. Our daughter is 16 this year too so how much longer she holidays with us I do not know, so maybe one of our last 'family' holidays.
First holiday for a number of years for us as well. We decided to go every other year and do something fab rather than standard Euro fare. That meant missing 2019 and going in 2020. We all know how that went.
Thankfully kids are young adults now and this is our likely last holiday with them. We didn't have to go in School Holidays but it was still eye watering. Glad i don't have the school holiday premium anymore.
Thankfully kids are young adults now and this is our likely last holiday with them. We didn't have to go in School Holidays but it was still eye watering. Glad i don't have the school holiday premium anymore.
as suggested by somebody else Morocco is very much a 2 worlds place.
I did Marrekech and Agadir, the resort itself was a world away from the reality of the outside world, but we would take a taxi to central Marrakech and had no issues whatsoever. Agadir was just a beach resort and utterly boring.
I was against cruising but having done one I'm now wanting another for my 40th.
I did Marrekech and Agadir, the resort itself was a world away from the reality of the outside world, but we would take a taxi to central Marrakech and had no issues whatsoever. Agadir was just a beach resort and utterly boring.
I was against cruising but having done one I'm now wanting another for my 40th.
Firstly congrats on the all clear!
We’ve been looking and ended up deciding a break over easter made much more sense at around half the cost. Our kids are also young enough that we considered paying the £240 in school fines over the extra £3000 jump in holiday costs. If they were in secondary I’d be more reluctant for them to miss education for a jolly though.
We’ve been to Dom Rep in the past and whilst walking around alone at night may not be a good idea, there were daily guided excursions that’d let you see around if you’re not the type to stay hotel bound.
What ages are the kids?
We’ve been looking and ended up deciding a break over easter made much more sense at around half the cost. Our kids are also young enough that we considered paying the £240 in school fines over the extra £3000 jump in holiday costs. If they were in secondary I’d be more reluctant for them to miss education for a jolly though.
We’ve been to Dom Rep in the past and whilst walking around alone at night may not be a good idea, there were daily guided excursions that’d let you see around if you’re not the type to stay hotel bound.
What ages are the kids?
I personally endure awful experiences in hotels because I see the kids enjoying themselves and making friends. To me, that makes the hardship worthwhile.
I can understand why you are veering towards a villa though as that sounds ideal. Personally I would only do that if I went with a larger group also with children.
Have you looked at Turkey? Some lovely 4/5 star hotels out there and are reasonably priced, even for August.
I can understand why you are veering towards a villa though as that sounds ideal. Personally I would only do that if I went with a larger group also with children.
Have you looked at Turkey? Some lovely 4/5 star hotels out there and are reasonably priced, even for August.
Abdul Abulbul Amir said:
I've got 14 nights AL in Mexico (Cancun airport) for 2 adults and 2 teenagers for £8k in July/August.
Just hope the cartels don't get us.
Thanks again for all the suggestions, I will look at Morroco.....as an aside I flew into the international airport a few years back when I was a military pilot and one of our crew found a loaded pistol magazine in the toilets!Just hope the cartels don't get us.
Forgot to say - our last proper foreign holiday as the 4 of us was Dreams Tulum (1hr outside Cancun). it was proper amazing and I think it has spoiled us by being a truly amazing all inclusive holiday - it cost £7k and we barely needed to spend a penny when we were there other than tips, although we hired a car and did a few day trips to Chichen Itza and Xel Ha....which were amazing. We drove all over the Yucatan and through some fairly poor villages/towns and never once felt at risk or as if we weren't welcome - sadly there have been a few fatal shootings in Tulum on the tourist beaches so I am not so sure we would travel as far outside the hotel if we did go back.
Sorry forgot - kids are 14/16 - son wants an All-Inc hotel with water park etc and daughter wants relax with a book in a quiet villa....obviously only one will be happy!
Yes we are looking at Turkey now and definitely remains an option, I went there years back and loved it but a lot of the reviews we read for the hotels we are looking at mention p*ssed angry Russians at the Buffet etc which is a double turn off for us....would prefer all-in restaurants (like the US/Caribbean style of all-in as opposed to EU buffet).
Yes we are looking at Turkey now and definitely remains an option, I went there years back and loved it but a lot of the reviews we read for the hotels we are looking at mention p*ssed angry Russians at the Buffet etc which is a double turn off for us....would prefer all-in restaurants (like the US/Caribbean style of all-in as opposed to EU buffet).
Yes, it's painful. I have the added problem that the wife is a teacher, so even before Kids I have been stung on the school holiday tax!
Ours are 7&9 and we were lucky enough to do two holidays last year.
Cyprus in May - £2800 4* AI (nothing fancy)
Turkey in August - 5* Turkish resort thing - £6800 AI with water park and fairground etc - was pretty good.
This year, the exact same holidays are 4K3 and 9K2 ! That's a hell of an uplift.
I keep telling myself that surely nobody can actually afford this in today's world and that the prices have to come down at some point .....surely.....where are all thes people that can spend 1K a month on holidays given everything else.
Ours are 7&9 and we were lucky enough to do two holidays last year.
Cyprus in May - £2800 4* AI (nothing fancy)
Turkey in August - 5* Turkish resort thing - £6800 AI with water park and fairground etc - was pretty good.
This year, the exact same holidays are 4K3 and 9K2 ! That's a hell of an uplift.
I keep telling myself that surely nobody can actually afford this in today's world and that the prices have to come down at some point .....surely.....where are all thes people that can spend 1K a month on holidays given everything else.
I'd be telling the kids to lower their expectations or forget it at those prices.
Have you looked at AirBnB?
Something like this;
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/30312743?adults=6&a...
Granted, flights are still to be paid, and you'd want to hire a car, maybe.
I've booked the same sort of holiday in September. 10 days, booked a car to drive to a friends hired villa then back to the coast for 7 nights for us in a BnB.
Have you looked at AirBnB?
Something like this;
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/30312743?adults=6&a...
Granted, flights are still to be paid, and you'd want to hire a car, maybe.
I've booked the same sort of holiday in September. 10 days, booked a car to drive to a friends hired villa then back to the coast for 7 nights for us in a BnB.
https://www.jet2holidays.com/beach/portugal/algarv...
We’re returning to this again, this year. Fantastic place. Away from the riff raff Si and only a 15 min drive from Zoomarine for the water park. No idea how much it is during the summer hols as we go in the October break. I think we were about £6k all in last year.
We’re returning to this again, this year. Fantastic place. Away from the riff raff Si and only a 15 min drive from Zoomarine for the water park. No idea how much it is during the summer hols as we go in the October break. I think we were about £6k all in last year.
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