Holiday costs

We children had those small I Spy books to keep us amused when travelling.
I remember dad being a really careful slow driver. One time, we heard something metal fall in the road. A policeman on a push bike overtook us and indicated that we should stop. When dad wound down the window he gingerly handed in the exhaust pipe, carefully wrapped in his handkerchief to keep his fingers clean.
After saluting my father and wishing us a good day, he pedalled off.

You have to have the money to buy it to begin with, and a car with a trailer or big enough with out a trailer

Living abroad maybe I can see the other side of the coin. Most of the schools in Europe are on a long holiday break somewhere between mid June and mid September. Portuguese children for the whole of that time. Plus France virtually closes down for the month of August so it is a case of supply and demand. Hotels and flights are usually the most expensive in August because more people want those dates. Most hotels need to make most of their money in high summer to offset the losses they will have to make to keep the hotel open at other times. At our local beach there are only apartments no hotels and most of the cafes and shops are only open between June and September when they are busy enough to earn the money to survive the rest of the year. Add the many Portuguese emigrants returning home for their months holiday it is a very busy and lucrative time. People are not being ripped off for taking their holiday in August. It's the people who can go in other months who are getting a bargain.
On the other hand tell me this. We are coming to England twice in November due to parts of the family not revealing their plans. We are staying at a Premier Inn and the first trip of 5 nights is costing £174. 6 days later 9 nights at same Premier Inn is costing £472.50. It's November so no school holidays so it's obviously supply and demand.

I met someone the other day who is having a family holiday abroad & taking their children out of school in a couple of weeks. They are being "fined" £60 for it. This is cheaper than the difference of the holiday in holiday time.

Well said, Jane10. I'm fed up with people moaning about the cost of holidays during the school holiday period. My daughter is now over 40 and prices were always higher during school holidays when she was at school, so it is nothing new.

We singletons are 'ripped off' all year round when we want to book a single room but it's something we just have to put up with.

Aepgirl
I use airbnb. Prices are same for single as couple.

We live in a popular UK coastal holiday destination and every year from May to mid-Septemberwe see the cost of everything from food to fuel rocket because it's 'the visitor season'. But local people like ourselves are also hit by these rises. When talking to visitors they all say "It's beautiful here but everything's so expensive!" My DIL said a pack of butter in a high street supermarket (M*****sons) was a pound dearer than in her local store! That is just very unfair. The cost of renting holiday accommodation in this area is ridiculously high, so our C and GC can only visit us if they stay with us and even then we have to fund their (increased) travel costs or they couldn't afford to come in the school holidays, which of course is the only time they're allowed to come!

Why should schools be allowed to dictate to parents in this way!! I do think young children up to the age of 8 or 9 should be able to take one week family holiday during term time. It would hardly impact on their primary education and could in itself be educational.

caocao
That was really funny.

I would like to say how lovely it is to go away when the children are back at school.
Relaxing on the beach or lunching in tavernas without the never ending screeching or whinging

Yes, I know I'm a miserable old bat but I've done my fair share of holidaying with my own DC and GC in school hols.
Swings and roundabouts.

Jocork, it wasn’t Caton bay that you went to was it?
After Grampies response I’m ashamed to say that we also went to one. I never gave that aspect of it a thought?

Tennis is a cheap outdoor activity as is a cricket bat, ball, stumps and bails.
Kites are fun...I still fly one with GGC. Bikes can often be taken on trains. We go to the IoW via train.
Lots to do for little cost if you take a picnic.

Why do people have to go away on holiday anyway? All that is necessary for a family holiday is for all the family to book leave at the same time and a week together can be enjoyed at home just as much as going away.

For children just having their parents undivided attention for a week can be exciting There are ample things a family can do when they are all together, whether they live in a town or in the country. Many museums have free entry, there are parks and gardens. Just walking somewhere can be fascinating if you open your eyes and look around. How many children will have gone walking on footpaths round their village if they live in the country. August is prime blackberry picking season, (and wild apples and plums). My 2 GC are already talking about more Twilight Walks, when they come for half term. Going out just as it begins to get dark and coming back as the night closes in. Armed with torches we listen for owls and foxes and imagine ghosts and hobgoblins.

If the weather is awful, charity shops always have board games (probably a novelty) and jigsaws(ditto) that cost very little that can become a family activity.

It isn't necessary to go away to have a holiday. We've done it in the past.

Families can buy railcards which give 1/3 off your tickets. Rail companies often have cheap deals at Easter, Summer and half-terms.
I got my £30 railcard for 'free' by using Tesco clubcard points. Actually, TBH, I was £9 short in points value but the young man on the phone said he'd award me the points so I could use it this summer. A very generous gesture and I left great feedback.

Gsbriella I remember school residential holidays at Colomendy too! What was that mountain we all had to climb...was it Mol Fanau...or something like that?

Daisyboots November is the run up to Christmas and so prices rise again

I was one of those ‘bad’ parents that took them out of school for a week in January to go skiing when they were young. Quarter of the price. On,y way I could afford it. And doesn’t seem to have affected achievements, etc. Eldest got a 1st in economics. Youngest on course for similar in computer degree. This was before the days of fines. But reckon i would pay it and still take them, we still talk about those holidays. Not sure we’d be chatting about the week at primary school they missed. Didn’t do it when they were older though.

That’s because primary education simply isn’t important!

janeyjane exactly .What a blessing not all parents are of the same view.Imagine the chaos. Think how does this affect the child ?and he /she may be just one out of a class but two weeks or even just the one week absence means that child is behind the rest and why should the education authorities hold back the rest of these classes for the sake of bringing just one child up to date with what the rest have learned in that specific time.

OldMeg
Moel Famau ( yes, I had to look it up )
We climbed it up the 'hard' way and down the 'easy' way. Mind you, we were only little-uns.
Some of the boys were not well off for clothes snd mum took needles and thread and grey wool plus a blue darning mushroom to mend their socks. I got pretty good at darning too, though I say it myself.
One of the boys wouldn't let me stroke his dog because he said I was too posh. I cried and asked mum not to change my clothes twice a day so I could pet the puppy.
Silly...the things you remember.

Those on here who think that a holiday in the UK is cheap need to check their facts. We have just returned from 4 nights in a self catering place, in Norfolk. Cost over £800. Then we had to get there and feed ourselves. Not moaning, just pointing out that UK based holidays can be pricey, and even a day out can be beyond most people's pocket. Have a quick look online at the price of holiday cottages in Cornwall, Devon, Northumberland.....a lot of money to be spent before you start rootling in rock pools.

You paint a vivid picture Elegran
I especially liked the parts about Roman soldiers and horses hooves bound with cloth to pass the excise men.
You certainly gave your children memorable childhood holidays, ones I feel they won't forget, as I shall always remember mine.

GillT57
I've just looked up airbnb places to stay in Norfolk for 5-8 Sept incl. And the prices for a whole property sleeping 4-6 in 3 bedrooms and full facilties, per night for 4 adults is FAR below the £200 pn you paid.
Some can be had for £89pn. These are not just any old places but top quality on a par with Sykes Cottages.
I realise that you went this week but you can't input previous dates so I used Tues-Fri next week to compare.
There is no need to pay inflated sums.

The children are back to school on the 4th September

I used to be a Guide leader. It wasn't at all unusual for girls to be really upset when the were forced to join family holidays abroad, instead of going to camp with the Guides.
Camping with their friends was often so much more enjoyable, and much cheaper.

gabriellag. I think you have misunderstood my point. Quoting prices and availability out off school holidays as you just have is irrelevant. The point I made was that during the school holidays in England, it cost £800 for 4 nights self catering in Norfolk. If you want to do some research, check a week next August in any seaside resort.