Family holiday prices away!!!!

ThumbTaxed

Hi there,

I am looking for a holiday in Portugal and a typical price for a nice hotel in a good location could be €4k to €6k for 5 people (3 kids) for 10 days.

Do people actually pay these prices?

I am in a bit of a shock :mad:

Andrew Beef

ThumbTaxed wrote: »

Hi there,

I am looking for a holiday in Portugal and a typical price for a nice hotel in a good location could be €4k to €6k for 5 people (3 kids) for 10 days.

Do people actually pay these prices?

I am in a bit of a shock :mad:

They do unfortunately. Portugal during school holidays is pricey if you’re looking for somewhere nice.

Yamanoto

Organise your own flights & look at renting a house or apartment that suits your budget.

If Portugal's still too pricey, think outside the box & head for somewhere like Costa de la Luz or even Vigo & the Cies islands.

naughtysmurf

Yamanoto wrote: »

Organise your own flights & look at renting a house or apartment that suits your budget.

This, especially once you start needing more than one bedroom, haven't used a travel agent in 16/17 years, it should get you much more bang for your buck too, we always go self catering, we like our space, the idea of being in a large hotel or apartment complex does nothing for me, there is always the odd exception but 5k would get us flights, good quality accommodation (2 bed villa or apartment) & spends for two weeks for 4 of us for a typical sun holiday in Europe

sillysocks

Yep the prices are crazy. We went to Majorca last year and had to pay 4k for a 1 bed all inc as all the alternatives seemed to cost as much. This year we’ve booked flights to Portugal and staying in apartments in Viamoura. Total will be about 2700 for 9 nights for 5 of us (but our youngest is under 2 so not paying full price for her yet). When you add in spending money though it will probably end up close enough to the 4k mark.

I was horrified at the prices last year as that was our first year going with all the kids, but I’ve come to accept that it’s going to cost that most years as we can only go during school hols etc.

mojesius

There's a big push on sun holidays from travel agents this time of year and you might not be getting the best deal:

https://news.sky.com/story/holidaymakers-risk-being-fooled-by-misleading-deals-watchdog-says-11189102

I know this is uk-specific but I'd be iffy about booking right now via travel operator/agent.

Ryanair and aer lingus usually do flash sales in early spring, we got aer Lingus flights to malaga in late august for 100 euro each last year. You could wait for those sales.

I'd second trying to find SC accommodation or a hotel deal online separately. Again, bear in mind that there's an industry push on sales in Jan, you might get a better deal in a couple of months.

mrsbeebee

Don't go with a travel agent. You need to book it all separately to get good value. I would first of all price flights. Try to go as soon as the kids finish school - 2nd and 3rd week of July are more expensive than the 1st. Try to avoid flying weekends. They are cheaper mid week. The use a site like travel Republic or alpharooms to look for accommodation to suit your dates. You can filter your search to find what suits you. There are some bargains to be had. I've been looking at Portugal this year and you will definitely find some good value s/c accommodation. We are a family of 5 and haven't spent more than €3k on a sun holiday in the past few years (and that was all Inc). The last 2 years we opted for a 3 bed mobile on a camp site. Facilities were fantastic and the holiday cost just over €2k although spends were about that again for 10 days. That was northern Spain though.

goldenhoarde

mrsbeebee wrote: »

Don't go with a travel agent. You need to book it all separately to get good value. I would first of all price flights. Try to go as soon as the kids finish school - 2nd and 3rd week of July are more expensive than the 1st. Try to avoid flying weekends. They are cheaper mid week. The use a site like travel Republic or alpharooms to look for accommodation to suit your dates. You can filter your search to find what suits you. There are some bargains to be had. I've been looking at Portugal this year and you will definitely find some good value s/c accommodation. We are a family of 5 and haven't spent more than €3k on a sun holiday in the past few years (and that was all Inc). The last 2 years we opted for a 3 bed mobile on a camp site. Facilities were fantastic and the holiday cost just over €2k although spends were about that again for 10 days. That was northern Spain though.

Mrsbeebee could you share a bit on that as we are looking at something like that this year for 5 (3 kids) same as you

Exiled1

Easy to find prices. If you travel during school holiday time, you will pay premium prices for everything.
eg.
10 days in July in Portugal for 5... Flights - €1500, Good apartment - 1500, car hire €400. That is about the best you can duo online. Add in cost of food, etc and you will quickly pass €4500.
If you head down the Costa de la Luz to Punta Umbria, Isla Cristina or El Rompido you will do somewhat better as the Algarve is expensive in Summer.

d.pop

Will probably get slated for this but I prefer to use a travel agent and 'established' airlines like aer Lingus.
Especially since kids came along, yes it costs a little more but real or imagined I think the peace of mind is worth it, got caught a few times several years ago when things didn't go to plan, the people around us using budget airlines and self booked had rest of holidays thrown into chaos with missed connections, transfers etc.
We were put on next available flights, had transfers re-jigged, travel agent sorted out insurance claims etc.
Anyway sorry for digressing but if you are risk averse a travel agent can be handy - ps - am not a travel agent...
Have you looked at lanzarote? The H10 hotel group do a very good all inclusive family friendly holiday but yes with flight and accommodation you are looking at 4-5k.
Unfortunately the traditional 'cheaper' destinations like turkey, Tunisia etc are a bit of a security risk so the 'safer' resorts have people lining up for rooms.
There is also the self drive ferry - camp sites in France...?

drunkmonkey

Holiday villages are worth a look lots to keep the kids entertained and there all inclusive, you are handing over a lot of money but you won't spend much when you there.. this one in Ibiza is particularly good as everything you need is there, beautiful beach a few metres to one side and a water park attached to it at the other.
https://www.tuiholidays.ie/f/spain/balearic-islands/ibiza/port-des-torrent/hotels/holiday-village-seaview-ibiza
(It's not the ibiza you see on the telly)

Sea water is warmer than Portugal that's why we head to the balearics or basically anywhere that's not on the Atlantic.

_Brian

d.pop wrote: »

Will probably get slated for this but I prefer to use a travel agent and 'established' airlines like aer Lingus.
Especially since kids came along, yes it costs a little more but real or imagined I think the peace of mind is worth it, got caught a few times several years ago when things didn't go to plan, the people around us using budget airlines and self booked had rest of holidays thrown into chaos with missed connections, transfers etc.
We were put on next available flights, had transfers re-jigged, travel agent sorted out insurance claims etc.
Anyway sorry for digressing but if you are risk averse a travel agent can be handy - ps - am not a travel agent...
Have you looked at lanzarote? The H10 hotel group do a very good all inclusive family friendly holiday but yes with flight and accommodation you are looking at 4-5k.
Unfortunately the traditional 'cheaper' destinations like turkey, Tunisia etc are a bit of a security risk so the 'safer' resorts have people lining up for rooms.
There is also the self drive ferry - camp sites in France...?

We do the ferry to France.
It’s not everybody’s cuppa, we’ve our own caravan which we love using.

We heading in August, 16 nights on campsite, 2 on ferry, 2 adults 2 kids 9 & 15.
5* campsite for €1700 inc ferry

mrsbeebee

goldenhoarde wrote: »

Mrsbeebee could you share a bit on that as we are looking at something like that this year for 5 (3 kids) same as you

We used lifestyle holidays for the camp site holiday. They are on some sites in France and North Spain. Check them out! But if you are still looking at Portugal, then get the name of the hotel that your original quote was for and check out accommodation only on one of the sites I mentioned and then price flights with AL or RA and see if it is cheaper. I find its best to book with AL asap as the prices just keep going up.

drunkmonkey

Have ye ever rented a chalet/mobile home at the campsites. I have tent in my head when I think of them, any of them have babysitting services, sheet changes, fresh towels etc. Would seriously think of driving somewhere this year.

mrsbeebee

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Have ye ever rented a chalet/mobile home at the campsites. I have tent in my head when I think of them, any of them have babysitting services, sheet changes, fresh towels etc. Would seriously think of driving somewhere this year.

We've rented 3 bed mobile with ac. It's very handy having 3 bedrooms instead if having to make up couches. I wouldn't go in a tent to be honest. I need my ac! Temps in North Spain at the start of July were about 30 degrees the past 2 years. The site we were in had fabulous own accommodation - chalets and glamping tents with full ac, dishwashers tvs etc but they were more expensive than lifestyle who we went with. We also saved a lot of money on flights by flying there and back through the UK. Price of €700 v €1700 for 5. There wouldn't be babysitting or laundry changes though.

naughtysmurf

We usually, for a two week holiday in Europe set a 2.5k budget for flights & decent Accommodation & another 2.5k for spends, we eat out every night, sometimes hire a car depending on the destination, thats basically for four adults as the youngest is in her teens

Don't always look at destinations that the masses flock to, we've flown to Nice twice in July for €800/€900 & rented in Antibes/Juan Les Pins, lovely spot, decent Accommodation is pricey though

Got good priced flights into Malaga, hired a car & drove to Estepona & stayed there, fabulous area in Andulucia so definitely think outside the box as regards destinations, unless the likes of Alburfeira & Torremolinos are your thing, they are just not destinations that appeal to us

Check out private rentals by UK owners, I've booked a 2 bed villa in Fuerteventura for just me & the missus but it would sleep 4/6 for €500 for a week in September, it's the same price all year round & the sterling/euro rate is good at the mo

_Brian

Air BnB hasn’t been mentioned.
Surely something would be available.

Caranica

_Brian wrote: »

Air BnB hasn’t been mentioned.
Surely something would be available.

Risky as can be cancelled pretty last minute.

_Brian

Caranica wrote: »

Risky as can be cancelled pretty last minute.

That’s true.

irishrover99

ThumbTaxed wrote: »

Hi there,

I am looking for a holiday in Portugal and a typical price for a nice hotel in a good location could be €4k to €6k for 5 people (3 kids) for 10 days.

Do people actually pay these prices?

I am in a bit of a shock :mad:

That's ridiculous prices. I paid 1900 for flights with Qatar Airways to Thailand for 3 weeks (2 adults 2 children). For just say an extra 3000 on hotels you'd be staying somewhere pretty nice.

As previously stated, book everything yourself and it will be cheaper and remember european holidays have become a lot more expensive now due to the migrant issues and unrest in Northern Africa, Egypt and Greece as a lot of people consider those places no go areas now and have started holidaying elsewhere.

ThumbTaxed

Exiled1 wrote: »

Easy to find prices. If you travel during school holiday time, you will pay premium prices for everything.
eg.
10 days in July in Portugal for 5... Flights - €1500, Good apartment - 1500, car hire €400. That is about the best you can duo online. Add in cost of food, etc and you will quickly pass €4500.
If you head down the Costa de la Luz to Punta Umbria, Isla Cristina or El Rompido you will do somewhat better as the Algarve is expensive in Summer.

Bet the apartment is in the middle of nowhere though with a poor pool etc

ted1

Ryanair flights for five, 2nd July to 12th July is only 800 Euro

A hotel room or apartment in ericeria for the same period is between 800 and 1800

There’s a bus from the airport and it’s only 45 minutes. Lovely fishing/ surfing town

ted1

ThumbTaxed wrote: »

Exiled1 wrote: »

Easy to find prices. If you travel during school holiday time, you will pay premium prices for everything.
eg.
10 days in July in Portugal for 5... Flights - €1500, Good apartment - 1500, car hire €400. That is about the best you can duo online. Add in cost of food, etc and you will quickly pass €4500.
If you head down the Costa de la Luz to Punta Umbria, Isla Cristina or El Rompido you will do somewhat better as the Algarve is expensive in Summer.

Bet the apartment is in the middle of nowhere though with a poor pool etc

Once you leave the main resorts that are targeted towards English speaking countries (which I hate) you’d be surprised how good and cheap the places are with good pools and good locations

KellyXX

We went to Sharm El Sheikh last year.
It was fantastic. Booked again for this year.
People arent booking Egypt, but it was great.
Sharm El Sheikh is just a normal holiday resort, and not like going to Cairo, but people shy away from it. Its paradise.
You have to fly from the uk though. We are flying from Manchester but you can choose any airport there are flights from.
Fly midweek even cheaper.

We got a bit cheaper than this but i did a quick search to get a link

http://holiday.lastminute.com/hotel/route/search-results?search.businessProfileId=PACKAGESLASTMINUTECOUK&bf_subsource=S10RRV60S10RR01&search.newpage=true&search.departureAirports=LON&bf_source=SEO-dp.geo.city&search.departureIntervals=20180623-20180630&search.type=OSE&search.accomodationOnly=false&search.noCache=1515325149519&search.rooms[0].adults=2&search.rooms[0].children=1&search.rooms[0].childrenAge[0]=5&search.destinationCity=151176&searchId=102079

Sorry messed up the link.

We got this one for £460 pp including flights from Manchester for this year. We did the exact same trip last year and it was £390 pp, so im sure you can get it even that low depending on your dates.
It changes depending on your dates and airports.

http://holiday.lastminute.com/hotel/route/product-details/676299?search.businessProfileId=PACKAGESLASTMINUTECOUK&bf_subsource=S10RRV60S10RR01&search.newpage=true&search.departureAirports=LON&bf_source=SEO-dp.geo.city&search.departureIntervals=20180623-20180630&search.type=OSE&search.accomodationOnly=false&search.noCache=1515325149519&search.rooms[0].adults=2&search.rooms[0].children=1&search.rooms[0].childrenAge[0]=5&search.destinationCity=151176&searchId=102079&checkin=20180623&checkout=20180630

ThumbTaxed

Does anyone have any concerns booking private accomadation via booking.com (like what is suggested above). I am a tad wary about it... not sure if that is justified.

Andrew Beef

KellyXX wrote: »

We went to Sharm El Sheikh last year.
It was fantastic. Booked again for this year.
People arent booking Egypt, but it was great.
Sharm El Sheikh is just a normal holiday resort, and not like going to Cairo, but people shy away from it. Its paradise.
You have to fly from the uk though. We are flying from Manchester but you can choose any airport there are flights from.
Fly midweek even cheaper.

We got a bit cheaper than this but i did a quick search to get a link

http://holiday.lastminute.com/hotel/route/search-results?search.businessProfileId=PACKAGESLASTMINUTECOUK&bf_subsource=S10RRV60S10RR01&search.newpage=true&search.departureAirports=LON&bf_source=SEO-dp.geo.city&search.departureIntervals=20180623-20180630&search.type=OSE&search.accomodationOnly=false&search.noCache=1515325149519&search.rooms[0].adults=2&search.rooms[0].children=1&search.rooms[0].childrenAge[0]=5&search.destinationCity=151176&searchId=102079

Sorry messed up the link.

We got this one for £460 pp including flights from Manchester for this year. We did the exact same trip last year and it was £390 pp, so im sure you can get it even that low depending on your dates.
It changes depending on your dates and airports.

http://holiday.lastminute.com/hotel/route/product-details/676299?search.businessProfileId=PACKAGESLASTMINUTECOUK&bf_subsource=S10RRV60S10RR01&search.newpage=true&search.departureAirports=LON&bf_source=SEO-dp.geo.city&search.departureIntervals=20180623-20180630&search.type=OSE&search.accomodationOnly=false&search.noCache=1515325149519&search.rooms[0].adults=2&search.rooms[0].children=1&search.rooms[0].childrenAge[0]=5&search.destinationCity=151176&searchId=102079&checkin=20180623&checkout=20180630

https://www.google.ie/amp/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN19Z1KW

When looking at holiday destinations, my preference is to avoid places where machete attacks are the norm; I’ve always preferred the sound of the Happy Hour bell to screams of “Allahu Akbar!”...

shar01

What about looking east OP?

Have been to Gdynia, Poland twice (May & Sept). Weather was good. Beach area was nice. Beach at Sopot also nice. Plus your money goes further.

KellyXX

Andrew Beef wrote: »

https://www.google.ie/amp/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN19Z1KW

When looking at holiday destinations, my preference is to avoid places where machete attacks are the norm; I’ve always preferred the sound of the Happy Hour bell to screams of “Allahu Akbar!”...

Funny. I saw more violence in Dingle than I have seen over there.
But I guess that is why its so cheap.
People lose their sense of perspective.

Fann Linn

ThumbTaxed wrote: »

Does anyone have any concerns booking private accomadation via booking.com (like what is suggested above). I am a tad wary about it... not sure if that is justified.

My daughter uses them regularly. In fact she's just back recently from NY and has booked again for Lanzarote in March. She finds them reliable, doesn't need a deposit normally to book, can cancel up to a week in advance. She double checks the accom then against trip advisor and other reviews for the hotel/apartment she has chosen.

Exiled1

ted1 wrote: »

Once you leave the main resorts that are targeted towards English speaking countries (which I hate) you’d be surprised how good and cheap the places are with good pools and good locations

Just the point I wished to make!
Generally better quality overall and cheaper prices.

ThumbTaxed

OP here.

Anyway book 12 nights in Albufeira for 5 of us. 2 bed apartment 300m from Fisherman beach and also has access to pool and is modern with WiFi etc.

Booked flights with Aer Lingus.

All in. €3,700. More than i wanted but close to what a garden shed was costing in a camp in France.

kingshankly

No doubt it’s pricy this year booked Tenerife in July flights working out about 300 a head
Booked bitacora hotel which would be decent it works out over 200 a night
Once your in to July and August prices rocket
Don’t forget to allow for seat prices which can be €30 return and suitcase which is €110 with Aer Lingus which is shocking

tracey turnblad

Accommodation in Portugal has nearly doubled this year. I’m going for one week to Alvor and it’s nearly the same price as two weeks last year. The flights are the same pricesnuts the accommodation. I spoke with a travel agent and he said they can charge what they like as people are flocking to Portugal as it hasn’t been hit by terrorists yet

Fann Linn

tracey turnblad wrote: »

Accommodation in Portugal has nearly doubled this year. I’m going for one week to Alvor and it’s nearly the same price as two weeks last year. The flights are the same pricesnuts the accommodation. I spoke with a travel agent and he said they can charge what they like as people are flocking to Portugal as it hasn’t been hit by terrorists yet

Plus, the Irish team failing to qualify for the world cup has left a large number of fans with money in their pockets now looking elsewhere rather than Russia.