Family Package Holiday

jay0109

Am about to hit the confirm button on the annual ferry/campsite holiday in France but thought I'd check out flying with the kids (x4) for the 1st time either via the likes of TUI on a package holiday or with AerLingus/Ryanair to Spain/Portugal and then get accomm separately. Looking at around 25th June for 2 weeks.

But OMG....the prices:eek:

TUI is coming in at around €500 per person minimum but closer to €800 pp really for a decent hotel/apartment in Spain/Portugal. About 4k for flights/accomm.

Flights to say, the Canaries or closer to home = Mallorca, for 6 people with AL/Ryanair are minimum €450 per person. So €2.5k just for flights.

My question is- are those really the prices families are paying to go on a package holiday or a sun holiday of any sort? Is that the norm?
Or are there other websites/approaches to this that make it a much more cost effective alternative to the ferry/campsite option?

NIMAN

Family holidays abroad are very expensive.

We did the last 3 years in Spanish campsites, and although expensive, they would always have worked out cheaper than package deals to a hotel.

Shop around! It shouldn't be 2500 for flights alone. We just booked Lanzarote for 2 adults 3 kids and a infant for 1900 with 2 20kg bags and insurance. A nice hotel too. That wasn't the cheaper hotel. Or the cheapest flight. We choose to come back at 4pm rather than 11 so it was a bit more. That was a package with click&go. Ie
Love holidays.ie and on the beach.co.uk also have good deals.
Lake garda 2 years ago..separate booking 700euro for flights to verona 2ad 3kids 600 for a mobile home in del garda camping!

Phoebas

Those flight prices seem on the high side. Have you looked at other destinations?

I booked Ryanair flights to Malaga mid June for around €180 p.p. That was for Saturday flights, they were a bit cheaper mid week.
Would you consider using Airbnb for accomodation?

naughtysmurf

I usually book everything separately myself & it's usually significantly cheaper than a package when I compare the two with the possible exception of a last minute deal or if there is just two of you travelling, once kids are in the mix it's more expensive again. Also with the likes of Tui & others often the price is for the least desirable room, non sea view for example
For 3.5k this year, we've 9 nights in Meloneras in Gran Canaria in late June / early July, three adults, that covers, multi-trip insurance, airport parking, flights with pre booked seats, 30kg checked luggage, return private airport-hotel transfer, very well reviewed 5* resort hotel half board with superior room. While 3.5k is still a chunk of change we could have picked less fancy accommodation & board type & come in significantly under 3k but we like what we like & think the price was reasonable for what we are getting, we'll spend very little once there,

jay0109

Thanks all.

ClickandGo have holidays coming in from around the low 3k mark so that's a bit more realistic to me.

If I was to go the flight only option with AL/Ryanair, I'd probably go the AirBnB route.

I have looked at Lake Garda but maybe have left it too late as the campsites seem to be either full or close to full. And the prices are a lot higher than what you'd see in France. That Camping Del Garda that was mentioned is around 2k for 14 nights late June/early July.
But it's definitely a location I'd love to go to with the family in the future as was there years ago (as a couple) and loved it

beggars_bush

jay0109 wrote: »

Thanks all.

ClickandGo have holidays coming in from around the low 3k mark so that's a bit more realistic to me.

If I was to go the flight only option with AL/Ryanair, I'd probably go the AirBnB route.

I have looked at Lake Garda but maybe have left it too late as the campsites seem to be either full or close to full. And the prices are a lot higher than what you'd see in France. That Camping Del Garda that was mentioned is around 2k for 14 nights late June/early July.
But it's definitely a location I'd love to go to with the family in the future as was there years ago (as a couple) and loved it

Fly into Marseille or milan rent car & drive up towards the alps. Some lovely campsites in France in the mountains

manor

I go twice a year and I find TUI very good value. It can work out cheaper than doing it separately.. In May 2 adult's plus teens 1,400 euro self catering, in October same 4 members 2, 200 all inclusive . Make a list of hotels you like, you will see Great value 28% off- this prices will change to up to 42% off including 4 star hotel's. It varies week to week. It is to do with demand, people book holidays in January; next month should be cheaper to book.