Not necessarily caravanning / camping holidays, but I read that the average cost for a 2 week family holiday abroad was around £4000 and additional costs averaged around £200 per person.
I can believe that,but what surprised me was the number of banks and other financial concerns offering 'holiday loans' usually from £1000 to as much as £50,000.
I've never considered borrowing money to finance a holiday, especially as I'd be expected to pay it back!
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
we have always had our holidays. but depending on how much money we had determined how long we stayed or where we went too. still do the same now as we did 35 years ago with the kids coming then too. no way would i be taking a bank loan out for something such as a holiday, but then again we where brought up in a different time where you saved for what you wanted and if you didnt have the money you didnt get the item( in this case holiday)
I pay at least part on a credit card gives extra protection if there are problems as the credit provider has joint responsibility, but pay it off as soon as the bill arrives so no charges.
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 20/8/2023
I remember someone telling me that her brother regularly payed for his holiday with his Barclaycard. I was shocked! If we couldn't pay we didn't go.
We always pay for our holidays i.e. booking accommodation using a credit card, but we only spend what we have saved up so card is paid off straight away. It would be very foolish to pay for the holiday knowing you don't have any savings.
Two weeks away seems nightmare to me, I'd want to come home after a couple of days.
We're shortly to have our third holiday this year (and the most expensive). Four nights on the Broads in an all facilities included static including our 2 dogs for under £200 paid in advance.
I can never understand those who must have a holiday they can't afford, borrowing on their credit card only to spend the next 12 months paying it off with interest.
------------- Knowledge is recognising that a tomato is a fruit: experience is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Quote: Originally posted by starcraft on 20/8/2023
Two weeks away seems nightmare to me, I'd want to come home after a couple of days.
We're shortly to have our third holiday this year (and the most expensive). Four nights on the Broads in an all facilities included static including our 2 dogs for under £200 paid in advance.
I can never understand those who must have a holiday they can't afford, borrowing on their credit card only to spend the next 12 months paying it off with interest.
To be honest if they want to borrow on their credit card and spend the next 12 months paying it off that is their option and none of our business. After all many people buy cars, caravans, furniture etc on hire purchase so no different.
If we can't afford it, we don't go, or choose somewhere cheaper. I have paid for foreign holidays on a credit card before, but only for the protection. Always paid it off in full though, never let it run over to the next month, and I would certainly never take out a loan for a holiday. In my opinion, taking out a loan for a holiday is very different to taking out a loan for a car. If you can't pay back a car loan because you have run into unexpected difficulties, you can always sell the car. You can't do that with a holiday as once you have had it, it's gone!
I plan my holidays well in advance, and pay in instalments, usually starting with transport which tends to be the biggest portion, such as flights or tunnel crossings.
For camping trips, I would pay a deposit in advance or in full if there is a significant saving.
For non-camping trips involving hotels, again, book well in advance for rooms with no reservation and cancellation fees, and would change to confirmed non-refundable bookings nearer the time if I could get better deals.
I normally produce a budget for the bigger/longer trips, so that I know how much I need to save.
I have produced budgets for the big trips in 2024 (two, one is camping in France and the Netherlands; the other in Canada to visit my folks), 2025 in Japan and 2027 in USA involving 3 cities.
The trips to Japan and USA are very expensive for certain!
By planning well in advance, I would like to believe I have avoided the shocks of big unexpected expenses. There is a method to my madness!
Planning ahead is also therapeutic to me in that it is positive thinking about the future.
So no to taking out a loan for a holiday.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I guess I'm rather old school/old fashioned, if I can't afford it from disposable assets, I do without!
The notion of taking on debt just for a holiday seems bizarre to me. Certainly have been times when I couldn't afford holidays, trips I'd very much loved to have made, but no cash, no holiday!
I have been caught before, had credit card debts that were quite easily affordable then unexpectedly lost my job through no fault of my own. Found it difficult to get another job because of my age, then had to take one earning only half what I had been used to. Struggled for years paying off the debt. Now I am reluctant to take on debts for anything, but if I do it is only for tangible assets like a car, certainly not for "experiences" like a holiday. The cars I usually buy have done all their depreciating, so I know I can normally sell them for at least what I bought them for. I still try not to take out a loan for a car, although I did for the one I have now (now paid off) as I knew if it came to the crunch I could sell the car and pay off the loan. Fortunately I didn't need to so I still have the car and no debts.
We always pay for holidays from our savings, old school I know. Our photos and mementos are all the memory of holidays we need - not the monthly credit card bill, but eh each to their own.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 20/8/2023
To be honest if they want to borrow on their credit card and spend the next 12 months paying it off that is their option and none of our business. After all many people buy cars, caravans, furniture etc on hire purchase so no different.
Ah, but you expect your car, caravan etc..to last more than 2 weeks!
It's like having an expensive wedding and paying for it for the rest of your life
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 20/8/2023
To be honest if they want to borrow on their credit card and spend the next 12 months paying it off that is their option and none of our business. After all many people buy cars, caravans, furniture etc on hire purchase so no different.
I never buy anything on the drip, as the sticker on my old car once stated "I may be old and ugly...but I'm paid for... and in front of you! lol
------------- Knowledge is recognising that a tomato is a fruit: experience is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Paying for holidays
via mobile 20/8/2023 at 7:59am
