.but then again the first visit to florida and watching the kids faces is special....
There are some good campsites within spitting distance of Disneyland Paris, you know. You could slot a three day visit into a two week French camping holiday no problem, and the whole holiday would cost about the same as the tickets to Florida.
When I answered the original question I was trying to compare like with like....two weeks in a resort in Majorca, or two weeks on a campsite in France with pool, beach nearbye, some good local attractions and theme parks and all the rest. Then I remembered I was spending £1200 on a four week holiday of just this sort this year. (Including the very pricey long ferry crossing with cabin, overheight overlength everything and trailer.) Yup, we`ll still have to add diesel plus food costs onto this but we`d have to do that for any holiday, and there would also be the premium on the flights from Scotland if we went for a package.
Now, I have no idea what package holidays cost these days, but if you wanted to spend four weeks away, how much would it cost for a family of four? Including car hire?
Betcha anything camping is cheaper. And you get to take everything you want (within reason) including, in our case, seven bikes, snorkling gear for four, body boards, a ton of camera equipment, toys and books. We can eat out or sample all the lovely local produce, we have a big, comfortable base in a green, rural setting rather than some concrete block, we can guarantee our own sunbathing spot outside the tent, have barbecue parties with the folk next door.....we`ve got our own home, right there in the middle of somewhere else.
Biggest bonus though? The kids. With a five year old there`s no peace in a hotel room. My daughter wants to be up and out doing things...beach, swimming, going to the park. On a campsite it`s much easier....she can play within eyeline of the tent, go to the swingpark with her big brother, mess around with friends where I can see her and if she wants to go swimming, no big deal, one parent can go to the pool while the other one cooks or has an hour reading a book. Etc. (I hardly see my 10 year old once he`s made a few pals on site!) This year we`re going to a site where we have direct access to two beaches within a five minute walk. I bet we have to drag the kids off site. (Actually, we probably won`t bother to try much!) The kids can wear old clothes, get dirty, run free a bit (within reason.) They`ll be over the moon, and we`ll get time off, and it`s dirt cheap.
Got to pick your sites, of course. The above wouldn`t quite work in a big commercial 600 pitch campsite, I don`t think? And some folk want to get out and do lots of things, and some kids get bored just messing around. Our sort of holiday wouldn`t suit everyone. But we`ve also got a leg planned where we`ll hit two theme parks, a zoo and a couple of chateaux, and then on our third leg we`ll "do" the WW2 history stuff in Normandy. So there`s plenty of variety. Trans Atlantic flights and non stop high rise hotels? No thanks?
I did look into us going on a package holiday. And i couldn't find a price under about £1500, although that is for six not four. BUT it was only for two weeks not four.
I'd love to take the kids aborad just the once on a package but there is simply no wya we can afford it. Last year we spent appox £ 380 on holidays and for that we got 23 nights (new to it last yr) And all of those night was at high season times.
Can't compare price wise.
------------- Shelli
Campers do it in the mud!
Hubby says we can
Quote: Originally posted by shelldean on 02/5/2007
I did look into us going on a package holiday. And i couldn't find a price under about £1500, although that is for six not four. BUT it was only for two weeks not four.
We are going to tunisia for 2 weeks all inclusive in 3 weeks time and it only cost 1300 for a family of four. With 2 more kiddies it would be around 1900
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 02/5/2007
There are some good campsites within spitting distance of Disneyland Paris, you know. You could slot a three day visit into a two week French camping holiday no problem, and the whole holiday would cost about the same as the tickets to Florida.
Hi.....we were going to camp france in august mainly in the normandy /brittany region........but i'm running out of money for hols so we are camping somerset instead.........
disneyland paris is ok but it doesn't come close to florida,no where near. But you are preaching to the converted now val.....next year i will be camping a lot more.
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 02/5/2007 Biggest bonus though? The kids. With a five year old there`s no peace in a hotel room. My daughter wants to be up and out doing things...beach, swimming, going to the park.
Thats why we used to go for a villa or house when we went anywhere before the tent. In some ways its even better than a tent as you get to make (almost) as much noise as the kids want first thing in the morning.
Obviously its usually much more expensive - when we looked for this year for a villa for a week in the school holidays for the four of us it started at £2000 for the usual sunny places in a three bed place. Centre Parcs was about £1400 for a week in August (was a comfort plus three bed and included some major discounts as we go often, booked while on-site on a previous holiday, would be >£1600 without discounts and not including activities) time you added on the extra kids bits, but thats pretty much all your spending money bar petrol and food, which is as cheap as camping as you can cook your own.
Not including the cost of kit we are paying £140 for a week at Breen in July and about the same again for a week at Bala in August. No contest really and next year once we've "paid back" the cost of the kit to our savings account we'll head out a bit further to Spain, France and Holland.
There is only two of us (well, a cat also but I suspect she wouldn't travel well...) and we bought our tent so we could afford to go on holiday abroad. We got ferry tickets to France for £38 (!!!!) and the campsite looks like a bargain. Previously we have been on package breaks which I find just aren't me, but all we could afford. Looking forward to a bit of freedom and culture - and bargain wine!
I''d much rather be camping than having any other sort of holiday.
We have 35 camping nights away planned this year (already underway), including 17 nights in France. I've only had 3 hotel holidays in my whole life and really have no desire to repeat the experience. I spend my life staring out of the window wishing I was outdoors and longing for the smell of mud and damp grass and woodsmoke!
Thats why we used to go for a villa or house when we went anywhere before the tent. In some ways its even better than a tent as you get to make (almost) as much noise as the kids want first thing in the morning.
We tried this a couple of times with my Hubby`s sister and her family....and the kids were bored stiff with just us for company. They wanted lots of pals to run around with. And we like lots of folk to talk to as well.
I love my camping and I spend a fortune on it all. But it's an entirely different animal holidaying abroad in a decent hotel. Similarly, I love fish and chips out of the paper, but I also love a full blown sit down meal dressed up to the nines.
I wouldn't be able to say I prefer one to the other - they've both got their merits!
Quote: Originally posted by shelldean on 02/5/2007
I did look into us going on a package holiday. And i couldn't find a price under about £1500, although that is for six not four. BUT it was only for two weeks not four.
We are going to tunisia for 2 weeks all inclusive in 3 weeks time and it only cost 1300 for a family of four. With 2 more kiddies it would be around 1900
jans
Trouble is youhave the correct size family.... ie; 2+2 having four kids it's harder tho not impossible to get a room that fits all of us. So thenw e ahve to have two room, with one adult in each, Then the rooms are classed as Under occupied, so they add a surcharge!!! And also our kids are 14, 11, 11, and 8 in a lot of place the three oldest are classed as Adults.
Simply out of our reach
------------- Shelli
Campers do it in the mud!
Hubby says we can
Quote: Originally posted by janso100 on 01/5/2007
Listen.........i have a villa in florida and i'd rather go camping! I always visit usa once a year but the hustle and bustle?? Give me Camping anytime............but contact me if you wish to rent the villa
I've seen the website, but like to know prices...
------------- the bigger the berry, sweeter the juice.
Quote: Originally posted by Sangria_girluk on 02/5/2007
Quote: Originally posted by janso100 on 01/5/2007
Listen.........i have a villa in florida and i'd rather go camping! I always visit usa once a year but the hustle and bustle?? Give me Camping anytime............but contact me if you wish to rent the villa
I've seen the website, but like to know prices...
Drop me a line sangria girl use the contact on the website and i'll send you the info. The prices are on the website calender (use properties and availability link)....i'm sure i can sort a discount for you lovely lot
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: Is it really bad?
