Holidays

[Tony Baloney]

Crazy looking back over the holidays that people can afford nowadays considering the austerity going on.... my parents could only afford Tramore and Galway the odd year or Ballycastle!! How many holidays are paid with your current accounts? I'd say most are on a credit card with high interest rates from the get go !

Current accounts for us cause we're DINKY - dual income, no kids yet.

Jim - wee Air BnB or owners direct apt in Vilamoura and you could do for less than £750. I was checking for w/c 23 July.

Portugal is a good shout but unless you are into your golf I wouldn't recommend Vilamoura.  I found it very commercialised and massively overpriced.  It all seemed very 'manufactured' around a marina that was built solely to attract tourists. (think the 70's/80's - it's the Blackpool of the Algarve).  You'll get cheap flights to Faro from any number of airlines - from there you've a choice of many nice places - Lagos, Praia de Rocha, Monte Gordo, Tavira, Luz.

For the likes of Portugal are you better going for a package or is there still value in doing it yourself? Earlier in the year I was considering Portugal for the summer and a fella in work reckoned there was no way it could be done cheaper as DYI as he priced his own easyJet flights to Faro for him, wife and 2 daughters and it was over 300 quid for flights only which he said would have paid for 1 of his party for a whole week on a package deal (flights and accommodation).

My youngest can't fly or travel very far but we have 2 other children we can't leave out, so we stomach the guilt and limit our time on holiday abroad to ~5 days max and then all of us do something closer to home. Package deals don't seem to operate in this fashion with restrictions to either a week or two weeks. At peak season will there still be plenty of hotels or apartments in Portugal available outside of packages available for DIY booking as it is somewhere I'd definitely consider for next year?

[tyrone girl]

I much prefer booking stuff myself and separately. We done Portugal (Villamoura) last year and stayed in Old Village. Thought it was fab, lots of apartments all owned and managed by different companies. 3 pools, bars, restaurants, supermarket, tea rooms, kids playground etc etc. Really enjoyed it.
Going back this year and doing it ourselves for 8 nights in mid July. The apartment is 820 for 8 nights for two bedrooms (more like a townhouse type of thing). Flights were 230 each and transfer 50 return so works out about 450 each for 8 nights. Cant see getting much better than that for the time of year.

[tyrone girl]

Tony there are lots of apartments etc available to book yourself in peak season. There will be no issue with that.

[Taylor]

TG is correct.
It is very rare that a package holiday will cost less than a DIY no matter where you go.

Air BNB, Trivago, Owners Direct etc etc - all provide cheap accomodation.

Skyscanner/Kayak etc will find you the best flights.

If you have the time to hunt around and the money to pay it all (cant normally pay off if you are DIY) then that is the way to go

[tyrone girl]

On travel republic and a few others maybe its a quid deposit on apartments and final balance 3 weeks before i think. Its handy when you are booking the flights so you dont have to do all at once. So many diy options out there.

[NAG1]

On travel republic and a few others maybe its a quid deposit on apartments and final balance 3 weeks before i think. Its handy when you are booking the flights so you dont have to do all at once. So many diy options out there.

Travel Republic is great for those Apart/ Hotels as TG says the deposit is minimal to hold most bookings.

[Chase]

Any recommendations for renting a cottage/holiday home for 3 days midweek. Thinking of Sligo area maybe.

[AZOffaly]

What part of the country are you in? I rented a cottage in South Kerry for a week there a few years ago and it was brilliant. You'd be a bit reliant on the weather mind you!!

[Chase]

Waterford.
Will have 2 kids with me also.

[Estimator]

Waterford.
Will have 2 kids with me also.

What about the rest of the Paw Patrol?

[AZOffaly]

Maybe somewhere like West Clare then? Around Lahinch or Kilkee? At least in those spots if the weather is bad, you can occupy the kids with some activities. South Kerry is my favourite part of the country, but if you get bad weather, you have to go 40 miles before you can go anywhere. At least out in Clare, you'd have the Aillwee Caves, Cliffs of Moher and you wouldn't be miles from Ennis or Limerick/Galway for emergency activities. Waterford up to west Clare is probably 2.5/3 hours? I did Clonmel to Newport last Sunday in an hour and 15.

[Taylor]

Any recommendations for renting a cottage/holiday home for 3 days midweek. Thinking of Sligo area maybe.

Given the relative weakness of the sterling have you considered the north coast?

Some stunning scenery and plenty of activities to amuse kids

[Chase]

Waterford.
Will have 2 kids with me also.

What about the rest of the Paw Patrol?

Ha. The young fella is paw patrol mad. Couldn't think of a better username!

[Chase]

Maybe somewhere like West Clare then? Around Lahinch or Kilkee? At least in those spots if the weather is bad, you can occupy the kids with some activities. South Kerry is my favourite part of the country, but if you get bad weather, you have to go 40 miles before you can go anywhere. At least out in Clare, you'd have the Aillwee Caves, Cliffs of Moher and you wouldn't be miles from Ennis or Limerick/Galway for emergency activities. Waterford up to west Clare is probably 2.5/3 hours? I did Clonmel to Newport last Sunday in an hour and 15.

Have been in Clare plenty of times...Herself is from there!
Only thinking Sligo as really it's a county I know little about and have never been really.

[JimStynes]

Looking a week in the sun in July. We just want a decent hotel and a quiet place to dander about at night and grab a bite to eat. Any hotel or location recommendations. Im just back from Vegas so we are only looking to spend £1500 between us.

Benidorm


Crazy looking back over the holidays that people can afford nowadays considering the austerity going on.... my parents could only afford Tramore and Galway the odd year or Ballycastle!! How many holidays are paid with your current accounts? I'd say most are on a credit card with high interest rates from the get go !

And Jim a teacher too like your missus (and mine!) and he has the life of a millionaire. Where did it all go wrong Milltown! 

I've no kids lads! I've had some cracking holidays this past few years to be fair. Portugal seems a bit boring but sure it's a week in the sun.