Decisions decisions

[Kaz]

Yes, not being able to take kids out in term time does put up the costs, but have you tried Travel Zoo?

[debih]

Still not that much cheaper.

And I am so anti resort it doesn't help. My idea of hell is staying in a holiday apartment block with lots of other Brits. im such a snob!

[Osc]

Listen, this is money you never had, so why quibble at the (actually reasonable enough) cost of a family holiday of a lifetime? Try this site http://www.homeaway.co.uk - lots of places to rent there wherever you want to go. We got an apartment on Lake Como in July, not in a massive block with lots of other people, but over a shop in the centre of the little town. Honestly? If we had had such a wonderful windfall we would be using some of it to do something memorable, because life is short and you don't get another go at it.

[tonicha]

Quite right Osc. And home and away do loads of places here in Portugal too - on the coast and inland.

And reasonably priced too, some of them.

[debih]

Oh - I don't know. Its starting to confuse me too much now!!!

We have said that we are definitely going abroad next year - we can go in the summer holidays and so go for longer so we want to save some money for that. We can't go this year as we have already booked ten days in Cornwall, my sister has booked to take the girls away for a week and L has Guide camp for a week so thats 3 of the six weeks taken care of.

Does it sound mean when I say I want to do the holiday of a lifetime thing without the kids?

[Kaz]

No, not at all Debih, me and Mick love our holidays in Corfu, just us. Go for it!!!!!!!! This is 'free' money, out of the blue - make a special memory from it

[miasmum]

No not if it is something your kids wouldn't enjoy, why take them?

They love body boarding, swimming etc so Cornwall is ideal for them.

My holiday of a lifetime was my 50th birthday week in Mevagissey. I have absolutely zilch interest in going abroad. But thats just me. I think this country is beautiful and like you hate the whole resort thing and as for a cruise, Butlins on sea But other people love them and I am sure there are cruises and cruises. They just do not appeal to me. Its a good job we all like different places though or else one place would be very crowded

Tim wants to go abroad, but when I add up the cost, it seems extortionate, plus like you we don't have passports so that bumps the price up too

[debih]

I like abroad because I like the sun and the sea. Mick finds abroad pretty boring - he has done abroad to death and is used to much more exotic places than Europe because of work. Also, he doesn't like the heat.

My ideal abroad holiday is lying on a lounger on the beach, reading my book and taking regular dips in a pool or sea. That is his idea of hell. He likes to explore. But we do both like city breaks - there is no sea for me to lie next to so I don't feel like I am missing out by not lying next to it (does that make sense) but the girls don't want city breaks. They want sea, sea and more sea. Oh and ice cream.

So our plan has always been UK holidays with the girls and when they have upped and left us then we have a list of cities we want to visit.

Oh and the idea of a cruise doesn't appeal to me. I just think of it being lots of old people (which I know it isn't - don't shout at me anyone).

[Ally]

I like abroad because I like the sun and the sea. Mick finds abroad pretty boring - he has done abroad to death and is used to much more exotic places than Europe because of work. Also, he doesn't like the heat.

My ideal abroad holiday is lying on a lounger on the beach, reading my book and taking regular dips in a pool or sea. That is his idea of hell. He likes to explore. But we do both like city breaks - there is no sea for me to lie next to so I don't feel like I am missing out by not lying next to it (does that make sense) but the girls don't want city breaks. They want sea, sea and more sea. Oh and ice cream.

So our plan has always been UK holidays with the girls and when they have upped and left us then we have a list of cities we want to visit.

Oh and the idea of a cruise doesn't appeal to me. I just think of it being lots of old people (which I know it isn't - don't shout at me anyone).

Malaga would fit the bill here Debih.

[Kaz]

Debih your ideal sounds like mine Luckily since he took up art again Mick is also happy to sit and draw the view - win win