Staycation Costs in the UK

[Ruskie]

Browsing last night for 2-3 nights in different places in the UK and the prices are eye watering. I can only assume people are paying it. One example, a shepherd hut in Wales mid august, 2 nights, just shy of £900, to effectively stay in a shed on wheels. Fair play if they are achieving that but I won’t pay that.

Of course affordability is subjective, but I’m approaching my limit here in what a 2 night stay is worth to me in terms of money v enjoyment. Same as going to watch a gig and paying £9 a pint, I’m approaching my limit and will simply go without. Airbnb used to be excellent but that has been ruined by business getting involved and effectively losing that personal touch.

Is it profiteering based on excess demand? Shortage of properties?

[MOMACC]

Middle of the school holidays, everything is priced at a very daft rate.

We did 3 nights in a cottage in Devon last August and that was only £400.

[ChocolateFrog]

Paid £200 more for a week all inclusive in the Canaries for a family of 4 last year and we got to stay in an actual building.

That said the price is what the market will sustain so some people are paying it.

I'm with you on reaching my limit on a lot of things though.

[Spare tyre]

It’s truly crazy

A few working parents from school can’t afford a simple holiday this year

[TwigtheWonderkid]

The bigger debate here is what's a staycation. For me, before I retired, it was having having time off, staying at home, maybe having some days out. But now, it appears to be going on holiday, but not abroad.

That's not a staycation, it's a holiday.

[Zetec-S]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

The bigger debate here is what's a staycation. For me, before I retired, it was having having time off, staying at home, maybe having some days out. But now, it appears to be going on holiday, but not abroad.

That's not a staycation, it's a holiday.

[Exiled Imp]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

The bigger debate here is what's a staycation. For me, before I retired, it was having having time off, staying at home, maybe having some days out. But now, it appears to be going on holiday, but not abroad.

That's not a staycation, it's a holiday.

I was thinking the same. A week in the Dales as a kid was a holiday. Staying at home and doing day trips was what I understood a staycation to be - then again, language and usage evolves, and I’m getting old

[HTP99]

Its finding the right place, which my wife is good at, they are out there, the 2 of us and 2 of our dogs are leaving for Wales later this morning, 10 days in a self sufficient unit in the absolute middle of nowhere, no WiFi, solar panels for electric, compost toilet so a bit back to basics but it and the area looks stunning; £850 for 10 days.

Agree though, costs to stay in the UK during school holidays can be absolutely eye watering, the wife a few years ago started a new contract, she's a nanny for a family, she can only have school holidays off which means expensive holidays for us whether UK or abroad, we didn't think it would be too bad as the money was good, there has been a shift in her job from September, same family but different hours, she has negotiated in the revised contract to not be restricted to having annual leave during school holidays only.

Edited by HTP99 on Wednesday 23 July 08:52

[Lotobear]

Ruskie said:

Browsing last night for 2-3 nights in different places in the UK and the prices are eye watering. I can only assume people are paying it. One example, a shepherd hut in Wales mid august, 2 nights, just shy of £900, to effectively stay in a shed on wheels. Fair play if they are achieving that but I won t pay that.

Of course affordability is subjective, but I m approaching my limit here in what a 2 night stay is worth to me in terms of money v enjoyment. Same as going to watch a gig and paying £9 a pint, I m approaching my limit and will simply go without. Airbnb used to be excellent but that has been ruined by business getting involved and effectively losing that personal touch.

Is it profiteering based on excess demand? Shortage of properties?

We have this just outside our village - I meet folk in our pub who come from all over the country and they really seem to like it:

https://www.haytonhideaways.co.uk/pricing-and-extr...

Great walks nearby and 45mins to the Lakes or 20 mins to Hadrians Wall/Northumberland. Newcastle 50 minutes if you like that sort of thing (or get there on the train). Prices look decent to me.

PS: £4.50 a pint in our pub

Edited by Lotobear on Wednesday 23 July 09:15

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Exiled Imp said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

The bigger debate here is what's a staycation. For me, before I retired, it was having having time off, staying at home, maybe having some days out. But now, it appears to be going on holiday, but not abroad.

That's not a staycation, it's a holiday.

I was thinking the same. A week in the Dales as a kid was a holiday. Staying at home and doing day trips was what I understood a staycation to be - then again, language and usage evolves, and I m getting old

Sign of a spoilt society, where not going abroad isn't a real holiday, it's a staycation.

When asked where I was going, if I wasn't going anywhere, I'd often reply "I'm going to remain 'ere". They'd then assume I was off to eastern Europe

Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Wednesday 23 July 10:18

[Exiled Imp]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Exiled Imp said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

The bigger debate here is what's a staycation. For me, before I retired, it was having having time off, staying at home, maybe having some days out. But now, it appears to be going on holiday, but not abroad.

That's not a staycation, it's a holiday.

I was thinking the same. A week in the Dales as a kid was a holiday. Staying at home and doing day trips was what I understood a staycation to be - then again, language and usage evolves, and I m getting old

Sign of a spoilt society, where not going abroad isn't a real holiday, it's a staycation.

When asked where I was going, if I wasn't going anywhere, I'd often reply "I'm going to remain 'ere". They'd then assume I was off to eastern Europe

Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Wednesday 23 July 10:18

That took me longer to get than it should have

[NaePasaran]

Switching countries when another is at school is the trick for me.

Scottish so when our schools are just starting to their summer holidays, the English kids/teens are still at school. Highlands, Perthshire and Edinburgh etc go through the roof, but plenty bargains to be had in England, especially the further south you go.

Last year a Haven caravan park in the Highlands (Grannies Highland Hame) was over twice the cost of a Devonshire equivalent for the exact same week for a few hours extra drive.

No idea if that works the other way round or not...

[Antony Moxey]

If you use the word staycation you deserve to pay a premium for your UK-based holiday.

[fat80b]

Ruskie said:

Of course affordability is subjective, but I m approaching my limit here in what a 2 night stay is worth to me in terms of money v enjoyment.
...
Is it profiteering based on excess demand? Shortage of properties?

I have some strange wiring in my brain where I can spend money on a hotel abroad quite easily, but hotels at home are "too expensive" for what they are......The UK is just expensive...Sit down and have a bottle of wine and a few starters and you can spend £75 without trying.....There's something about "being abroad" that makes it better for me.

We did 5 days in Whitby earlier this year - It was lovely - a cottage with parking in the middle of the town, good weather, a few rounds of golf, some walking, some nice food and drink etc - But all in, we spent > £2.2K for the 5 days (of which the cottage was £980).

Is that good value? - Not in my mind. (c.f. I've just been to Japan with the boy for 8 days (business class with miles, JR pass, hotels, great food, and climbing Mt. Fuji and spent £3.4K for a holiday of a lifetime (for a 12 y.o) !).....

[Olivera]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

The bigger debate here is what's a staycation. For me, before I retired, it was having having time off, staying at home, maybe having some days out. But now, it appears to be going on holiday, but not abroad.

That's not a staycation, it's a holiday.

But by your own admittance you're an odd and miserly individual that can go a week spending "zero", and a treat is purchasing a cup of tea?

Edited by Olivera on Wednesday 23 July 11:19

Edited by Olivera on Wednesday 23 July 11:29

[magpie215]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

.

When asked where I was going, if I wasn't going anywhere, I'd often reply "I'm going to remain 'ere".

Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Wednesday 23 July 10:18

Mine was I'm going to Roam.

Just left off around the garden.... :-)

[chip*]

fat80b said:

I have some strange wiring in my brain where I can spend money on a hotel abroad quite easily, but hotels at home are "too expensive" for what they are......The UK is just expensive...Sit down and have a bottle of wine and a few starters and you can spend £75 without trying.....There's something about "being abroad" that makes it better for me.

We did 5 days in Whitby earlier this year - It was lovely - a cottage with parking in the middle of the town, good weather, a few rounds of golf, some walking, some nice food and drink etc - But all in, we spent > £2.2K for the 5 days (of which the cottage was £980).

Is that good value? - Not in my mind. (c.f. I've just been to Japan with the boy for 8 days (business class with miles, JR pass, hotels, great food, and climbing Mt. Fuji and spent £3.4K for a holiday of a lifetime (for a 12 y.o) !).....

You are not alone with that thought!

My holidays at this moment of my life are tailored towards the age of my kids, but the cost of the usual UK suspects are just plain crazy! Once you factor in food and travel etc.. the price differential is miniscule compared to a holiday abroad (with generally better food and weather).

Case in point, just yesterday, I booked a week in Dec to Tenerife staying at Iberostar Selection Anthelia HB for £2k. In my mind, Tenerife was better value compared to a week in the middle of winter at an UK Center Parc!

[markymarkthree]

Would love to offer you the use of my lodge down in Cornwall but anyone that uses the word stayfriggincation, for a holiday in the UK aint right or a septic.

[Fast Bug]

chip* said:

You are not alone with that thought!

My holidays at this moment of my life are tailored towards the age of my kids, but the cost of the usual UK suspects are just plain crazy! Once you factor in food and travel etc.. the price differential is miniscule compared to a holiday abroad (with generally better food and weather).

Case in point, just yesterday, I booked a week in Dec to Tenerife staying at Iberostar Selection Anthelia HB for £2k. In my mind, Tenerife was better value compared to a week in the middle of winter at an UK Center Parc!

Picking up on Centre Parcs, they're half the price in Europe compared to the UK. Even if you count additional fuel costs and a ferry/euro tunnel they still work out significantly cheaper than the UK

[some bloke]

Was talking to a mate about this last week - he said it cost him as much for a long weekend in London as it cost him for two weeks self catering in Fuerteventura for 2.