How do you justify holiday costs?

[condor]

I'm interested in how PHer's justify their holiday costs.
I've been looking at some cruises and overseas trips and they're into the thousand of pounds. I've always wanted to visit the Galapagos Islands, but would need to do it properly when a 2 week holiday is the price of a brand new everyday type car.
I've been self employed the last 10 years and outside of Goodwood FoS and Revivals, a few days in a B&B for family visits or when work is light haven't had a proper abroad type holiday since the 1980s - but do I really need one? I play golf, go to the gym, do flower arranging and art classes, meet friends in the pub for lunch every week. There's documentaries on nearly everywhere in the world to watch on TV and then there's the 'carbon footprint'.
I'm currently looking at a few days in Jersey over Easter and then a few days later visit Amsterdam to see the tulips.
OR, I could stay at home and redecorate the house and plant some tulip bulbs in the garden.
Any thoughts?

[condor]

Gameface said:

I bought a villa.

Villa has costs and you're then restricted to holidaying there, unless you rent it out.
I suppose you could buy a motorhome as well for some of the cruise prices -but then you'd still have to pay petrol costs and overnight fees. Unless you could wild camp...without being burgled

The UK is great for staycations, lots of B&Bs and loads of historic places to visit. London, easy to get to by train and then loads of free museums and attractions.

[condor]

HTP99 said:

We (well the wife does it) plan and (I) pay for everything ourselves seperately so save a fortune.

We have 2 weeks in Peru coming up in April and it will be full on, to get a travel agent type to do it all for us would be circa £8k, doing it ourselves will be no more than £4k all in, still alot of money but half the price!

Have a great time

[condor]

//j17 said:

Question is - do you live to work, or work to live?

Personally I work to live, much preferring to be sat there in my dottage remembering the time I went on that 2 week cruse to the Galapagos Islands than the time I didn't go on a 2 week cruse to the Galapagos Islands because it cost as much as a brand new everyday type car.

I'm a dog walker/pet sitter, enjoyable and not a stressful or onerous job. I look after other people's pets when they go on holiday so it could be said I get paid for holidays throughout the year. It doesn't pay well - about £7K a year, so the Galapagos trip is the equivalent of nearly 2 years pay.
There have been many programmes on the TV about the islands.

[condor]

I think you're right there.
I dreamed of visiting the Galapagos when the first David Attenborough documentaries were shown - but certainly didn't have the funds to go. Recent TV programmes have shown how busy it is now with the various cruise ships and tourists.

[condor]

As the OP I've read all your posts with interest
I've also booked my first solo cruise today for the Easter break - not the Galapagos, but tulips in Amsterdam and beer/chocolates in Belgium.
I think I need to adjust to spending money on time off for myself

[condor]

GetCarter said:

Zero midges (of course - people don't seem to get when midges are a problem. Do you think she'd lie there if she was being bitten?). But you are right re better weather elsewhere. We generally go to the Hebrides when it's empty and warm. It's easy from here, but I appreciate you can't book ahead.

To the O/P... it's piss cheap!

When are the midges a problem? I thought it was June-September? ie the warmer months.
I do plan on visiting the Hebrides in the next couple of years.
I've booked my 5 night cruise to Belgium and Holland over the Easter break, and have accepted that travel insurance £70+ , port car parking £80+, one excursion £70+ , is just part and parcel of a cruise. It will probably be £2K all in for 5 nights so I hope the weather is good and I enjoy it