Easter 2007 - How much!!!!!

[nattyk]

Hello

Just did a price check on Virgin Holidays for Easter 2007, going on 30th March for 2 wks, 2 adults and 3 kids (fly drive) came to £3667.00!!!!!!!! have not even looked at villa prices, park tickets, food, spending money!!!!! going to need a lottery win at this rate!!!!

Is that the average price for school holidays...?? I just don't know if we can justify paying that much...where else shall I look - really want direct flight with 3 kids and we are limited to school holidays!!!! ARRGRGRGRGRGR!!!

What do you guys pay for Easter....???

Cheers
Nat

 

[happytraveller]

Hi, i can fully sympathise- i nearly lost my site at the prices for the school holidays with virgin 1 adult , 3 kids eldest charged as adult.For me i either fly 30th of june with virgin, or fly indirect with delta-saving a grand- in august.This year i bit the bullet for august and paid full whack-but i can't do it every year.You may do well to try for the xmas day discount if they do it, or early bird offers with other operators.Good luck.

 

[Miffy2003]

I would pay slightly less than that for a package in August school holidays - but I have one less child than you, so that would account for most of the difference.


It is such a lot of money, isn't it!

ETA: Sorry I thought that was a package! Does that include the car insurance as well as the car?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Know what you mean - we have the same problem with August where we are paying £829 each next year, although we only have 1 child...obviously if your children are over 12 you will pay adult price.

However, I have this year's Virgin brochure in front of me where the price for 30th March this year is £489 adult and £349 child - your adult price works out at £789 and £549 (presuming they are under 12)...I can only assume it is because you are booking so far in advance.

I fully sympathise, we can only go in August really as my wife is a teacher and my son has 6/7 weeks off, so unfortunatley prices go through the roof.

You can either try Travel City Direct, or contact Virgin to see if the prices will drop once the brochure is released, I cannot believe their prices would go up by £300 each....??

 

[Miffy2003]

I found this for March 30th 07:

Adult Price £789.00 2 £1578.00
Child Price £549.00 3 £1647.00
Weekend Flight Supplement £15.00 4 £60.00
Weekend Flight Supplement £15.00 6 £90.00
Fuel Surcharge £50.00 2 £100.00
Fuel Surcharge £50.00 3 £150.00
Online Booking Discount £-181.25 1 £-181.25
Total cost: £3443.75

Could you fly out a day or two earlier to avoid the weekend surcharge?

Alternatively if Virgin do their 15% off on Xmas Day again that would save you nearly £500 on the above prices.

 

[isla bonita]

School holidays prices are always over the top. We live in the states and own a villa in Florida. We go twice a year. Once during school holidays and once during the school year. Air fare per person for holiday time was $189.00 one way. Air fare not holiday time was #49.00 per person one way.
Living out of the country I really feel for you having to spend so much just to get here never mind actually enjoy the time you are here. Good luck with finding a great fare and have a magical vaca. isla bonita

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Its all down to suppky and demend, during those peak times all airliens can charge more as more people want those dates.

 

[mark&sue]

A friend of mine booked up for Spain for next summer holidays last Aug and was given a price for the flights but said they would not be sure of the price until December. The price has now trippled and he cannot afford to take the family. This was their first plane ride and they are all really upset. The only good thing is that he can get his deposit back. It appears that holiday prices are going through the roof. It may well be more and more people are not risking a fine from the schools and there is just too much demand. The sooner they stagger school holidays from one LEA to another the better.

I am a DVC member and could not believe that next year's flights (without accommodation) are more than the package we went on last year.



Susan

 

[Pootle]

I am a DVC member and could not believe that next year's flights (without accommodation) are more than the package we went on last year.

Alas I don't think this is anything new Susan. I always went at Easter when I was teaching and a few times I booked a cheap package, used some of the weekend nights in the hotel and 'threw away' the rest to stay at DVC. It was cheaper than buying flights only.

As isla bonita points out, it's the same in the USA too - market forces pure and simple, and if people don't 'bite' because of the increased prices, then they'll come down.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I agree with what you are saying, however, unfortunatley a lot of people cannot go other than during the school holidays - we think the prices for our August holidays are ridiculous, almost double what we could pay at quieter times of the year.
However, we cannot do without our yearly holiday so we have to pay more...just make sure we go for 3 weeks now to make the most of it.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I agree with what you are saying, however, unfortunatley a lot of people cannot go other than during the school holidays - we think the prices for our August holidays are ridiculous, almost double what we could pay at quieter times of the year.
However, we cannot do without our yearly holiday so we have to pay more...just make sure we go for 3 weeks now to make the most of it.

Johnny,
All airlines and travel agents are in buisness to make a profit, the sad fact is that due to the ridiculous situation we now have in this country that Uncle Tony wants to control everything we do, that it is more difficult for people to take their children out of state schools outside proscribed holiday weeks. No TA is going to give away a holiday at, say £1,000 when they know that due to possible triple the amount of people going in those weeks to the rest of the year they can and do get £3,000 for the same flights/hotels etc...
the rest of the year the flights are scheduled to fly, the hotel is waiting for gustest, so in effect the poor suckers who can only go in school holiday periods are subsidising the people who can be more flexible.
Of course, this is not seen as a problem for Uncle Tony with his free accommodation at Cliff Richards house in the carribean, or the Villa in Tuscany, and us paying for his flights etc....
This country has to grab this thorny problem once and for all, staggering periods will only sort out the August time (not a good time to go to Fla anyway due to high humidity, heat etc...) it does not sort out easter or the other half terms, I know this has been debated quite a lot, but there are times of the year when missing out on a couple of PE classes is not going to effect your childs chance of going to University!

 

[happytraveller]

Johnny,
All airlines and travel agents are in buisness to make a profit, the sad fact is that due to the ridiculous situation we now have in this country that Uncle Tony wants to control everything we do, that it is more difficult for people to take their children out of state schools outside proscribed holiday weeks. No TA is going to give away a holiday at, say £1,000 when they know that due to possible triple the amount of people going in those weeks to the rest of the year they can and do get £3,000 for the same flights/hotels etc...
the rest of the year the flights are scheduled to fly, the hotel is waiting for gustest, so in effect the poor suckers who can only go in school holiday periods are subsidising the people who can be more flexible.
Of course, this is not seen as a problem for Uncle Tony with his free accommodation at Cliff Richards house in the carribean, or the Villa in Tuscany, and us paying for his flights etc....
This country has to grab this thorny problem once and for all, staggering periods will only sort out the August time (not a good time to go to Fla anyway due to high humidity, heat etc...) it does not sort out easter or the other half terms, I know this has been debated quite a lot, but there are times of the year when missing out on a couple of PE classes is not going to effect your childs chance of going to University!

Hi, just to add, i totally agree with you

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Johnny,
All airlines and travel agents are in buisness to make a profit, the sad fact is that due to the ridiculous situation we now have in this country that Uncle Tony wants to control everything we do, that it is more difficult for people to take their children out of state schools outside proscribed holiday weeks. No TA is going to give away a holiday at, say £1,000 when they know that due to possible triple the amount of people going in those weeks to the rest of the year they can and do get £3,000 for the same flights/hotels etc...
the rest of the year the flights are scheduled to fly, the hotel is waiting for gustest, so in effect the poor suckers who can only go in school holiday periods are subsidising the people who can be more flexible.
Of course, this is not seen as a problem for Uncle Tony with his free accommodation at Cliff Richards house in the carribean, or the Villa in Tuscany, and us paying for his flights etc....
This country has to grab this thorny problem once and for all, staggering periods will only sort out the August time (not a good time to go to Fla anyway due to high humidity, heat etc...) it does not sort out easter or the other half terms, I know this has been debated quite a lot, but there are times of the year when missing out on a couple of PE classes is not going to effect your childs chance of going to University!

I don't disagree either - the fact is with my wife being a teacher and my son at school, the summer holidays are the only time we can go...whilst I could take Joshua out of school for a few days and go at other times of the year, there is no way my wife could go.

It's a shame we cannot do what the Royal Family do and spend £££'s on a private jet to go skiing or something...apologies if this is moving away from the subject of the thread.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I hope they look at the system of having shorter break in August but with a four term system, whichj will give more chances of breaks instead of one big lump in the middle of the year.

It's also very difficult for other families who have only the two week shutdown in July for their holidays, both for prices of the holiday and looking after the children during what? a six week break is it now?

In the "olden" days when the system was designed, it was not a problem, everyone had virtually the same two weeks, mothers did not work and the big holiday was to Great Yarmouth/Clacton/Blackpool, then came package holidays to Spain and now regular long haul holidays.
In germany to offset the cost of August breaks (because having the same holiday dates as the rest of Europe means that you are not just competeing with UK residents for the hotel rooms) they have an extra months salary paid for that time.

We have evolved as a nation, even down to that the children could electronically connect for the important bits of learning whilst on holiday, that there should be flexibility for all in terms of when we take our main break.

manufacturing is now such a small part of the economy of the country, and that service industries make up the main part, there is no need for a statutory two week break in August, even teachers should have the right to take a break when they want to, no wonder so many have breakdowns.

The whole point of a holiday is to have a rest/break, not be forced to take it like robots at the same time as everyone else, spending your days on crowded beaches and long lines.

 

[carolfoy]

Totally agree, school hols prices are ridiculous, what annoys me more though is that having 6 weeks off during summer is daft - I'd prefer a 2 week break in october or feb, we prefer to go long haul in the winter and with only a week of school holidays here and there its difficult to work around it. I don't really want to go anywhere in july/august as the best place weather wise is the Med and we've done most of that so having the chance for 2 weeks in feb/oct for caribbean/FL/Africa would be far better.
Also can't do xmas due to exhusband also wanting to see DS

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Aa I have said earlier we have to go in summer, but we try and make it a little bit easier by going mid August as generally it is not that crowded - the US schools having returned - and going for longer, 3 weeks next year.

It does take a few days to adjust to the high temperatures, but we have never rushed around the parks anyway, it is just the crazy prices, but to be honest it will not stop us going and we will probably continue to pay it.
Cannot deprive our son of his holiday.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Aa I have said earlier we have to go in summer, but we try and make it a little bit easier by going mid August as generally it is not that crowded - the US schools having returned - and going for longer, 3 weeks next year.

It does take a few days to adjust to the high temperatures, but we have never rushed around the parks anyway, it is just the crazy prices, but to be honest it will not stop us going and we will probably continue to pay it.
Cannot deprive our son of his holiday.

Its just sad that you are forced into taking your holidays at someone elses convinience and at cost to you :-(

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Its just sad that you are forced into taking your holidays at someone elses convinience and at cost to you :-(

That's right Obi Wan - I know mate.

 

[Pootle]

.... All airlines and travel agents are in buisness to make a profit, the sad fact is that due to the ridiculous situation we now have in this country that Uncle Tony wants to control everything we do, that it is more difficult for people to take their children out of state schools outside proscribed holiday weeks. ........ Of course, this is not seen as a problem for Uncle Tony with his free accommodation at Cliff Richards house in the carribean, or the Villa in Tuscany, and us paying for his flights etc....
This country has to grab this thorny problem once and for all, staggering periods will only sort out the August time (not a good time to go to Fla anyway due to high humidity, heat etc...) it does not sort out easter or the other half terms, I know this has been debated quite a lot, but there are times of the year when missing out on a couple of PE classes is not going to effect your childs chance of going to University!

....... In germany to offset the cost of August breaks (because having the same holiday dates as the rest of Europe means that you are not just competeing with UK residents for the hotel rooms) they have an extra months salary paid for that time.

There is so much to take issue with in your posts I wouldn't know where to begin, both as an ex teacher and someone whose husband, a fluent German speaker, works in management in that country.

The point is, this is a trip planning forum, and no matter how many people agree with you, it is not a forum for your own political views. My post, No 9, said all I would want to say on the subject and isla bonita illustrated the point that this is not an issue unique to the UK. I won't be adding anything further, so no bickering from me, but I couldn't let your rantings pass without a brief comment that not everyone agrees with you.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I would not expect everyone to agree with my views, or "rantings" as you put it

I can only comment with regards to Germany by what my contacts at:-
Beyer
Henkle
BMW
GM
Audi
Ford
Teroson
Lear Germany
Autopal

tell me. I cannot understand how thay could all be telling untruths.
It has nothing to do with my political views, I would say the same if "I want to be Tony Bliar" Cameron or "pass the bottle" Kennedy, or any other 2leader" was in government. its the fundamental issue which DOES effect trip planning for many people on this forum.
I have said, as highligted in your post that this effect all of Europe.