what's the cost of your holiday?

[randymuffler]

i'm 40 next year and fancy spending my birthday in florida (my favourite holiday destination)
so i am saving hard for this but how much is enough?
not wanting to pry but how much has it cost folks for 2 weeks recently and if you have any good tips for keepeing the cost down many thanks in advance

[Katys Grandad]

The time of year when your birthday falls is a big factor because flights and accommodation costs will be significantly higher in the summer and school holidays. I reckon I can get 3 weeks holiday outside those times for the same price as 2 weeks in high season.

My top tips would be to be flexible on dates and grab bargains like flight sales when they come up. Obviously, if you want to be in Florida on the date of your birthday, your options are more limited.

[steph_goodrum]

Well one way you can save is that you can visit Disney for free on your birthday.

One thing that helps is to plan as far in advance and book things where available like car hire, villas and flights so you know what those costs are well in advance. Buying your tickets as you go along or before you go is a good idea. We try to do it so when we get there we only have food and shopping to spend on and if we are going anywhere have pre purchased tickets.
It may not necessarily save you any money but makes you feel things are getting into place for when you go and often does save because of price rises that come along.

It's very difficult to give an estimate of how much you need as everybodies tastes vary so much. Some will be happy just to go and sit by the pool and eat at home where others dont feel it is a holiday unless they are constantly on the go (and usually spending on entrance fees) or having expensive meals.

[LiesaAnna]

its funny we're going for my birthday next year 15th sept, so we're going for 2 weeks from 11th - 25th, we hope to pay less then £500 airfares each and the villa is less then £1,000
and a nice big car to hire.... around £3,000 i hope.... then theres the lovely spending money!!! not sure what to put on list of what to do's next trip tho x

[randymuffler]

i thought about going in june for my partners b day as it would save us nearlly £900 in the extra airfare to go a month later then just have a day that we called my birthday not the same i know but £900 is a lot of money that would cover most of the villa we do like to eat out i would of thought between £4000 and £5000 to do it properly also can someone list the villa areas we can see the fireworks from? we have a 20 month old daughter as of now but we wouldn't want to be out all day and night a glass or 2 of wine by the pool watching fireworks sounds brill

[jdepark]

We are also going next year for my 40th(who said its all for kids). I am hiring a work colleagues villa in April [easter1] for 8 of us. It's looking fairly expensive. We have booked and paid for Flights, UK transfers and the deposits on the house and Hire car(via this forum) I can't wait, I have really annoyed the others by keep mentioning it though. That said I am organizing it all so its always in on my mind as to what else needs booking etc.

James

[randymuffler]

not in a position to book anything yet need to know i have the money the mrs made me a collecting tin with daddies florida fund on it with pics of the sights of florida she doesn't know but i have been slipping the odd note in it instead of just 1 and 2 pound coins [laugh]

[jdepark]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by randymuffler
not in a position to book anything yet need to know i have the money the mrs made me a collecting tin with daddies florida fund on it with pics of the sights of florida she doesn't know but i have been slipping the odd note in it instead of just 1 and 2 pound coins [laugh]
[/quote]

Good call

[steph_goodrum]

It's funny but that was what we did for our first trip 11 years ago, got a roses jar and stuck pics all over so we couldnt see how much was in it andtaped the lid shut (after cutting a slot in it. Good idea about the notes and if the exchange rate picks up you could always get some dollars in there too.

[LiesaAnna]

lol we have done that and we now use it to put into our daughters bank account for her florida spending money, at least £200 just for her spending money last trip......
but i have now a cash box that adds up the money for you i got from avon, £53 in just a couple of weeks!!! well it all helps...