Daylight Robbery!

As my daughter started Primary school this week I started to look at our holiday plans for next year and it has dawned on me that the problems that families have been suffering for years with extortionate school holidays is all too true – it is Daylight Robbery!

In the last few years with the freedom to choose any date to travel I have had the luxury of 3 holidays a year but I have now realised that I have definitely had my last affordable holiday with school summer holidays and half term dates being up to 9 times higher than during term time

The ongoing debate as to whether parents should be allowed to take their children on holiday during term time is heating up, with pressure mounting on the government, local authorities and tour operators to come up with a solution and with such incredible price rises it’s clear to see why

The cost of school holidays can leave families feeling that they have no other choice but to take their child out of school until the issue of overpricing is addressed but following a landmark Supreme Court ruling in April this year ruling that children CAN’T miss lessons and that parents will face a fine or prosecution of between £50 and £100 per child if pupils take time off without permission leaves no choice but to book within school holidays, meaning peak prices – personally I think this is a small price to pay

Why does the price for the exact same holiday or cruise or flight or hotel cost more depending on the date?

Do the staff get paid more or are running costs higher in July than in June – no of course not! Apparently  it’s a simple question of supply and demand (oh and ripping off families)

Would you take off during term time?  You can apply to the school for permission to be absent but what if they say no? You could call in sick for your children and jet off for a week but is this a good example to set for your kids? Also I wouldn’t want my child’s attendance record to be black marked or to go against school policies

So what can parents do about it?

It is a misconception that it is better to book late – I have had so many calls this summer for family cabins when there has just not been any available options or the child age limit had been reached or the prices were sky high or flights were not available

The best option is to BOOK EARLY – you will have far more choice of available cruises rather than being forced to take what nobody else wants, you might get reduced child prices or added value like a free drinks package or Buy One Get One Half Price offer, free gratuities or free parking and Wifi and the prices are usually cheaper plus you will be able to plan and budget rather than have to pay in full at the last minute and most of all you will not have to see the disappointed faces of your children when you have to say ‘sorry we are not going on a cruise this summer because all of the cabins are sold’! – instead you will see this …..