School Holiday Prices!!

The news recently has been all about the fact that holiday operators or airlines increase their prices during school holiday time. and is this right??

FACT – Yes the prices are higher in peak months, however…read on. The travel industry seems to be failing miserably in getting their message across.

This is always highly controversial……..And yes I am on the fence with this as I always try to look at both sides of the story, as a Mother I do have to adhere to the schools absence policy which means I too have to pay the hiked up prices in the holidays. Although I also understand that it is supply and demand. Like restaurants on valentines or xmas, car sales in sales period or clothes and electrical, sofas, this supply and demand applies to nearly every trade there is.

If the prices are not increased in the peak seasons, where would the bargains be??

And a comment from someone earlier actually referred to the fact that prices are not increased for holiday time, but merely slashed for off season.

Operators like any other business quite simply are there to make a profit, if they do not, they will fail. The implications of a travel agent, airline or tour operator going under would be catastrophic for a number of reasons. Think of the job losses, the insurance pay out, the repatriation, it would be endless. I seem to remember a certain high street travel agent a couple of years ago experienced extreme financial difficulty after selling their holidays to cheaply and very nearly went under. I would hate to see these people out of jobs because people to do not understand the pricing structure of a holiday and simply feel they are being ripped off.

My best advice is get in early when the brochures launch, get the low flight supplement and free child places. They can be found if you time it right.  Princess Cruises  offered a May Half term cruise this year to France and Spain for a week at just £600 and adult and £99 a child.  Of course it sold brilliantly. Proof that the deals can be found!! Eurocamp had some fantastic school holiday deals particularly to Italy. A flight to Pisa currently in late July is just over £100 per person. Very good value.

I don’t think its pricing that needs to change. The only topic that should be discussed in parliament is the fining to parents. Parents should be allowed to have a given number of days as authorised absence during term time. It should be the parents decision to say if they wish to take their child away in school time. I have done so in the past, as long as it is of no detriment to their education such as during exam/sat time or a special project is taking place then I would not hesitate. There are lots of things to take into consideration, a few days is fine, a whole 2 weeks would be asking a lot. And also how much sickness children have. And never at the start of term when they maybe starting new projects.  It if were a case of taking my child away or not, I will, always… there are somethings you cannot get from a classroom and travel is as valuable as the classroom.

Let me know your thoughts on this highly topical debate, Good to get peoples opinions with and without children, both perspectives. And teachers too!! I could go on forever about this subject.