Going on holiday with friends.. Tips please

[MamaMaiasaura]

GOing for 2 week break in self catering cottage in Wales with friends.

Will be me (&bump), DP and DS7, and for 1st week our friends and their 2 children 1 son & and daughter 3. Their son is best friends with ds and their daughter is a sweetheart but at that 3 year old stage.

Going in a couple of weeks and looks like the weather will be shit. Is a 3 bed cottage, 2 double and one with 3 singles so all kids will bunk up together. Our ds is very good at going to bed (as in doesnt get up after etc), althouhg i do lie with him for 10 min's am unlikely to do so on holiday. I am imagining the kids up and down all night and then over tired stroppy children the next day. Have already thought that if ds really has problems sleeping will pull mattress or whole bed into our double room. Also ds tends to eat most things where as his best friend doesnt eat a very varied diet (not critism btw, just how he is).

We do all get on well, the blokes are similar personalities, laid back and quiet and me and my friend get on really well so dont think their will be problems there. Just really want it to go well and would appreciate advice.

[MaureenMcGonagall]

I have been going on holiday with my best friend for about 18 years now, so we are more like family, but we still appreciate that we need our space. I would strongly recommend having a day or two out with just you and your family. I know you say you all get on really well, but if you're all under one roof, you will need your space at some point!

[AugustusRookWhooosh]

Agree with Maureen but also put a kitty together-have known many feelings of unrest over unfair division of cash....

[MamaMaiasaura]

that is a really good idea about days out on our own. We are also only having a week all together then we have a wekk on our own. The holiday has all been paid for, think the kitty idea is really good. I get really talking money. We spoke today about getting the shopping delivered to property as will save us hassle of trapsing around supermarket.

[dyzzidi]

Also find something you can all do. Take fingerpaints/colouring books/puzzlebooks etc.

Take a badminton set and a football if weather picks up. I find when we go with friends it is always easier if everybody can be involved in an activity.

[dyzzidi]

oh just remembered we always make things to eat that one person can cook and can be reheated. ie huge pot of bolognese or chicken korma, sausage casserole etc This means that it can be cooked once at anytime of day and people can still fit in with their routines of feeding their children.

Sharing the cooking etc will be easier this way to as each adult can cook one night, wash up anoth and still only has to do big meal once every 4 days.

[MamaMaiasaura]

unfortunately 2 of the people are very choosy eaters and will only eat very bland food. No sauce of any kind etc. This is part I am a bit worried about.

Also should have mentioned in OP we have only 1 toilet in house between 4 adults and 3 kids... yikes.

[MaureenMcGonagall]

Take lots of outdoor things, like bean bags and ropes and things & rounders too. We always have a sports day, when we're away! Parents included!