Tell Asda about how your holidays have changed now you have children - £300 voucher to be won!NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Holidays can be a great way to recharge your batteries. However, holidaying with children in tow may be a far cry from the relaxing breaks you were used to before they came along.

Asda would like to hear about your holidays have changed since having children.

Are journeys that were once the exciting beginning of your trip now a time where you have to juggle loads of luggage and the dreaded “are we there yet” chorus from your DC? Maybe you’ve swapped your previous adventurous treks with more relaxing destinations or now consider the holidays you used to enjoy overrated? Perhaps your priorities when choosing a destination or accommodation have completely changed to encompass your children’s needs and entertainment?

Tell Asda about the ways your holidays have changed since you’ve had children by posting on the thread below. All who post will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Asda voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[CombineBananaFister]

Its gone from last minute getaways to now preplanned waaay in advance. From doing little research and just giving a place a try to looking at what a place offers. Budget is a bigger consideration than before, also journey time.
With a child with a longterm medical need we also have to factor in the climate/temperature, distance from home and nearest medical facilities, food available.
So we mostly stay in Britain now and do long city breaks near something exciting like Legoland, whereas before would have been going abroad and travelling around to multiple destinations on one trip. I think the biggest change seems to be spending most of my time standing in line for things like rides or watching my son 'do' things, so lots of good books needed

[stabbybitch]

I am planning my first holiday since having children at the moment. My Son age 7 has SN and anxiety. He has refused to ever go anywhere before but Iv managed to persuade him to go to the isle of white.

So my holidays have changed in the biggest way by being non existent.

There are of course other changes now too. It will also be a massive stress fest, I have to run everything by my son while planning and hope he doesn't change his mind.

I am also trying my best to make sure my Daughter and toddler have fun and get to do things that they would like to even if my son doesn't.

If we make it back and everybody's had a great time i will be chuffed!

[Tenpastlate]

Alart from costing at least twice as much now?! (or more in school holidays)
Now we have to consider everyone's interests. We have to book a decent standard of accommodation within a stretched budget (previously either 5* lu idy or backpacking) and consider interconnecting rooms/2 bed apartments.

[Tenpastlate]

*Apart

[MrsOllyMurs]

Holidays are no longer about relaxing in the sun! They're about playing in the sand and pool, stressing about the Sun, and planning meals that everyone will eat. It's hard work! That said, it's good not to have to worry about housework, childcare, packed lunches etc

[Mummychoochoo3]

I do love UK Holidays with my kids. We never did much UK travel before they came along and I do actually enjoy it. Gone
are the last minute, long weekend getaways. Still loads of fun making great memories.

[GoodyGoodyGumdrops]

No more jetting off to wherever we fancy, whenever we fancy. School holidays only, now.

No more hotel holidays. Self-catering, camping or relatives, now.

No more taking our time getting there, or let's do it all in one push getting there. Now it's planned toilet stops, and unplanned ones.

No more today we'll visit a museum until are feet drop off and tomorrow we'll climb a mountain. Now it's "Look mum, a playground! Can we go there, pleeeeeeeeease!"

But we still manage to have fun

[Alexandra87]

Firstly we can no longer go during term time. We took our eldest 2 abroad when they were younger but after a horrific flight and 12 hour delays etc last time we went we have stuck to the uk since. It's a pain trying to find accommodation with 3 dc as most places only cater for families with 2 dc. It always seems to be more of an adventure these days though which is way more fun

[Ironmanrocks]

We used to travel far and wide maybe twice a year - we also took a year out and travelled together with a tent round parts of Africa and Central America. An incredible experience. In the last 6 years we have camped in England 2 or 3 times (not relaxing with a small child) and had the odd b&b weekend away. We didn't go anywhere, mostly days out local to where we live. Last Easter we broke the mold and decided to visit friends in China. I dreaded the flights, but apart from queuing at the airport at Heathrow it was the best holiday ever. EVER!! We have memories that will last a lifetime and have introduced our child to an utterly different culture. We now have more confidence in travelling and want to do it again. We are currently saving for a return to Central America. Maybe next year!!

[littledinaco]

Not as much sunbathing and book reading by the pool!

[VilootShesCute]

All I hear all day is "I'M HUNGRY!!!" So I seem to be feeing children constantly! It's a slower pace than normal though without school run. Which is nice.

[georgedawes]

When DD was little I wouldn't say it was a "holiday" more just a pain in the arse being away from home, without all the stuff you need, and never switching off! It's easier now and thank god for kids' clubs!!!

[Ganne1]

We stopped having ski holidays for a while. But we took the same summer holidays as we had always done, staying for a fortnight in a French gite. They loved it and they're both fluent in French now.

[janeyf1]

A few years ago I found family holidays stressful, which of course defeats the object. Our daughter would be an impatient passenger, so going on long distances would be a challenge. We tried to keep our plans simple and closer to home initially. But now that our daughter is maturing, we have been able to be a bit more adventurous and take overseas holidays. We choose places with kids entertainment/facilities in mind.

[maryandbuzz1]

Before children we loved to travel to long haul destinations. We were very relaxed about travel and eating out. Both times we ate and type of food were relaxed and varied. Since having a child destinations have changed drastically. We tried a trip to Paris early on after having our son and it was a disaster....not even being able to have a coffee together. One of us sat and drank, the other paced up and down with a very fractious child!
We opted for UK destinations but found eating times had to be more regimented and menus very plain.

[gd2011]

Holidays have changed a lot. I never went abroad and rarely to another part of the UK. We just had day trips with massive picnics - or they might have looked massive because I was small.

[andywedge]

Can't go abroad and can only drive somewhere within 2 hours drive

[Themilseys]

Holidays can no longer be spontanious - not too much of a problem as I do like to research and plan in advance too but what I'm not keen on is the additional cost of having to holiday in school holidays when prices are increased. I have had to spend a lot more time getting affordable deals. On the plus side, we tend to be a bit more careful about where we choose to go and find out a lot more about the countries we go to and don't just use it as place to sunbath on the beach. We also haven't got 'merry' together on holiday for a while....

[towser44]

They didn't change until our daughter started school, now they are all 'staycations' as it is just obscene how much the travel companies charge for foreign holidays at half term.

[nettymay]

We started canoeing locally and had a 'whale' of a time!

[jacqui5366]

I do not miss the stress of the airport, the queuing, security checks and the worry of sun damage on my children's skin. We don't have much money but a parasol, caravan, bucket and spade and walks in the fresh air mean we have seen this country and the seaside. I have had the best times filling the car with our bits and bobs, and coming home with more bits and bobs, treasures (often colourful stones and sea shells) and happy happy memories - who needs sunburn and a hangover -not me :)

[Ren1974]

We have very different holidays now we have children but they are so much better!

Do not get me wrong, holidays before the children were great fun but over-indulgent with too much sun, food and alcohol.

Now with our kiddies we spend a lovely two weeks in Greece and start each day with a healthy cereal breakfast (rather than the previous holidays "full english"), a day filled with relaxation and swimming and a family evening meal where we all eat together.

Of course we still fit in a few glasses or beer or wine too :)

[glennamy]

I think it goes from a do want you want, when you want holiday, to a planning things, never a moment to yourself and switching off... :) Saying that each has its bonuses! :)

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

Holidays used to be relaxing!!!!
Now they are nonstop, fun filled days of quality family time which I wouldn't change for the world!

[glenka]

We always have to plan ahead for hoildays now we can't just go on the spur of the moment. Plus there's lots more packing to do.