Holidaying Alone in UK with 5 Children

[whammum]

I live alone with my 5 young children (10yrs, 7yrs, 5yrs, 3yrs, 10 months). I am desperate to go away with them for just a night or two here and there ... just so that they can feel like they've had a little holiday.

I live in the south east and as a non driver i am limited to staying in the south east and travelling by train.

The problem is, all the large hotel chains (i.e. premiere inn etc) will not accomodate 5 children with one adult.

Just to complicate things further i'm on a really tight budget. Have been banging my head against a brick wall for 6 months or more now, trying to find a solution to this problem

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions?? I have looked at the likes of hoseasons for park holidays but at £300>£400 per stay minimum ... it's just too much for me.

Does anyone know of a hotel in the south east that caters for larger parties?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

p.s. I did look at YHA accomodation but the way they charge means it actually works out very expensive for the 5 children and myself.

TIA, xxx

[Blu]

Do you live anywhere where someone might like to do a house swap? You could ask on MN!

[Blu]

Or offer to house-sit while someone else goes on hol? Especially if you are good with dogs and other pets!

[emsgems]

How much is your budget?

[Melody4]

Camping would be a good idEA! X

[thisisyesterday]

def second camping, that would be good fun

tho i am certain that there are hotels that could cater for you too

or, do you have family, or a friend who could come with you? an extra pair of hands is always useful

hats off to you though, i am taking my 3 away by myself in august and am dreading it slightly as not sure i'll manage with all 3 by myself! which is silly when you think about it because i do it day in day out at home

[whammum]

thanks for the replies:-)

would love to do camping - but without a car i think it would be impossible.

I took 4 (was 6 mths pg with number 5) away last year on a 3 nights park holiday on the coast. it was a long trip by train (4hrs and 3 changes) but we had a fab time. Alas, to go back there this time of year would cost me in excess of £400.

My budget is abt £120 based on £60 per night for two nights.

I've stayed in a premier inn before and that would be the ideal since premiere inn's are all over the place and can be got cheaply ... but it's the numbers problem. 6 in a room they just won't do

[PlanetEarth]

Wigwams are great but maybe a bit far for you?

www.wigwamholidays.com/

(And you do have to take sleeping bags).

[emsgems]

Whereabouts in the South East are you?
And are you looking at specific dates? :0)

[whammum]

PlanetEarth - those wigwams look really great! alas, yes, it is too far for me to travel. Thanks anyway ... wld love to give them a try one day

Emsgems ... thanks for your reply. I'm in berkshire ... i can get to north hants and dorset fairly simply by train. Will consider anything in the south east tho ...even if i break the journey up over the course of the day (l.o.'s get a bit bored after a few hours on the trains). Will consider any date really ... though if i'm only away for one or two nights then it makes sense for me to do it over the weekened so as not to disrupt the girl schooling.

[liliputlady]

Just thought of "The Sun" holiday offers. Don't know if there is anything here suitable.

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/travel/sunholidays/article2062017.ece

Hope you get fixed up!

[liliputlady]

Sorry I don't seem to have managed to make that link work.

[gillybean2]

Yu should look at going away at easter or may half term. It can be a lot cheaper then.

We went to Hembsby at Easter a couple of years ago. Chalet sleeps 6 (1 double, 1 twin, 1 sofa bed), all mod cons, entertainment, near beach etc.
www.richardsonsholidayvillages.co.uk/
You can book through hoseason's too, but going direct can be a bit cheaper..

Hemsby may not be suitable re your transport requirements, but they have other sites so you may find something more suitable.

Try looking here too
www.park-resorts.com/

[gillybean2]

Also you could try a youth hostel holiday staying in a family room. Try looking on their website

www.yha.org.uk/

You can choose family room, state how many staying, and request good public transport links on the list of search options.

Also you should perhaps look at sending your 10 year old on a DoIt4Real holiday. I'm a single parent on WTC and I'm entitled to their cheapest rate £55.50 including insurance I paid this year for an entire holiday, food, activities, transport etc. Just have to get him to one of the drop off points for a weeks holiday!
They take them from ten years old, so as your dc get older they can look forward to their special holiday too hopefully.

I will say the places get snapped up really fast, so if this is an option for you get your place booked for next year as soon as you can. You may be lucky and get a place this year, but I think it's probably too late now for the reduced prices. Keep it in mind for next year though.

[saggyhairyarse]

I was also going to suggest either Youth Hostelling or Sun Holidays. We only have 3 kids but I begrudge paying for 8 people to go away as you usually have to pay for 2 x 4 if you go over the 2 adults/2 kids head count.

We have just come back from the Isle of Wight, did 2 Sun Holidays back to back so cost me £90 for the week, plus the ferry and spending money. To be honest, I wouldn't book a caravan holiday any other way now. There were people who had spent £500 on the same holiday!

[stressed2007]

is this any good at all?

www.hotukdeals.com/item/687665/great-deals-for-families-from-17-50

[stressed2007]

www.hotukdeals.com/item/675871/4-nights-holiday-haven-great-yarmou

[soccerwidow]

I did the DM collect the tokens last Year.

I also collected the Sun ones but the DM you could book online & so could play around till you got the dates & location that you wanted. With the Sun, she had to give three lots of dates, three lots of locations, post it off & then had to wait to find out when & where you were going.

We went to IOW for £40 in total (you have to pay various surchages), and paid for the ferry with Tesco vouchers.

The caravan site was great with pool & entertainment, the caravan had TV, DVD player etc. Think it was Park Resorts.