No point in coming on holiday with children under 5

Yeah… I’ve never ended up in that situation precisely because I never let it get that far.

If you teach them boundaries when they’re young they aren’t a PITA at 3/4/5+.

It really wasn’t that hard

My ‘whiny voice ears’ don’t come on holiday with us. I remind them this and then completely ignore anything whinged at
me - works a treat 😅

We didn't attempt a holiday like this until kids were (just about to turn) 4 and 6. We went for cheap and cheerful 3 stars as I didn't want to spend 4k+ without being sure we'd all enjoy it. It turns out we did, and I'm now happy to spend that for 4 stars. I think your kids are too young for it and I'm in the centerparcs until they are older camp, I'm afraid.

Agree it's zero fun. Went at my husbands insistence to get some sun, would much rather have holidayed on the British coast somewhere

I love hotel or ai with young kids. Less cooking and housework

I agree OP.

We did have one lovely, memorable holiday in UK with DC when they were both preschool.

But didn't even attempt going abroad until they were 8 years old.

Childen love familiarity. Why spend a fortune inflicting earache from flights, baking heat, strange food, less comfortable beds, very few familiar toys, odd hours on them?

Friends used to go abroad with DC and say it was great. But they always looked shellshocked not rested on return, and years later, admitted it was hell.

Its all well and good ignoring it a home but when you are surrounded by others trying to relax its not fair to just let your kid carry on screaming and whinging and doing absolutely nothing about it

I have been on many UK holidays over the past decade and cab assure you it hasn't rained anywhere near 95% of the time.

I choose UK holidays with lots of things for thr kids to do (soft play, pool, playground, activities).

You can pile up your car with everything you need and off you go.

My kids also can't cope with hot weather... anyway, different strokes for different folks. Just wanted to say UK hols have been brilliant for us and not the grim picture you're painting.

Ha ha that reminded me of when I broke my son's huge cookie into two pieces so it was easier to hold and he screamed blue murder and "fix it, fix it" whilst trying to press it back together. I had also had the audacity to roll his sleeves up.

The problem isn't the holiday. The problem is that it's not the right type of holiday for your family.

You can't do the same as you did before. You have to adjust to doing things differently.

A pool holiday with very young kids. Hell.
A pool holiday with slightly older kids and other kids around? Totally different thing.

Your expectations were off and unrealistic when you booked this holiday.

This! Until ours were heading towards age 10 we found that static caravan site holidays in Britain and France were perfect. Relatively cheap and even if the weather turned, they have enthusiastic young staff leading activities for all ages and if you have a shaped changing towel ( the type with closed sides and short arms and hood) they can wear that from the caravan to the pool and back again so that you can shower them at the caravan.

Oh right. OK. well done to you then.

this post is bringing back my awful memories of center parcs last year. I ate her banana and she screamed in the bike trailer all round sherwood bloody forest

Going to a villa with a pool is better with young kids imo. You can have a more relaxing holiday that way. Or just stay in the UK.

When you can put them both in a holiday club it’ll be better!!

just think some of the kindle ladies would swap places with you in a heartbeat, your next holiday will probably be much better

£1500 during half term in a 4* AI including flights for a family of 4?

In this decade?

Following on from my previous comments teens can be a nightmare to depending on your teen one of mine was

Yanbu babies fine but that 1 to 4/5 gap absolute nightmares we've had holidays ruined by toddler tantrums never again

It’s stressfull. We used to refer to holidays as “Drownwatch” because we couldn’t relax for a moment but now the dc are older, they’re an absolute joy on holiday and off. This Too Shall Pass.

Yep. Went abroad with DD1 at 8 months and never again until youngest was 5. I’m delighted for the people who can actually enjoy it but for many of us it is all the usual challenges without any of the usual go-tos that help you cope. I found it better to accept holidays would never be the same again tbh, until they are grown. Then I didn’t find myself as disappointed.

It sounds really difficult as your husband is poorly but I wouldn’t tolerate shouting or whinging constantly.
Speak normally or I can’t tell what you say.
If they are whinging they probably need a nap or to go in cool a/c or for a walk.
I’m on holiday at minute and so many parents are putting up with behaviour like children screaming not speaking or hitting them and parents don’t say a thing (or even notice as they are on their phone)
I’m not talking children clearly exhausted or overwhelmed it’s just their default and parents are tolerating it.

A moaning child in a expensive UK AirBnb where it’s going to p*ss it down 95% of the time and have you stuck indoors and if not you are spending a fortune trying to amuse the kids ….OR a moaning child in a sunny country with someone else cooking for you, wine and ice cream on tap? I know what I would prefer!!

This has probably been made ten times worse by your husband being unwell! And do whatever you feel most comfortable with but honestly I wouldn’t swap a holiday abroad for a staycation I personally would find that even more stressful. We really enjoyed holidays with under 5s. Sorry if I’ve missed this but direct flights and AI hotels are good at this age!

We didnt think the money and effort were likely to be worth it when ours were that little, so didn't go abroad. Other varieties of child are available, and I know some kids are fine with it, but I always thought it would go like your trip has.

Local and low key holidays at that age can still be loads of fun though. I have really happy memories of caravan parks and the like.

I loved our holidays when our kids were little - we had 3 under 5 at one point, and went abroad every year from their birth.

However, we always went self-catering - either a villa with own pool, or an apartment with terrace. We found this much easier than a hotel - easier to keep kids in their routine, provide foods they liked, nap whenever they wanted, we could sit by the pool/terrace in the evening once they were in bed. Easier to change them for the pool, run around safely in an enclosed place etc. We would hire a car and go for day trips, spend time in the pool, do some shopping (for me, food shopping abroad isn't much of a chore), eat in restaurants in the evening (Spanish restaurants particularly seem to love kids, and make a fuss of them), or do a BBQ at the villa/on the terrace.

For the first couple of days, they were generally a nightmare - over excited, over tired, out of routine, hot etc. But after a day or two, they settled, and we always had a great time. Yes, it's hard work, it's certainly not like holidays before having kids, but I look back with fond memories, we had lovely times, and am so glad we didn't wait until they were older. I can even laugh at the stress of the first couple of days now!