Best family holiday ever with little ones?

[Happyspud]

Anyone want to share with me your best family holiday location ever with small kids? Trying to find something that surprises us by actually feeling like a holiday!

How small are the kids? A holiday for a 1 year old would look rather different to one for a 5 year old.

I highly suggest don't go self catering. It's amazing having the extra time where you aren't cooking.

We went with kids just under 2 and just under 4 for a month to Australia. Not ideal ages but that’s the time we could do it. Four cities, nine hotels, we had a blast. Not cheap though!

Any tui family life all inclusive...loads for kids to do and some are in lovely locations too so you can still explore. I think our favourite was Sardinia.

Center Parcs!

Also did Scilly Isles when DS was about 3. It was a favourite holiday destination when I was a child so it was very nostalgic.

Both were self catering but we tend to eat out on holiday and luckily DS has always behaved well in restaurants (loves food and people watching 😄)

Luxury Family Hotels. We’ve been to 3 now and they are on the whole based in south England. ££ but we think worth it as we do get a rest.

Spa, swimming pool/s, preordered tea for little ones (no waiting) whilst you eat later at the restaurant with a listening service, 2 hours Creche included every day including a Sunday lie in service. Bliss. We especially liked Woolley Grange.

We also liked Centre Parcs as hardly any thinking/planning involved. Lots of things to keep kids entertained but you pay! Cheap outside of term time. Worth booking early/late.

Thanks! I’ll have a 7, 5, 4 and 2 yr old. The cooking and cleaning in self catering has killed me these last 4 yrs. My DH just doesn’t really muck in though thankfully would take the kids out of my hair. I think it’s time to spend some money as previously they were too small (and me too exhausted and pregnant) to get much out of an expensive holiday. Will look at some ideas above. I’m also thinking camping somewhere that has a short walk to town or village for meals might work too.

At that age we loved farmstay holidays. We prefer self catering to a hotel.

I hate camping so that would be my idea of hell.

If you go to Center Parcs some of the accommodation has maid service, so you wouldn't have to do the cleaning.

If you do self catering again you need to get your DH more involved.

The idea of camping with kids horrifies me. I cannot imagine how that would be fun for more than one night. You're not going to eat out for every meal and snack so you'll need to prep within an inch of your life and try not to murder each other crammed into a tent. And if it rains? I'd rather stay home, spend the money on a deep clean, day trips and some takeaways.

Our best holiday was all inclusive in Ibiza. Warm and sunny, no cooking whatsoever, kids more than happy to flit between beach and pool for ten days, different bars and restaurants on site to mix it up a little and we spent almost no money when we were actually there. So relaxing.

Ikos hotels are fantastic. Expensive though

If camping is possible what about a family friendly festival. No need to cook lots for you all to do.
We've just got back from Latitude.

Well I can't tell you yet what it was like as I go in three weeks (cannot wait) but we (my 5yo DS and I) are going to Morzine for a week staying half board in a chalet so loads to do!

Self-catering on the French atlantic coast.

We get a house with a garden (we live in a flat so novelty value), spend every day at a different beach playing in the sea (waves!!!) and on the beach. Then back home, showers, then games in garden or the house. Cook easy food. DC go to bed at same time as normal (8pm ish) and we spend some time together in the peace.

Everyone absolutely loves it. Yes we still have to shop, cook and wash-up. But we choose easy food and it's more relaxed than restaurants, especially as i means fussy DS2 eats properly.

We stay for 3 weeks, mainly beach, with the occasional zoo or chateau visit.

For those ages I'd do mix of durinell water park, theme park in Netherlands and then efteling. Your dc are prefect ages for both

There are enough play area and chill out around accmd so you could relax there v happily without going near the theme Park. Gentle, sweet magical place that's relaxing for everyone.
Plenty of food options and food delivery.

Bedruthan steps in Cornwall was amazing with small children.
We also loved a little self-catering called Pollaughan.

Another vote for Bedruthan Steps. feels like a proper relaxing break for all of us - DS loves the crèche, I love the spa, we all love the beach.

Malta, we stayed close to the Popeye village in Mellieha Bay & spent a lot of time there, which DD loved & the staff mucked in to play with the kids & supervise them whilst we could relax a little. DD was over the moon that she spent the day having water fights with Jack Sparrow 😂 & the hotel beach & lagoon were fantastic & safe too

Honestly?! Anything half decent with a kids club and nothing that involves cooking. We always enjoy skiing, LOs in crèche/ski school in the morning, fun in the snow, hot chocolates etc in the afternoon. This summer we also surprised ourselves by enjoying Club Med much more than we thought!

Five days in Efteling. It was self catering but there are restaurants there too.

It was amazing. Would go back in a heartbeat and are planning to next year.

If you found SC hard work then surely camping will be even worse? If money is no object then I'd go somewhere that is perfectly geared up for small DC - specialist hotels or SC properties with maid service and restaurants on site (like Martinhal) would be my preference. Take a look at the website Tots Too, they have some lovely ideas on there.

When my dcs were small we did AI first choice holiday village, they were fab great kids clubs a crèche and kids disco entertainment. Several pool choices it was a great holiday.
We also did Butlins and even now at 12 and 8 they ask when we can go back when they see the advert. If you want a rest from cooking I recommend you go for premier dining.

Have a look at baby friendly bolt holes - we have found that a successful formula is a self catering place that has a shared pool, play area, maybe animals etc but (and this is the key) also cooks for you IN your villa/cottage a few times during the week. Gamechanger!

Depending on budget, center parcs in UK, renting a cottage/caravan in Wales or Devon (close to pubs/fish and chips etc) or Disneyworld Florida.

We are currently in Bali at an AI resort. First time ever done this. It is awesome. AI is fantastic with kids.

Centre parcs with a maid service.
Short stay.
Make sure you get them all booked in to at least one kids one session at the same time so you and DH can go to the spa for a couple of hours.

Lots of continental platters/antipasti (aka picky tea) of bread and meat and cheese and salad bits and houmous etc etc. Minimal prep; everyone can find something they like, and it can feel treaty without effort.
Generally keep it simple for your own sanity. Holidays aren't the time to instil table manners, potty training or trying to keep exhausted toddlers awake.