Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Suggest a holiday for single mum with SEN triplets.

32 replies

Travellingtricksters · 08/04/2021 23:05

Have namechanged as this is obviously outing, but, I am a single parent with triplet boys and I would like to book a holiday for next year.

The boys will all be 11 and have various combinations of high functioning ASD/ADHD/dyspraxia. All in mainstream school with support.

Budget is about £1500 a head. Spam me with ideas!

OP posts:
Tr1skel1on · 08/04/2021 23:11

Not something I have ever done but a mum I knew with SEN twins did Disney cruises. She said it was the best thing she did, absolutely loved it. I think she went 8 years in a row! They used to do UK based ones leaving from Plymouth I think

Original poster
Travellingtricksters · 08/04/2021 23:37

Did she say why she liked it? I suppose they can’t escape too easily!

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 08/04/2021 23:43

I suppose one advantage of a cruise is that there is such a wide range of food in offer, there will always be at least something everyone will eat. Also not having to cook is always a bonus.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Dizzybintess · 08/04/2021 23:47

Have you looked into the Calvert Trust. Its uk based but absolutely amazing!

Rainbowqueeen · 08/04/2021 23:47

What kind of things do they like to do?? Can they all swim?

Most of the SEN kids I know adore being in the water so
I’m thinking somewhere with either a private pool if sharing with others would bother them or a resort with an amazing pool if that would work for them

Also do they have food issues which would mean it would be easier for you to self cater or is that not an issue?

Rainbowqueeen · 08/04/2021 23:51

@Dizzybintess I just looked at the Calvert trust. That is brilliant.

Original poster
Travellingtricksters · 09/04/2021 01:24

The Calvert Trust property looks lovely - but my three are physically fit as anything so it would be a shame for us to book something which such great accessibility.

OP posts:
Original poster
Travellingtricksters · 09/04/2021 01:27

Rainbowqueen yes they live swimming but one of them can only swim with help. They like gaming.Hmm eating, they can all cycle, one loves nature, one loves sitting in his pants and sensory stuff, one loves talking about canadian ants.

OP posts:
Silkiescat · 09/04/2021 03:06

I've got 1 with ASD and 1 NT 14 and 15 but go with DH as well.

For both the kids wifi seems to be an essential - DS once suggested camping, I just booked a couple of days glamping as I was quite surprised and immedately it was where's the electricity Easter Smile followed by a scream of there is an insect in the bathroom, I am never using it.

Food wise my DS loves all-inclusive food as you can get plain food and you can eat it the same every night at the same time on the same table as well as unlimted ice-cream and snacks. He quite likes the waterparks with slides and those holidays are super easy, used to do the First Choice Splash World. From one we did a day trip to Gibraltar to see the monkeys which he loved.

He also likes wildlife holidays where we have seen various wildlife - been to Finland to see brown bears and reindeer, around Norway and Sweden staying on alpaca farm and saw moose in wild and seals, Australia (dolphins, whales, cassowary, possum, pademelon, bettong, kangaroo, wallaby etc) and Costa Rica (where he loved the rainforest and sloths, ants, toucans etc).

This year we are do isles of scilly though that gets booked up way in advance and North Devon. Isles of Scilly has lots of cycling, a tropical gardens, boat rides, canoeing, wandering round rocks / nature etc. North Devon has lots of beaches and some wildlife like seals and dolphins can see on boat trips. We are staying at a place with a pool and wifi Easter Smile

I asked DS about cruises once and he said he'ld like that as he would need to get off but a constant aeroplane ride would be better Hmm I explained to him there would be excursions off the boat and he said nope. And then he said they do have wifi don't they? I wasn't convinced his cruise was much different from being home but would be easy I guess (well unless kids are fighting or seasick) and maybe if it was scenic.

Silkiescat · 09/04/2021 03:07

would = wouldn't need to get off

Dizzybintess · 09/04/2021 10:05

We have taken many pupils to Calvert with a mix of mobility and learning needs. The experience was just as beneficial for those with ASD and anxiety too x

MabelPines · 09/04/2021 10:08

We do centre parcs, my 10 yr old DS with ASD/ADHD absolutely loves it!

emmathedilemma · 09/04/2021 10:09

Centre parcs? The sites are traffic free and you can take or hire bikes. The pool is suitable for non swimmers and there's activities you can choose to do, or not. Plenty of nature too.

emmathedilemma · 09/04/2021 10:13

Should have added, they have lodges with a games room and hot tub if you fancy splashing out (literally!)

Branleuse · 09/04/2021 10:13

I would look at somewhere where you have activities on site, kids clubs for a break and close to a beach maybe. Ive had great eurocamp holidays with my 3 kids who have SEND

Anoisagusaris · 09/04/2021 10:14

Do you need to constantly watch them? Just wondering as we went to Union Lido campsite in Italy a few years ago - it has a fantastic water park, shallow pools/water play areas, is on a lovely big beach (so perhaps good for the guy that likes sensory stuff), has some wooded areas and the whole area is flat for cycling (can cycle on site). Range of accommodation including some high end mobile homes.

Sunshinegirl82 · 09/04/2021 10:28

I think Mark Warner offer a service for SEN childcare.

Are you looking for a holiday where there would be the option of appropriate childcare so you get some time off? Or are you looking for an environment where you would be with them full time but would cater for their needs?

itsgettingwierd · 09/04/2021 10:37

I agree Centre Parcs would be good.

Also if going abroad AI can be great food wise for fussy or differing needs but they can be very busy and sometimes unless you're poolside at 6am you have no hope of a sun bed if they need supervising!

What about a private villa? Own pool, can always order takeout if you don't want to cook and going out is difficult. WiFi available and some will come with games consoles.

I've done a variety of holidays alone with my ds who has ASD. But there's only 1 of him Grin but he does like places he can swim and has WiFi and where they have ice cream shops with a million different flavours he can try!

PegasusReturns · 09/04/2021 10:40

Mark Warner in Greece - villa with a private pool, and they can do kids club all day if they want so plenty of activities.

You can do all inclusive but there are other options on and off site.

Mabelface · 09/04/2021 10:43

I took my eldest and triplets to Centerparcs when they were younger. Eldest has asd, one triplet boy asd and daughter add, 1 NT boy. They loved it. We actually took them out of school for a week so it would be a bit quieter. Swimming, bike riding, WiFi, chilling in the lodge etc.

Original poster
Travellingtricksters · 09/04/2021 11:15

Thankyou all SO much, these are fab ideas! We have done Centerparcs to absolute death, and maybe I should just admit defeat and book again. My ex (also ASD) hated anything unknown so we only ever ever went there, and when we split up I swore to myself that we could go to new places.

Mark Warner with a villa AND activities sounds ace, I had no idea such a thing existed. Do you have a link?

My ideal is somewhere like Centerparcs in so far as it’s safe for them to head off for a walk/bike ride without me. I quite like All Inclusive because it gives us a bit of structure and of course no cooking but one of mine is a fussy eater and defaults to about 3 items when stressed. Beaches aren’t that important, as one of them hates sand.

OP posts:
Original poster
Travellingtricksters · 09/04/2021 11:17

@Dizzybintess aside from the physical accessibility, is there anything else different about the Calvert Trust holiday beyond just what you’d get if you booked an ordinary lodge?

OP posts:
Oneearringlost · 09/04/2021 11:20

@Travellingtricksters

Rainbowqueen yes they live swimming but one of them can only swim with help. They like gaming.Hmm eating, they can all cycle, one loves nature, one loves sitting in his pants and sensory stuff, one loves talking about canadian ants.
You children sound lovely, OP! Canadian ants! I have an autistic DC and that made me smile...
Original poster
Travellingtricksters · 09/04/2021 11:28

Thankyou! They really are lovely, hilariously funny and cuddly. The ant fan has explained to me this morning about a virus that some ants get which makes them grow mushrooms out of their heads, but then kindly said “I won’t show you the video mummy, it’s just too much horror”Grin

OP posts:
Sunshinegirl82 · 09/04/2021 11:44

www.markwarner.co.uk/

Link to Mark Warner

Swipe left for the next trending thread