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Original poster

PGL for teenagers

40 replies

irritableshark · 14/07/2021 19:05

Would pgl be any good for teenagers? 15 years old and 13.

I would also be going.

Has anyone been with children of this age?

OP posts:
neroforte · 14/07/2021 19:17

what is pgl?

Original poster
irritableshark · 14/07/2021 19:33

They are an activity centre type holiday. Rooms are basic and bunk bed type. Lots of activities in the day and night ...climbing, canoeing etc.

It's not the activities themselves but worries if my kids would be surround by under 10s.

OP posts:
CurlyMango · 14/07/2021 21:06

It’s great for them. If you are going as a family they will try to put you with same age kids. If they are going in their own then they groups into different ages.

IHaveBrilloHair · 14/07/2021 21:13

I went every year from 12 to 17 and loved it.
Not with my parents though, ewww!

HasaDigaEebowai · 14/07/2021 21:14

Aren’t the family ones separate? My dc have been a few times (until about 14) but never when any family groups were there.

HasaDigaEebowai · 14/07/2021 21:16

Tbh I think you being there would spoil it for the DC. Sorry but half the fun is getting to know all the new people and have the independence.

HirplesWithHaggis · 14/07/2021 21:18

I sent mine as teenagers (without parents). They had a brilliant time and ds2 still has friends he met there 15 years ago.

Original poster
irritableshark · 14/07/2021 21:29

Ok maybe it's a bad idea. The 2 teens aren't siblings but they are relatives. They'd need me to be there but if it's cringe, I'll look at something else.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 14/07/2021 21:30

Yes but not with a parent, why are you going do they have Sen?

moretea · 14/07/2021 21:43

They advertise for family holidays and short breaks, I know a few families who have been, so it's a fairly common thing to go with parents. I'd not realised you could or would even think of sending kids on their on if it wasn't with a school trip. I suppose it depends how keen your teens are to do activities with you, admittedly the families I've known to go are younger, they've had a great time.

ninja · 14/07/2021 21:44

I did it with my daughter when she was 11 and did na acorn when she was 13 - there were lots of older kids there and they grouped families according to the age of kids.

It's a great family holiday

HasaDigaEebowai · 14/07/2021 21:49

Why do they need you to be there? They group them in a 13-16 group (when they go without adults). I’d expect them to just group family groups together

Clevs · 14/07/2021 21:52

When I went in my last year of primary school (age 10-11) we took great delight in saying that PGL= Parents Get Lost (it was probably the first trip away without parents for most of us).

DefinitelyNotAHastyNameChange · 14/07/2021 21:55

I’m going this summer with my boys, although they are 9 and 6. The family ones are separate to the kids only ones, they’re run at different times. Having done it before all the kids absolutely loved it (as did I). From later primary age though they tend to go for the kids only ones, I’ve not seen two teenagers on the family ones before, occasionally an older one there as they have a younger sibling. I’m sure there are family holidays aimed at teens and parents but I would consider PGL one of them.

DefinitelyNotAHastyNameChange · 14/07/2021 21:56

*wouldn’t, sorry!

omgthepain · 14/07/2021 22:06

@irritableshark

Ok maybe it's a bad idea. The 2 teens aren't siblings but they are relatives. They'd need me to be there but if it's cringe, I'll look at something else.
If they're teenagers why do they need you there? It's fully staffed with people looking after them

I went with school and again with friends as a teen and absolutely loved it they'll have a great time

HasaDigaEebowai · 14/07/2021 22:10

Unless there’s a reason you have to be with them then I’d send them on their own. They’ll have a great time

Original poster
irritableshark · 14/07/2021 22:11

I asked because I assumed it was like a basic centreparcs but with better activities. However centreparcs I imagine would be crap for teens so I wondered if it was similar.

I didn't realise the culture was predominantly sans parents.

It doesn't sound like a good fit for what I am looking for. Thanks for all the help.

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 14/07/2021 22:14

Its like a US summer camp but yes they have started offering family breaks too.

Its very basic accommodation. Lots of them are in old pontins holiday camps. Some are tents. The activity facilities are apparently good though (and have always looked good when we’ve dropped off and picked up)

Original poster
irritableshark · 14/07/2021 22:19

@omgthepain If they're teenagers why do they need you there? It's fully staffed with people looking after them

Do you really feel entitled to know that information? Someone else has asked if they have sen. Christ almighty. I know I should rise above it but man I hope you have better filters with people you don't know in real life. In other words it's none of your fecking business.

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 14/07/2021 22:41

I believe that there are different categories and some are for families.
I didn't go on those ones.
Unless they really need you there, then I'd send them on their own.

I met one of my oldest friends there, it'll be 28 years this year.

DefinitelyNotAHastyNameChange · 14/07/2021 22:44

hasadigaeebowai which centres have you been to that are old Pontins or tents? Are you sure you’re thinking of PGL? They’re mostly old manor houses or converted private schools. The facilities are pretty basic but certainly not camping or staying in an old Pontins hut!

OP some people just post to try and make people feel like crap, ignore it. What kind of activities were you looking for? Is there anything particular that they enjoy that you could focus on - horse riding/ coasteering, surfing etc? It could well work out a hell of a lot cheaper to just book some things individually, it’s more of a pain in the arse though.

LushHeaven · 15/07/2021 18:40

I think there is a bit of confusion as PGL doing family holidays is a relatively new thing. Previously they were for children/young people's camps with school or during summer holidays.

I think family holidays are kept separate and you do the activities as a family rather than with random kids/teenagers.

DirtySofa · 15/07/2021 18:44

I went on a family pgl holiday when the kids were younger and I loved it. Lots of great activities and we really bonded. You have to join in with everything though - no point otherwise.

Most of the kids there were younger than yours when we went.

TheOrigRights · 15/07/2021 18:49

I went on a family one with my then 11yo DS last year. I hadn't known they did family ones. It was absolutely perfect for us.

I think the family ones are brilliant for kids up to about 12. The place was awash with year 6 leavers' hoodies!

I'll be following this OP. As a lone parent to a 12 yo (DS1 has left home) holidays can be tricky.

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