holidays with kids - cheaper all inclusive or self-catering

[mgh89000]

Kids are 5 and 3 - due to covid we havent really been abroad but now that the eldest is going to school, we can only ever go away in the school holidays. Before kids we usually just booked flights and airbnbs and never put much thought into planning our vocations. But with kids/school, I feel like we need to get better at planning our vocations. Seeing as they are still so little - is it actually easier and cheaper to go for an all-inclusive for a week or do most people still find it better and cheaper to book flights and an apartment separately.

I used to be a bit sneery about AI until I went on my first one - what a revelation! No shopping, cooking, cleaning (even with a DH that shares the load there's always the tedious discussion 'what shall we have to eat'). I absolutely loved it.

At that age we were eurocamping. Mobile home with aircon.

French campsites, generally well equipped with pools, playgrounds, restaurant, bar, pizza takeaway.

Having our own car made packing easy and made it easy to get to a supermarket to do a big set up shop. Then we would alternate between spending relaxing days on the campsite and doing a bit of sightseeing.

@GnomeDePlume thats a good idea. Do you absolutely need a car? We try to avoid hiring them as both kids get really really car sick. Any you would recommend?

I am still trying to learn all the terms - is half board - breakfast and dinner included? Not sure the last time I've stayed in a hotel on holidays except for work

There are plenty of campsites close to airports. We were planning to stay at Campsite Napoleon in Vias Plage. It is very close to Beziers airport (8km). Or 68km from Montpellier.

Vias Plage is a little town next to the beach and the campsite is in the town.

We are only not staying there because of work meaning we had to change our plans.

It's self catering but close enough to local facilities to mean you should have plenty of catering options in walking distance. We have stayed in Vias Plage a few times and always found it a cheerful place.

@GnomeDePlume thanks will check it out. How are holiday clubs abroad if your kids only speak English? Am a French speaker but the little ones arent.

Eurocamp kids clubs will be in English I think. They tend to only run for a short time, just a couple of hours morning and afternoon. Not all campsites have kids clubs though many do. My DCs are in their 20s now so a bit big!

We still enjoy campsites even though it's just DH and me.

The things my DCs really enjoyed were the playgrounds and swimming pools. It was really nice to take the DCs to a playground in the evening. DH and I would sit with a bottle of wine and watch the DCs play. They always seemed to make friends to play with no matter language differences.

I prefer being in a hotel with young kids and AI is so easy. Just choose a hotel with a good kids pool, playground, with a kids disco (I recommend TUi family life hotels - kids evening entertainment is great) close to a beach. my DC's went to kids club for a couple of hours most mornings from aged 3.

I was so pleased I took dd AI on our last proper holiday. She could choose bits of food then if she didn't like anything could just go and get something else. If we'd have been eating out in restaurants, I'd have to have ordered and paid for something else, or left her to go hungry. It was a revelation, having never done that type of holiday before!

You know your DCs best and also yourselves. What makes for relaxation for you?

For us relaxation means calm. We arent interested in shows or entertainment. We enjoyed letting the DCs play and once they were in bed we enjoyed sitting and chatting, catching up on reading. Having outdoor space was important to us. While I like my fellow man I like to have a bit of space.