Have you ever had a holiday with small children that was actually worth it?

[superorganisms]

...in terms of money and stress? And if so, what/where was it?

I have two under three. One 9 week old. Thinking of holiday next year but the thought of travel, the expense, the stress...would it actually ever be worth it? Thinking maybe not abroad, or at least not long haul, and possibly asking another family along. Don't care about hot weather, just not crap enough to allow us to get some fresh air every day.

Have you ever actually had a good, vaguely relaxing time, and if so, where did you go? Where did you stay? Any top tips?

We’ve been away loads with our 3 yo and always enjoyed it. Faves have been abroad to be honest, because of the heat wearing him out and the pool being constant entertainment!
No matter what you do the key is to take turns so you both get a rest, and to stay places that have a separate sleeping area for the adults.

Probably much easier with just one I’d imagine!

Mobile home holidays in the UK or France, from when the eldest was six months old

That was in relation to the 'holidays with under fives' element. When they were older, and we could afford it, we were able to fly and take long haul trips, and again, the seeing the world through the wonder in their eyes, was brilliant.

Lanzarote every month? Is this a typo for every year?

Yes, just lower your expectations, and accept sometimes it is just a change if scenery. Also try not to travel huge distances. Do an online food order.

We live North East Wales, successes have been:

Cwmiar Holiday Cottages
White Cross Bay, Lake District
Away Resorts Barmouth Bay
Bwthyn yr Ardd (National Trust Holiday Cottage)

Further afield Torridge House Cottages (Devon) and a static caravan at Middlewood Farm Holiday Park (Robin Hood Bay).

My LO is now 3 and we’ve had some great self catering holidays in the UK.

We’ve recently returned from Centre Parcs and although I wouldn’t like it as an adult holiday it was perfect for our current needs. My OH and the LO wanted lots of lodge time watching the wildlife and sitting by the fire, whilst on three of the days I went off to the spa for some much needed pampering. Another one of our faves was a Darwin Lodges holiday in Matlock. I went on my own with the LO and took her round the tourist attractions I visited as a child. I then had some alone time in the hot tub whilst she napped.

It helps that our daughter makes it clear she loves holidays and keeps asking when we’re going again. I go away with the understanding that I’m not on holiday, I’m their to give my LO a new experience and possibly lifelong memories. I like to tick things off so it also helps knowing I only have about 30 of these occasions left until she possibly flies the nest for uni.

I think the key is that you have to have a different set of expectations when holiday with young DC. The demands on you do not stop just because you are away from home and in fact things can be worse if DCs don't cope well with the change of environment and perhaps are more unsettled, clingy and sleep less.

We took ours to Disney Paris from babies , always had a good time . We also did Florida with them from 4+ and that was fine . Neither of mine liked the beach or sun so we never went for those types of holidays.

As a family, we have been on several caravan holidays on the east Yorkshire coast and to a chalet in St. Ives. They're easy, fun, relaxing etc.

I think that’s my problem with holidays with young children. It is just a change of scenery.

I love travelling and exploring places.

I can sit at home and clear up after a toddler and go to a park for free. I don’t want to pay through the nose for a holiday cottage to do that.

I backpacked all over the world with my eldest when he was 6-8 years old. That was fantastic. I’ll never be able to afford to do that again, or go on any sort of holiday again, mind.

We love our holidays! Adopted LO when they were 2. They’re now 3.5 and we’ve had 4 holidays so far and 3 booked for next year. We camp. LO loves the tent! We also did a February holiday last year at Bluestone which is really good for little ones!

Yes, had many city breaks and longer stays in France/Germany with under 2s. Loved all our holidays together.

We used to do Parkdean when ours were that age (DS2 was about 3 months for his first one).
When they were 3 and 5, we started going to France for Eurocamp. We drive and get the ferry so we have a decent amount of time out of the car on the crossing. Wish we'd done it years earlier with them.

There's an element of same shit, different bedroom, but, still we loved it.

Bosinver Farm cottages in Cornwall - had a fantastic time. Completely set up for families with small kids - all the equipment you might need is already there. We'd start the day feeding the farm animals, potter off to the beach and then come home for lunch and a nap. We'd then hit the play barn / outdoor play equipment and/or go for a swim in their shallow, warm pool. It made for an incredibly easy holiday so DH and I actually felt rested by the time we left.

I don’t understand what’s so horrible about it? Abroad, absolutely not but I hate plane travel and the faff that goes with it anyway, never mind factoring in essentials like car seats.

I think most people need to redefine their expectations of a “holiday”. You can’t just take time off from kids when they’re that age unless you dump them on someone else. The “stress” is worth the experience imo as the “stress” is just normal daily activity planning. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Disney and anything all inclusive. No washing, cooking or cleaning! Went with a 3 and 1 year old and we loved it

Haven. 20mins away from us.

We went for a more expensive caravan with more space and a bigger tv (paid monthly) and it was lovely. We paid £300 for it, it was 2 bedrooms but tv in the double one, bigger tv in lounge and it was wider. Also a newer one so the furniture didn't look all tatty.

It was far enough away that it felt like a holiday. We did the entertainment on Friday and Sunday. DS was younger at the time and got overexcited and sick if he did too much. So on the Saturday we got a takeaway pizza from onsite and watched a film on our xbox that we'd hooked up to the TV.

We went swimming, to the beach, mini golf, amusements, hired one of those weird 4 seater bikes. We are not abroad people, we don't drink or want fancy things. Haven is perfect for us because it's different enough to be fun, but basic enough to fulfill our needs!

We stayed in the UK until youngest was 8 as we are all terrible travellers (sickness).

Our best in the UK with babies were mobile homes, worst were camping. We couldn’t really afford much back then.

The first time we went to Haven, DD was 10 months and DS was 2 1/2. It was still lovely to get away.

When they were 4 & 5 was a much nicer age because they actually enjoyed the swimming, the dancing and the parks.

We either rented villas abroad or did all inclusive. Didn’t find it particularly stressful really, just different to pre DC. I hate Haven type places so would rather stay at home than do that. I think some children are easier than others too. I wouldn’t take hyper or travel sick DC abroad.

Italy by car, booked direct with family friendly hotel, 5 mins walk from sandy beach. Easy, children doted on, sandy beach, not too expensive. Wouldn't travel by plane with little ones, but maybe that's just me.

Been abroad with small children and never again. However, Centre Parcs was a huge hit 👍

Yes I had 4 kids in 9 years
The youngest 2 were 13 months apart. Never stopped going abroad we always have at least 2 sunshine Hollidays a year.
As long as your not expecting long lingering dinners out it's fine. To be honest the most stressful holiday I had with them was a uk one.
As long as there is a baby pool mine we're happy. We always used to put them down for a nap in the apartment and dh and I would take it turns to do nap time. I used to take a baby monitor and sunbathe on the patio while they slept.

Much preferred holidays when dd was little than in the more recent sulky teen years. Always kept it simple - Eurocamp or gite - self-catering but with a separate room so we could put her to bed and sit out on the terrace. I always looked for places that had good kids pools / splash areas and a decent playground with some interesting days out nearby. We did a mix of eating out / getting takeaways / cooking something simple after a trip to the market. Everyone had a nice afternoon nap before going out for a drink / mini disco etc or kids all playing together outside in the evening. Happy times. Eurocamp have blackout blinds normally too. And when they are old enough for the kids clubs you get some bonus sunbathing time.

Taken all 3 of mine away from day one, abroad every year to hot countries. Some years we've come back having had a nice time, other years it's been hell on earth and we've swore never again, until the following year 🙈. I'd say it's actual gotten harder the older they've got, harder to please the different ages etc, they more of a mind of their own so know what they like/don't like to do. I think at 2 years and a few weeks old it would be fine, the baby will mostly sleep and it's easy to entertain a toddler with simple things. Go for it.