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Original poster

Do you have a holiday booked for this year? If so, where?!

114 replies

NeverStopTwinkling · 30/12/2023 08:28

I'm in need of some inspiration. We don't have anything booked and I can't really face looking! It's not like me at all.

I'd be with 3 children aged 8 and under. Happy to stay in the UK or short/medium haul. Family-friendly is my priority.

I'm open to any ideas. Has anyone been anywhere they loved?

OP posts:
PermanentTemporary · 30/12/2023 08:32

Southern Spain but we're not doing small child holidays any more.

I.think my favourite ever small child holiday was to a family room in Ambleside Youth Hostel. It was very tired back then (so no worries about breaking stuff) and it is right next to Windermere. Ambleside is a gorgeous town with a lovely park. We went to the play area in ? Folly Foot and swam in Windermere,.and took a rowing boat out from Ambleside jetty, and had chips and afternoon tea out and went on the lake ferry and all of those things. The most untroubled holiday ever.

tinytemper66 · 30/12/2023 08:34

Brussels on Eurostar next week; school ski trip in February; Murcia for Easter and cruise in August. Plus school trip in NYC in October.

tinytemper66 · 30/12/2023 08:35

Can't edit. Read your post again and realise mine is of no help sorry.

Original poster
NeverStopTwinkling · 30/12/2023 08:38

tinytemper66 · 30/12/2023 08:35

Can't edit. Read your post again and realise mine is of no help sorry.

Why not? Are they not family friendly places in Murcia and the cruise? Accept the NYC school trip is less relevant 😁

DS(8) is skiing in January but the little ones are too little to enjoy that really.

OP posts:
VenusClapTrap · 30/12/2023 08:40

We’re going to Fuerteventura for feb half term. Very family friendly, been there many times. Then a week in Paris to see the Olympics in August.

SantaBarbaraMonica · 30/12/2023 08:40

All inclusive in Rhodes. 4 kids under 10. Last year similar in Turkey was the best holiday we’d had.

Quornflakegirl · 30/12/2023 08:43

Greece in August
Scotland in October
Devon in April
A few long weekends around the UK - Bath London and Liverpool

Original poster
NeverStopTwinkling · 30/12/2023 08:43

SantaBarbaraMonica · 30/12/2023 08:40

All inclusive in Rhodes. 4 kids under 10. Last year similar in Turkey was the best holiday we’d had.

We've never done AI but tempted to try it. Feel overwhelmed by the choice of destinations and accommodation and having to traipse through thousands of reviews which will invariably be 50 brilliant reviews and one saying it was the worst week of their whole life. 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
OldYearsNight · 30/12/2023 08:45

Me! We're going to Cornwall with my son and partner. We're a blended family and so then looking at going to Malta or Majorca with my partner and his daughter and my son. Partner's daughter didn't want to go to Cornwall again. But we loved it. The beaches are wonderful. We all enjoyed the Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan. We're staying in an air b n b that has a garden and we are in walking distance to a fabulous pub for food.

Then Malta were thinking has beaches, restaurants, history (a lot of WWI+II I believe) and will hopefully be relaxed.

LunaLovegoodsLeftEyebrow · 30/12/2023 08:45

PermanentTemporary · 30/12/2023 08:32

Southern Spain but we're not doing small child holidays any more.

I.think my favourite ever small child holiday was to a family room in Ambleside Youth Hostel. It was very tired back then (so no worries about breaking stuff) and it is right next to Windermere. Ambleside is a gorgeous town with a lovely park. We went to the play area in ? Folly Foot and swam in Windermere,.and took a rowing boat out from Ambleside jetty, and had chips and afternoon tea out and went on the lake ferry and all of those things. The most untroubled holiday ever.

This holiday sounds wonderful.

Yesterday we booked two weeks in the Highlands in the summer for us, our three teen DC and the dog. Two weeks of chilling out, castles, wild swimming, walks, games, reading and chat. Cannot WAIT!

Autumnleavesss · 30/12/2023 08:47

We are going to Tenerife early summer - hopefully before it gets too hot for the little ones

DisplayPurposesOnly · 30/12/2023 08:47

Isle of Wight for a week in August.

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 30/12/2023 08:48

Croatia in August. 3 kids between 10 and 16 so not that much supervision needed anymore. Travelling around a bit between cities and beach resort.

Berlin at Easter, seeing some old friends. Been planning to go since before oldest DC born.

ThreeRingCircus · 30/12/2023 08:50

We've got a Mediterranean cruise booked with P&O. Sailing from Southampton so no airports to deal with and they have a great kids club for the little ones, they are a very family friendly holiday in general. Our DDs (aged 6 and 4) cannot wait.

Alwaystired23 · 30/12/2023 08:52

PermanentTemporary · 30/12/2023 08:32

Southern Spain but we're not doing small child holidays any more.

I.think my favourite ever small child holiday was to a family room in Ambleside Youth Hostel. It was very tired back then (so no worries about breaking stuff) and it is right next to Windermere. Ambleside is a gorgeous town with a lovely park. We went to the play area in ? Folly Foot and swam in Windermere,.and took a rowing boat out from Ambleside jetty, and had chips and afternoon tea out and went on the lake ferry and all of those things. The most untroubled holiday ever.

We did similar a few years ago. Such a lovely place.

Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 30/12/2023 08:54

South of France with DD8 in August, beautiful Airbnb with our own little pool just outside Aix en Provence. Lots to explore.
We will also do Northumberland again as we do every year, one of my favourite places on the planet, so many wonderful beaches, castles etc - such a good place to visit with kids.

Eggsley · 30/12/2023 08:56

10 days in Menorca in August. All inclusive and with a small water park next door that's free to hotel guests. DC are 7 and 13. Our first holiday just the 4 of us since DC2 was 10 months old. Cannot wait!

froomeonthebroom · 30/12/2023 08:58

France, Atlantic Coast near to the Pyrenees. We are taking the ferry to Santander and staying on a eurocamp site.

EdgarsTale · 30/12/2023 08:59

So far we’ve booked a week in Cornwall & a Eurostar city break. Still looking for a summer holiday.

Original poster
NeverStopTwinkling · 30/12/2023 09:01

Thanks for the inspiration.

Mention of a water park has sparked something - I might have a look at AI places with good waterparks for children and take it from there.

We're hoping to have a week in the UK with my parents at some point as well. Lake District is a good idea. I love that part of the world.

OP posts:
anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 30/12/2023 09:01

Scotland, Scandinavian road trip and tbc. Kids adults and NOT invited (they would like to come and us pay Grin)

Princesspollyyy · 30/12/2023 09:02

Gran Canaria for a week in July. We normally go all inclusive but I just can't face it anymore. We are going self catering and I can't wait. Looking forward to eating somewhere different every evening and being served at our table, instead of constantly getting up and down for different things.

Also, the last few times we have been AI, dinner time is crazy and like a herd of wild animals.

Original poster
NeverStopTwinkling · 30/12/2023 09:03

Princesspollyyy · 30/12/2023 09:02

Gran Canaria for a week in July. We normally go all inclusive but I just can't face it anymore. We are going self catering and I can't wait. Looking forward to eating somewhere different every evening and being served at our table, instead of constantly getting up and down for different things.

Also, the last few times we have been AI, dinner time is crazy and like a herd of wild animals.

Oh no!

In my head AI would be easier for mealtimes. We always self cater and in some ways it's like 'same shit, different sink'

OP posts:
Uglyducklingswan · 30/12/2023 09:03

With your family I would recommend Majorca/Mallorca. We have been a few times to Puerto Pollença but there are lots of great places there. Where we stayed (NE) the sea was so calm and shallow so beaches felt perfect for little kids. Nice historic towns to visit like Old Alcudia, Soller and the capital Palma to visit.
it’s a small island and quiet so worth hiring a car and exploring.

this year we are doing a week in Norfolk in a cottage in Brancaster, and then we are off to Florida later in the year to do Disney/Universal.

skintselfemployed · 30/12/2023 09:04

We are going back to Menorca (may even be same resort as hotel with water park as think we've stayed there - not many water parks in Menorca!
We love it. Sons love it (14, 17, 19) but doing a villa this year. AI was our choice when they were small as meant no stress over meal times.
Would thoroughly recommend Arenal d'en Castel for small, family friendly resort with gorgeous beach