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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:
anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 30/12/2023 09:04

Scotland is an excellent choice for those ages, aviemore area I recommend. The road trip also works but would be pricey for a family (some of it is a work trip so Dp's company pays for some of the hotels and the petrol)

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 30/12/2023 09:06

If you fancy ai, look at Tenerife, the Bahia Costa adeje sunlight had a great kids club we were told by an English couple though you can't fault the TUI owned ones either

giraffes2021 · 30/12/2023 09:06

@VenusClapTrap what's the weather like in feb if you don't mind me asking?

ChristmasEvemaddness · 30/12/2023 09:06

Best holidays with small dc have been in the Netherlands.
Efteling theme park combined with day trip to Amsterdam and one of their center parks type places. It's very child friendly, easy to access

TheBirdintheCave · 30/12/2023 09:07

In 2024 we have a week in Austria booked for September which will be our first holiday as a four! Never taken a tiny baby abroad before as my first was a Covid baby. Should be fun! 😅

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 30/12/2023 09:07

@ThreeRingCircus

Your girls will have a great time, mine loved putting on pretty dresses each night at that age, we did the Disney one though. I do love a Southampton to Southampton, so easy

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 30/12/2023 09:10

Majorca in the last week of August. Without wishing to sound like my diamond shoes are pinching, I'm not super excited as I'd rather be on a city break. But DC pointed out that we hadn't had a beach holiday since 2019, so it seemed fair.

I'm eyeing up interailing in central Europe for 2025 though!

Original poster
NeverStopTwinkling · 30/12/2023 09:13

ChristmasEvemaddness · 30/12/2023 09:06

Best holidays with small dc have been in the Netherlands.
Efteling theme park combined with day trip to Amsterdam and one of their center parks type places. It's very child friendly, easy to access

We've done Netherlands the past 3 years, Duinrell, Beekse Bergen and Efteling. Absolutely obsessed! But fancy a change. Have been looking at Europa in Germany but think my littlest ones need to be bigger.

We live in Central Scotland so lucky enough to be able to get to loads of fantastic places within a few hours. I'd love to do Devon/Cornwall but the thought of the drive is just 😱

I'm loving all this holiday chat. Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
wineandmaltesershappyme · 30/12/2023 09:17

AI in Tenerife in May, super easy, staying at an Iberostar, stayed in them before and nice hotels.
Looking at Rhodes AI for Aug.
Dependent on budget we loved the Iberostar Playa Blanca in Lanzarote last year.

Princesspollyyy · 30/12/2023 09:18

@NeverStopTwinkling

I live in Devon, but would love to visit Scotland!! 😆

SideshowAuntSallyx · 30/12/2023 09:18

Dubai but also looking at a weekend away in Europe at some stage too.

DancefloorAcrobatics · 30/12/2023 09:24

We have booked eurocamp just outside Paris (nope not for Disney Land).
Hopefully we can take train in for 1-2 days into Paris and have a visit to Versailles.

Best small kids holiday I have had was Norfolk beaches and Dorset jurassic coast for a bit of fossil hunting.

spriots · 30/12/2023 09:26

We have booked for Billund - Legoland, Lego house, the wow park, the water park - should be a nice few days

GnomeDePlume · 30/12/2023 09:27

Eurocamp in Dordogne at the end of June. Euro tunnel then driving down with an overnight stop somewhere.

We started going on Eurocamp type holidays when DCs were young. Now they are grown and flown we still enjoy them on our own.

The campsites normally have shop/bar/takeaway. This next one also has quite a nice looking restaurant.

We found hotels stressful with DCs. We enjoyed the freedom of self-catering. Eat outside, generally fairly simple food which we knew DCs would enjoy. Rotisserie chicken bought at a market was always a favourite.

One year we had a villa with our own pool on the Costa Blanca. DCs loved being able to have all the inflatables imaginable. The area itself was a bit meh, the tourist tide had ebbed leaving a lot of empty shops and businesses.

I worry with AI that I will come home the size of a house with a drinking problem. Obviously other people have more self control than me!

FiveGoMadInDorset · 30/12/2023 09:29

Northern Ireland for a few days in February half term and then 10 days in Croatia in July post exams

LunaLovegoodsLeftEyebrow · 30/12/2023 09:34

NeverStopTwinkling · 30/12/2023 09:13

We've done Netherlands the past 3 years, Duinrell, Beekse Bergen and Efteling. Absolutely obsessed! But fancy a change. Have been looking at Europa in Germany but think my littlest ones need to be bigger.

We live in Central Scotland so lucky enough to be able to get to loads of fantastic places within a few hours. I'd love to do Devon/Cornwall but the thought of the drive is just 😱

I'm loving all this holiday chat. Thanks everyone!

Show quote history

Lol we live in Cornwall and are headed up to Scotland! Planning a two day journey with an overnight stop half way though!

maybe next year I will check out the Mumsnet home swap thing - we live in a lovely place, just want the iids to see some other scenery 😂

ChristmasEvemaddness · 30/12/2023 09:44

Camp site south France then

Newchapterbeckons · 30/12/2023 09:54

Swiss mountains in the summer if you enjoyed the Netherlands you will love it! Alpine flowers, well being and active.

Lovelynames123 · 30/12/2023 09:58

I've just booked Turkey for May half term, same hotel we went to in October, first time I've ever booked the same place twice but we loved it and going back with sister and nephew. AI, right on the beach, great slides and kids activities.

Also got Gran Canaria booked for the summer, right next to a water park that's included in the price.

Iamblossom · 30/12/2023 10:16

I am determined to ski February half term but haven't booked yet, keeping an eye on the snow.

We have tenerife booked at the end of April for 5 days and Split for 10 days in August.

Also seriously considering booking a week in the canaries from 27th December 2024 as hate this in between week and the weather is so shite. Be lovely to have that to look forward to after Christmas

reluctantbrit · 30/12/2023 10:17

Easter - trip to the grandparents in Hamburg
May half-term - northern France and Bruges, trip to the WWI museums and if the weather is good the Belgian sea side
August - 5 days Berlin and a week Bavaria

The rest of the year - no idea as DD is in 6th form and life will be taken over by mocks and uni visits.

VenusClapTrap · 30/12/2023 10:21

@giraffes2021 Fuerte in Feb varies between 19 and 21. Not hot by any means, but we always sit on the beach and paddle in the sea. In contrast to uk temps at that time of year, it’s lovely. And when the dc were little we didn’t need to worry about them burning.

Zephyry · 30/12/2023 10:22

Crete in May half term, hopefully not too hot

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 30/12/2023 10:25

We loved Creta Maris in Crete for a family friendly AI. Own water park, beach, mini golf etc. Lots of pools, great food and various activities available if needed. They provided a free taxi too and from the airport as we booked direct too.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 30/12/2023 10:28

Oh, and on the food at Creta Maris, enough restaurants that we didn't eat the same place twice in the evening. Sensible booking system so you can book a different restaurant each day and two different non-booking restaurants. The non-booking restaurants were busy, but not mayhem, and the bookable ones were just like going to a nice restaurant (and all had a kids menu).