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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:
StillWantingADog · 30/12/2023 10:32

same position, can’t face making a decision

current favourite ideas are

  • back to the algarve. We like it and the kids LOVE slide and splash (water park). I’d be happy to return but there’s not that much to actually see and do.
  • Zahara de los Atunes, Spain. Went before we had the kids and would like to go back. Is a bit of a trek though you have to hire a car from Seville or Malaga or Gibraltar
  • driving to a nice campsite in France. Had good experiences with French campsites but I think you have to pick carefully. Many are very “French” and many others are very “Dutch”. Not necessarily an issue but to bear in mind. Eurocamp is overpriced.
StillWantingADog · 30/12/2023 10:35

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

Ooh yes we went last year. Spent a week in a Landal holiday park in Gouda (fab! Like a low key and better center parcs) and did lots of exploring around Neth.

then three days at Efteling. Big hit with our 7 and 9 year olds. Weather was fantastic.

we got the overnight ferry but you could train or fly.

JustFrustrated · 30/12/2023 10:37

Couple of adult only breaks : Barcelona and Rome.

Last year we did NYC with the kids and a week in a villa in Tenerife. I can highly recommend Tenerife. Not Adeje. Get a car and stay further out.

DNLove · 30/12/2023 10:41

All inclusive is rubbish for dinner. Loud messy and people constantly walking around. You never get to eat as a family.
What happens for us is... Daddy stays at table with kids, Mammy goes up first and sorts 2 plates for kids, can do more cause no trays available. Brings kids plates back to table, then has to go get drinks for kids, comes back and let's daddy go get his food and sorts children, sit down, eat that, chop this. I want more nuggets, chips etc, daddy comes back and mammy goes to get her food, which by the nature of a buffet means you end up with 15 different bits none of which ever feel like real meal, ooh lasagne l, curry and rice. All while knowing that you've seen about 10 people lean over the food, poking it, coughing and having a sniff. You then sit down to eat and kids have finished and are now itching for ice cream. Daddy brings them to pick ice cream then you realise you don't have a drink and have to leave your Luke warm food to go colder. Then you arrive back to finish your dinner as kids are having desert!
I like all inclusive for breakfast, quick lunch and snacks/ice creams drinks but don't consider it for dinner and would fully intend to eat out. Though I find many of big all inclusive resorts are a bit of distance from main resort centre.

mafsfan · 30/12/2023 10:41

www.sandaya.co.uk/our-campsites/le-littoral

Amazing for children of your age. Beach is fabulous. Pools (indoor and outdoor) are great plus splash parks. Less than 4 hours drive from St Malo port.

Jasmine876 · 30/12/2023 10:44

A trip to Yorkshire booked for may and a trip to Disneyland Paris booked for sept.

BigBoysDontCry · 30/12/2023 10:45

Nothing booked but Menorca is lovely with kids.

Retrievemysanity · 30/12/2023 10:54

Haven’t booked anything yet but had a brilliant time in the New Forest this year with ours. They loved the bike riding and trip to Brownsea island etc. When they were younger, cannot rate Royal Son Bou in Menorca highly enough.

tokesqueen · 30/12/2023 11:09

Valencia in three weeks. Gran Canaria in March.
Hopefully three or four more to follow. Fancying Dubrovnik at some point.

Autumnleavesss · 30/12/2023 11:19

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.

Take a look at Siam Park in Tenerife. We have been before pre children and returning this year with DC. You will easily find an AI hotel, and some also include passes to Siam Park. There are also plenty of other things to do on the island - so far we have planned to go to Siam Park, up Mount Tiede (cable car and hike to the very top), boat trip, Loro Park (zoo), and a trip to a different island for the day

GnomeDePlume · 30/12/2023 11:41

DNLove · 30/12/2023 10:41

All inclusive is rubbish for dinner. Loud messy and people constantly walking around. You never get to eat as a family.
What happens for us is... Daddy stays at table with kids, Mammy goes up first and sorts 2 plates for kids, can do more cause no trays available. Brings kids plates back to table, then has to go get drinks for kids, comes back and let's daddy go get his food and sorts children, sit down, eat that, chop this. I want more nuggets, chips etc, daddy comes back and mammy goes to get her food, which by the nature of a buffet means you end up with 15 different bits none of which ever feel like real meal, ooh lasagne l, curry and rice. All while knowing that you've seen about 10 people lean over the food, poking it, coughing and having a sniff. You then sit down to eat and kids have finished and are now itching for ice cream. Daddy brings them to pick ice cream then you realise you don't have a drink and have to leave your Luke warm food to go colder. Then you arrive back to finish your dinner as kids are having desert!
I like all inclusive for breakfast, quick lunch and snacks/ice creams drinks but don't consider it for dinner and would fully intend to eat out. Though I find many of big all inclusive resorts are a bit of distance from main resort centre.

That is exactly what would have happened if we had gone AI with young DCs.

A colleague and I compared the cost of going AI with the cost of doing 'luxury' self catering (lots of eating out etc). Very similar once travel etc was included.

Abracadabra12345 · 30/12/2023 13:27

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.

Now I want to go! No small children but Ambleside is gorgeous - not had time to explore it yet. The living museum there is excellent

Abracadabra12345 · 30/12/2023 13:28

DisplayPurposesOnly · 30/12/2023 08:47

Isle of Wight for a week in August.

That.

We've been to so many places in the UK and abroad and the Isle of Wight was our absolute favourite. Something for everyone and we loved being on a small island

MaryActsLikeSheDontCare · 30/12/2023 13:37

Family holiday to Majorca in June
A German Christmas market next December
Probably 2 hotel breaks at home (Easter, august).

OutYerEd · 30/12/2023 13:43

Somewhere warm for a week in June. Possibly a Greek island TBC.

Ireland in August for the Fleadh Coil.

Palma in October.

If funds allow, I’d like to do a long weekend in Florence.

greasypolemonkeyman · 30/12/2023 13:45

We are off to Disney land Paris in February for my nephews birthday. Then two weeks in Corfu in July and a Christmas market cruise in December for my birthday. I am very excited for the cruise!

TheBeeb · 30/12/2023 13:46

We have young kids and have booked Menorca - a very family friendly hotel with free kids club and creche. Can't wait!

Mammyloveswine · 30/12/2023 13:49

Sorrento in may but without the kids as it's a surprise for DHs 40th birthday!

With the kids I'll probs book a caravan as next summer we are off to Tunisia!

TerrysChocolateOrange · 30/12/2023 13:51

Three weeks in Southern Spain, last week in August and first two weeks in September. DS 22 will join us for the middle week. He will then return to being a wage slave and we will return to being retired and wondering about the option for the fourth week.

EasterIssland · 30/12/2023 13:51

Traveling with 6yo at the time to Cambodia , Thailand (krabi) and Singapore.

might do something else city visit or all inclusive in half term in October

Lavistam · 30/12/2023 13:52

Going to do a 2 week staycation, going to stay home but do lots of the touristy things within a couple of hours drive of us (north highlands)

BurntOrange · 30/12/2023 13:56

@froomeonthebroom Can I ask which Eurocamp you're staying on? Interested in the coast near the Pyrenees

Original poster
NeverStopTwinkling · 30/12/2023 14:31

Anyone been to Ribby Hall?

OP posts:
craigth162 · 30/12/2023 14:36

Seahouses for a week. Same house we rented last year. Perfect for us as its on one level - disabled 3 year old with limited mobility and stairs would be death trap. He loved it there. Cant handle hotel rooms.

Groovee · 30/12/2023 14:36

Booked to go to a lodge in Berwickshire at Easter. Then a couple of weeks later going on a ladies retreat to a glamping pod in the same village.

Have booked Benalmàdena for October too. Haven't decided on a summer holiday yet.

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