16 dd and friend on same holiday as us but staying in separate accommodation - would you be ok with this?

[SK1973]

Dd16 and her friend (almost 16) are coming away with us for a week on a very large holiday park on the south coast.

We (dh, myself and dog) are staying on the dedicated touring area with our touring caravan. Dd and and friend joined us last year and stayed in a tent next to the caravan but this year as a treat for sitting their exams I’ve paid for them to stay in a luxury lodge on the same site but it’s some way from the touring area (the site is so large there are little buses taking holiday makers from caravan area and through to the main entertainment area and to the private beach etc).

I was quite content with this set up and so too were the girls but my friend has said she thinks they are too young to be left to it and left alone all night! I’m having a wobble now. Yes they will be sleeping in the lodge on their own but obviously dh and I are on the site and just a call away, I’ll check in on them every day and each evening before bed, they aren’t holidaying completely independently.

Would you be ok with this set up?

Totally depends on the girls. One of mine would have been absolutely fine at 16, would have watched movies, made hot choc and chilled out with her friend.

The other would have smuggled booze in and the local youths and had a party.

If they’re sensible then I would.

DD1 and her best mate I would have done.
DD2 and DD1 together probably.

DD2 and her bestie… not a chance!

If you’re happy with it and the other girls parents are happy with it then I wouldn’t change it.

OP, you haven't answered the question. Is the holiday park aware that 2 16 year olds are occupying a lodge? Have you checked?

Otherwise, I'd be OK with it.

this! i once let my 16 year old have a party at home, i stayed upstairs.. we had a right carry on, one of the other guests put a post on facebook, and we had all and sundry trying to get into the house! i vowed never again..

I may have to stay overnight with them then. I’m happy to do that but they are quiet, sensible girls and not holidaying on their own, I’ll check on them all the time as I’m not leaving the site.

But you have said the site is so large it has buses to get around so you won’t be checking on them all the time they are still going to be a distance away.

it sounds like quite a badly thought out plan.

I would be fine with it. I knew people who went abroad on their own at 16 for a holiday, admittedly many years ago.
My son is going on a UK holiday next week and he is 16, where he is going it is allowed.

The trouble is it doesn't matter if they are quiet and sensible or if you're sleeping somewhere else on site if it's against the parks rules, then yes you will need to sleep in the lodge too. I'm really surprised you haven't checked before saying it was ok.

You haven't checked the terms and conditions then? Doesn't matter how quiet and sensible they are. It only takes one person from a neighbouring lodge to report them and it could lead to expulsion from the site.

Does your friend realise how many 16 years old will be going To festivals like Reading with just their friends this summer.

Looks like it’s a unanimous no so I’ll play safe and stay with them.

I’d be fine with this but Dd went to Paris for a week with a friend by themselves when they were 17yo. So to me what you’re suggesting seems absolutely fine.

I think you should ring the holiday park, explain the set-up and check that it's ok to have the girls unattended overnight - just to avoid a disappointment on the day. If the operators are happy with it I don't see a problem. I stayed in tents with friends much younger than that. It sounds lovely for them.

Wouldnt bother me at all

I would see if can change the luxury lodge to a lodge near the caravan part you are in

And yes likely that T&Cs say must be one over 18

But if your friends mum is ok with it then doesn't matter about the other friends opinion

I think it’s a brilliant idea! My parents did similar when I was 16.

I let my DD go to Paris with older friends at that age… I trusted her and all was fine.

DD could be married at 16 !

Yes to checking t&c, also it depends on who will be their neighbors and general set up.

How long is it to walk from your place to theirs?

So they are both GCSE year? Absolutely fine. Perfect for a bit of independence but in a safe way with you close by .

Think of all the youngsters this age who will be camping at Reading/Leeds this summer.

Don't ask the holiday park, just crack on and let them have a litte bit of freedom! It's booked in your name and you are on site and responsibile for them. If necessary you can say you are staying there, you just happened to be out visiting your DH in his accommodation for the evening.

You wouldn't think twice to leave two sensible young adults alone for a day to amuse themselves in daylight hours, why does everyone think they're suddenly going to go rogue or come to harm overnight when it's dark / people are asleep?

I wouldn't. It would invalidate the accommodation's insurance I would have thought. I wouldn't like to put them in that position.

Also, you just never know what weirdos are about I'm probably overprotective-