What is the best and worst holiday that you have been on?

[worldshottestmom]

Hi. Plane virgin here. Thats right, I've never left the UK (pity me). I am thinking of taking the plunge and taking my kids on holiday abroad next year, for the first time ever for all of us! 'Terrified' doesn’t quite cut it.

Despite my fear of flying (heavily instilled into me by my mother, who is phobic of planes) I don't want to hold myself back and die only ever having been in the UK.

But now the question is, where do we go? I'm thinking of somewhere that's only a short distance away for the first time (probably Spain), but if it goes well, will be looking to travel further in the following years.

So, what was your most and least favourite holiday that you've ever been on?

Bonus question: if you've ever been to Spain, where would you recommend taking 2 kids to within Spain?

Tunisia was my worst, Italy was my best (Lake Garda & Verona).

Best - Florida. Great weather, lots to do, so much fun. Very expensive though.

worst - Lanzarote. They say lanzagrotty for a reason. Awful, everything dead, high winds and low temps mid summer. No decent hotels. Animals mistreated up the mountain (camels).

I actually love the sound of that ritual! I've pasted it onto my holiday notepad in my phone hahaha. I have a habit (addiction) of watching plane disaster videos on YouTube (not helping my cause I know) and honestly think id be qualified to fly a plane at this point i know so much about them lol. The door ripping off is an obvious huge concern to me and my anxious brain so will definitely be checking it. Before anyone calls me insane (which i am) it has happened before!

Ooh I think going to a travel agents would be a great idea for someone like me. Again never considered this as I've never booked or been on a foreign holiday! Will be sure to do that. I am keen on going to Greece but Im going to wait until I'm a bit more comfortable with being abroad first!

And thank you so much!! I said to a pp I'm going to make a thread after my holiday probably just bellowing on about how (hopefully) great it was, haha! Wherever we end up going, I can't wait! ❤️

Omg as if that was your wedding gift 😭 I want to say im sure they meant well but after reading they stuck you there with a newborn while in their holiday home in France, I mean, come on...

Your Wales holiday sounded brilliant! I would love to take my little ones crab fishing that sounds so fun. Maybe we could do a cheeky Wales trip at some point as well, im too fixated on crab fishing now haha. Thank you!

Oof this is a brilliant suggestion! What a wonderful idea. I think it would be great to do a quick flight to NI and have a mini holiday there, then as you say either fly or drive back. I'm hoping it won't be a disaster but better safe than sorry! Great idea, thank you for this!

I'm trying to keep it to around 3k, only looking to go for a week or 5 days or so, so not too long. My kids would love a kids club! I'm trying to find somewhere that has those sorts of things for kids as well as fun water activities too. I do think may would be ideal for my son due to the busyness of summer holidays. I would appreciate any recommendations really just to see what my options are, and prefer getting them from people with true experience and real reviews rather than a website trying to sell me something haha.

Im thinking about booking a test flight thing for people scared of flying. A few people have recommended it and I think it would really ease my mind and prevent me from having a panic attack at the airport lol. Im really trying to boost my confidence with this, and am trying to go by the mantra of not wanting to wonder about the what ifs.

Thank you for this advice and encouragement, I really do appreciate it!

Central Europe has lots to offer for young families. Beautiful lakes, hiking, the scenery is stunning in places like southern Germany, Austria, and Bratislava. Also very clean.

We loved Menorca Agua Marina, all inclusive with loads of pools, water slides, kids club/disco and tons of activities for adults too. The beach is beautiful, calm and 2 minutes away from the resort.

We would go out sometimes for dinner locally or to a bar or to the shops. Airport 20 minutes away. It was perfect for us as a family and we went 3 times when DD was 2-8 years old. Best holiday ever.

Worst was a week in Portugal where it rained every day. I understand not their fault. 🥰😂

How do you feel driving abroad OP?

If you’re OK with that then I highly recommend Villa Pia in Italy with kids the age yours are.

https://villapia.com/

It’s all inclusive, breakfast lunch and dinner. They give the kids a high tea at around 4ish and then the adults eat later. But there is food around all the time. They really look after you.

There’ll be lots of children the same age as yours, it’s absolutely beautiful and nearby to Sienna for day trips.

If you are set on Spain then Altea is lovely. A really sweet little place next to the sea, lovely little shops and restaurants and a fab square where all the kids play whilst the adults have dinner. You have Benidorm’s water parks not far away.

Edited to add… both these options would work in May (have been to both in May myself with young kids)

You don't have to fly to go on holiday!

One of our best holidays was driving down to Spain, stopping various places in France on the way, and catching the ferry back. The Spanish Pyrenees were a huge hit.

We've also been Interrailing a few times, which has been great.

The only bad holidays I've been on have been the ones where various awful exes have decided to ruin things by causing scenes of one kind or another.

I would recommend Croatia. Pula is a tiny airport. Valmar resort in Rabac is amazing if budget allows.

You could always do a cruise from Southampton first. No plane. Try a few countries but back to the ship each night.

My favourite holiday is Orlando.

I feel like im living vicariously through everyone else's beautiful and terrible holiday descriptions haha!

Ugh I didnt want to say it but while I have always wanted to visit Paris, ive heard sooooOoooOoOOooo many people have these same complaints. Everyone on this thread has mostly loved it! But almost everyone i know irl mostly recalls how dirty it is and how rude everyone is. Though given the city im from, maybe itd feel like home from home? 😭 haha

You have been to so many beautiful places and I am honestly so jealous! Maybe I should just tally everyone's votes for the different destinations and let that decide lol. If all goes well on my first trip, I just know ill become obsessed with travelling and will do it all the time. And I can't wait!

Stop tempting me with these serene images or im going to book it right now. This looks simply divine!! How short is a short flight? Have you been? So many people suggesting siciliy and ive always longed of going to Italy! Im so torn about where to go there's been so many wonderful suggestions! I just hope I'm able to visit lots of places in years to come, once ive got over my fear of flying

This is a wonderful suggestion, thank you! I dont drive sadly, but am looking at getting lessons soon due to recently being a new job. Who knows, maybe this time next year I would be able to drive abroad!

Everything you described here just instantly put my mind at ease.

I was quite set on spain, but so many votes for Italy and after having a proper look it really looks quite quaint and I think I would enjoy it more. Its just that im looking for quick as possible flights the first time. Im considering a quick flight to NI or similar just to get used to it, so maybe Italy would be reasonable distance after.

A lot to consider here! Thank you so much for the advice. I really appreciate it!

My best was travelling around Uzbekistan and my worst was two weeks in Majorca with 4 year old twins, a 3 month old and my parents 😬 I’m retiring to Greece.

If your son has sensory issues all inclusive may be tricky, the main dinning area tends to be quite big, with lots of food stations, marble floors etc. My DS couldn’t cope with it at all and we spent a week mostly eating super noodles in our room because choosing food and eating it in that environment was unmanageable for him.

Best type of holiday for my two was a small apartment block with a pool and taverna on site.

I can't believe it! When I went to Cornwall there was hardly any beach at all. How do they just add and take away the water like that?!

Spain is perfect for kids with great flight times and family hotels. How old are they? We loved Alcudia. Really family friendly, a few restaurants had little play areas for the kids.

My first ever holiday abroad was to Spain. I went to Callela when I was 21. When I had the first of my 2 boys we took them to Majorca a few times and to Turkey. These were all package holidays.
Now I do more freestyle type holidays and off to explore Japan in 2 weeks time with my youngest son who is 22. I will be almost 62 and never been to Asia, so excited about this trip.

Being totally honest, £3k for a week in Greece strikes me as a little low. It's the flights that make it so expensive unfortunately. Hopefully someone will come along and tell me I'm wrong though!

Maybe your best bet would be to pick a smallish city with lots to do, good food, plenty of playgrounds, and go self-catering? I've heard good things about Valencia for kids, which hopefully isn't too expensive, for example. I'd also love to take my kids to Verona. Anyway I think you need to work out if you want a chilling by the pool or more of a doing stuff holiday and then take it from there.

Or a mix. We are going to Austria this summer, it's quite a bit cheaper than the Med (weather could be lovely but not guaranteed). A lot of the hotels/apartments offer a joker card which gives you free travel and activities whilst you are there, and there's lots of mountain walks with kids playgrounds and trails.

Do you happen to have loads of Nectar points? If so, converting them to Avios could help save money on flights.

Worst: Canaries - weird sand/bleak landscape/too windy/unfriendly locals (yes I’m massively generalising). Basically a longer flight for an inferior version of Spain

Best is probably Alps in Summer, or Bavaria, as there is so much for children with the added benefit of beautiful scenery. These can be a bit hassly though if you don’t want to hire a car. If I were looking for an easy holiday with children I think I’d go to a smaller resort in Majorca/Menorca.

So many holidays are good or bad depending on the situation and timing/weather.
Pre kids: West Coast of Scotland "Honeymoon" and Porto 1st anniversary were our best.
With kids Gran Canaria & Brittany probably the best.
Worst pre kids Isle of White & Egypt.
Worst with kids Norfolk Broads (what were we thinking) Orlando (we all got food poisoning and insurance didn't cover it all)
Post kids i.e. Empty Nesters. Anywhere seems to work

Oh and for fear of flying see these YT videos

These videos. For some reason the YT video link won't work in my previous post?

Worse holidays. 1. Agadir Morocco with Airtours year ago. Food inedible tadted like slop No wonder they went out of business.

1. Southern Goa with Mercury Holidays. Massively overpriced hotel on the make.

Great holidays in Spain and the Canary lslands with Thomson and TUI hotels.