To give up on Abroad entirely?

[Jane054848]

Since having kids have had various cheap uk holidays which have mostly been really fun. Also 3 holidays in Europe which have all been relatively unsuccessful and much more expensive. For example just spent 2 weeks on "europe's sunniest island" in literally non stop torrential rain in tiny flat with 3 and 5 year olds climbing the walls. At least in the uk we are set up for rain with wet weather activities!

What good holidays have you had in Europe with small kids? I need to be re-motivated to explore and not just go to Devon every year until I die. (yes. Realise am lucky to be able to go on holiday at all)!

Know what you mean.We had a couple of expensive holidays for us as a family,one to Cyprus at Easter and another to Portugal at Spring Bank when even if not hot we expected some sun and warmth.Instead it rained a lot,and the apartments at night were freezing and not geared up for colder weather.
And yes we had our share of soggy times in this country,especially in the Lake District but somehow that seemed fun and a challenge rather than a massive disappointment.Looking back our happiest holidays when DCs small were the three camping holidays in France ,way down in the south in summer.But maybe that's because we went with another family who are great friends and had exactly same approach to activities,bed times etc and with 7 children between us and a kids club they all just had a ball.

We didn't go when they were little but mostly because we couldn't afford it, if we had been in a position to afford holidays we would've stayed in the UK because their asthma was so chronic and so a-typical that we were worried about getting the right treatment here let alone anywhere there would've been a language barrier.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman - OMG that post could have been written by me! Every year we have to explain to MIL why we don't want to go abroad.

I don't holiday in the uk, I wouldn't enjoy it but DH couldn't stand it so we always go abroad. In 20 plus years I can only think of 1 time it rained and that was last year.

Places I can think we've particularly liked:

Santorini
Ibiza
Mallorca
Sicily
Tuscan Coast, Italy
Neapolitan Riviera, Italy
Thassos
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Bodrum, Turkey
Barcelona, Spain
Sardinia
Corsica

I'm with you op - only time i've been abroad with DS i got so stressed i got ill. Travelling with kids is so tough. Now i go no further than a two hour drive. Not sure its cheaper, but certainly more relaxed.

now DS is 13 I'm tentatively thinking of going further afield.

Where is "europe's sunniest island"?

When our kids were little they enjoyed anywhere where they found children the same age who they could play with.

So really anything family friendly. This was places on sites so no villas in the middle of nowhere!

Kids clubs are good too, they usually only open for a few hours a day so children can meet other children and you get a little peace for a couple of hours. They are usually free too,

You sound like my DH did 4 years ago. Up to that point, we had been soaked to the skin in Scotland, the Lake district, various freezing grim seaside towns, and finally nearly bloody drowned in some god-forsaken campsite near York, with a newborn and giant mutant mozzies that brought me out in enormous pus-filled blisters.

After this, I marched into the travel agent and demanded a family holiday and was lucky enough to get a fabulous 2 weeks in Menorca. It was hot, all the time, peaceful, beautiful - DH is a total convert, we've gone every year since.

The holidays we enjoyed with young kids were self catering, usually in a static caravan, or pre-erected tent at a holiday park. Even the medium sized parks, with a more sedate atmosphere, have good facilities. We found long stays in small apartments, or hotels, were exhausting when they were very young. It's nice to have a bit of space around you in a more relaxed environment.

We load up the car and head off on Eurotunnel, staying at the occasional hotel on the way to our destination. If the weather isn't amazing one day you can head off and explore.

I'm still traumatised after a holiday we were invited to for an extended family event. An ApartoHotel, in big resort, on an island that is renowned for its sun. It rained, it was cold, we were bored shitless.

Abroad is usually cheaper and better weather. I like the quiet side of Ibiza and France.

to be fair, most of europe have had unpredictable crazy weather the last few weeks.

my mum lives in spain, and has said they've never know a may like this one for rain, winds, the lot.

You had a really crap experience, mst have been so disappointing for you when you were geared up for pool, beach and such.

We found campsites in France were great when DCs were small. We are now finding that campsites in France are great with teenagers. We do the mobilehome thing and just love the peace, quiet, good weather and good food.

The thought of inflicting dd on a plane full of people fillsme with dread. We have decided to explore the uk instead for the next few years. There are many interesting places to go and lots to see so why stress.

We will do other countries when she is more able to (sit still) take it all in.

The abroad thing is a bit complicated for me as I am forrin- so it's holidaying in the UK that's abroad so to speak. But these are some good holidays we've had outside the UK:

numerous beach holidays in Sweden

long weekend in Rouen when dd was 2 (hotel)- went there by ferry+train

Bayeux (hotel)- ferry+train

cottage in Brittany - car

cottage in the Loire Valley- car

hotel in Granada- flight