I know there is a Travel section, but it doesn't seem to get much traffic and I was hoping for lots of suggestions....
Basically, we have an endowment policy maturing next year and one of the things I we have earmarked some of the money for is a really good holiday. There is me, DH, DD1 (7 at the time) and DD2 (who will then be 18-20 mo).
Before finding out last year that I was miraculously pg with DD2, we'd always thought we would go to Florida. I am now having second thoughts, mainly because of the long flight and the logistics of such a holiday with a toddler, and also because DH isn't all that keen. If I'm honest, I'm not overly fussed about it either, it would really be for DD1.
So I'm looking for alternatives.... There has to be something 'special' about it, as this is the only time we'll ever be able to spend this kind of money (8-10K including spending money) on a holiday. I thought of a cruise, but not sure if it would be our kind of thing, though I do like the idea of seeing lots of different places. Not sure how child friendly that would be....
To give an idea of what we like, this year for the third year running we are going to Puerto Pollensa. Would like to have tried somewhere different this year but didn't want to be disappointed and wish we'd stuck with PP. When DD1 was little we stayed in the UK and loved Devon (Dartmouth/Salcombe area). Also liked The Lakes and Northumberland. Pre DD's, DH and I loved city breaks, New York being my ultimate fav (I'm obsessed with the place). We also loved Barcelona, Prague, Vienna...
So... Does anyone have any advice on Florida, cruises or ideas that I haven't thought of?
Thanks for reading, sorry it's long....
AIBU?
AIBU to ask for help with holiday (2014)?
Gossipgirladdict · 18/06/2013 14:41
Am slightly jealous of your holiday dilemma 
.
The best holiday I've ever had was on a P&O Med cruise. We went on the Ventura, which is a family friendly ship, and it was fab. DDs were 6, 4 and 15 months at the time. The kids clubs were great- plenty of activities during the day, then at night, there was a slumber party until 11ish (from what I remember), and 4s and under could go into the night nursery until 2am. We sometimes did this so that we could have a meal together (food was fantastic), and watch a show or whatever. We also sometimes kept the DDs with us, and they ate in the main restaurant with us. I loved going to so many different places. DDs 1 & 2 can remember it, and are always asking to do it again. A sneaky peek at the P&O website suggests that something similar in school holidays would cost around half of your budget. Then you could have another wonderful holiday the following year, too!
I would advise you to shop around- travel agents would want to snap your hand off with such a healthy budget. It's not so much what they make on it, more that it helps towards the monthly sales target (can you tell that I used to work for one? )
Hear hear mijas.
I regularly take my kids out with their friends to the woods near where we live. They are sooo happy climbing trees, jumping in puddles, paddling in the stream, building "traps" with twigs, pretending to be explorers, etc etc. They could do it all day, every day and never get bored. That's the "stuff of a lifetime" IMHO.
I probably sound like a complete knob to most of you on this thread. But anyone vaguely outdoorsy will get where I'm coming from. Kids don't need the utter load of crap that is Disneyland. Let 'em run free outdoors and feel alive. A tent/youth hostel/family-friendly guest house on the Pembrokeshire coast should do it 
Look at Disney Cruise Lines, we went round the Med on Disney Magic for 12 nights and it was amazing!
Loads to do, brilliant kids clubs and you get see loads of places. Food was great so was the service.
My parents paid for 5 adults and 3 children and we had outside cabin and it was about £10k 
You really don't need a flash cabin as your hardly in it.
I couldn't agree more Anne, like you we are lucky enough to live on the edge of a national park and right beside the sea. We spend all our weekends outdoors, on the beach, in forests etc. Some of our best holidays have been when we've borrowed my DP's camper van. I love that kind of thing! But why not do something different/better/special for once? Like I said, this is pretty much a one-off. Camping ain't going to cut it!.
After a particularly bad winter a couple of years ago when I had cold for what seemed like months, we decided to go abroad for the first time in nearly 10 years. We haven't looked back. There is no substitute for sun that warms you through to the bones.
Lots of really good advice for doing Florida more cheaply and a Disney med cruise is sounding like a good compromise. Thank you!
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Actually, I think you've made a very good point, googly about memories. Yes, I think mine and DH's should be more important than theirs at this stage, I hadn't thought of it like that. That has made me feel much better!
I still can't believe how expensive Florida is for next year. I've been pricing it up this afternoon and, even with our budget, I'm not sure we can afford it (or rather that I can't justify it, I suppose).
On the subject of flights, we live 2-3 hours from the nearest airport, so direct flights are pretty much essential. The thought of that drive home after a couple of flights would virtually spoil the holiday for us. Especially if the return flight is overnight (as most US flights are). We've done it coming back from New York a couple of times and it was awful. And that was without DC's!
Hmm, lots to think about....!
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