and a defeatist to write off next week at Centreparcs (>£1,000) because 12 year old ds has broken his toe and can't properly participate...or should we just go and make the best of it?

[hmcAsWas]

Ds has just broken his toe (Monday). Treatment is conservative - rest as far as possible, walk as little as possible, elevate when you can and avoid any sport for around 4 weeks whilst it is healing.

We have CP booked next week and the following activities booked and paid for : Laser Combat, Quad bikes, Family Crossbows and the High Ropes Challenge.

Laser Combat won't work - he can't run (just limp and shuffle) and is not prepared to do it on that basis and be a sitting duck. Not sure if he could do Quad bikes?, family crossbows would be do-able, but High Ropes a 'no'. He also wouldn't be able to do the 'tropical swimming purgatory paradise' due to the risk of him banging his toe in the rapids / down the slides etc. He is also going to struggle to walk the distances between activities (or though maybe he could go on a bike?)

I am inclined to cancel because it is essentially an activity holiday which he will have to watch from the sidelines (with a bitter disappointed expression of martyrdom on his face) ....but on the other hand, the alternative is him spending the last week of his holidays mostly in his bedroom on playstation 4...and then there is the money we lose....and dd will be a bit peed off

Should we go anyway....pfft, I don't know

[PurpleDaisies]

Is he a mature 12? Starbucks (and most of the restaurants) had wifi if I remember rightly so you could park him there with headphones.

[Seeline]

Which one are you going to hmc
we've just come back from Sherwood Forest and had good wifi in our lodge. All the main buildings had wifi too.

Elvedon has it in most places too I think

[mollie123]

is it the big toe or a little one ?
You have been given the 'worst case scenario' for treatment advice (note I am not medically knowledgeable at all) and he may well feel when he gets there that he can do far more than he or you think.
If the alternative was for you all to stay home and all be miserable - 3 out of 4 enjoying themselves would be worth it and you will not waste £1k. You could always make it up to him at a later date.

[BigGreenOlives]

Do you have travel insurance? Could you go at half term instead?

[WingsofNylon]

He will miss out whether you cancel or not. This is a good time for him to learn that often in life you have to be happy for other people's enjoyment despite being on a crap position your self. Plus, it is only a toe!

[maddiemookins16mum]

Ring them and see if you can swap the date. There may be a charge (the difference between the dates for instance) but it might be worth a try. I worked for a similar company and we would do a "cancel/rebook" in this instance, so we still get your money, you still get to go so nobody loses out.

[fascicle]

I'd contact Centreparcs and see whether or not they might be flexible, and allow you to reschedule, or have suggestions that might make the holiday more workable for your son. Presumably you have been given some general medical advice on dos and donts. I think it also depends on the individual - your son - and family, as to how much this will affect your overall holiday experience.

[myownprivateidaho]

Have you approached CP and asked if you can just cancel those activities, or switch them to other, more toe-friendly activities? If there are other activities and they're not fully booked I don't see why they wouldn't do this - costs them nothing.

[Bear2014]

We had good wifi in our lodge at Centre Parcs - Woburn Forest.

[YelloDraw]

Don't cancel - he'll be able to bike about a bit, he can do some activities like bowling and the archery, he can have a bit of a swim in the wave pool if its not in plaster.

[HoneyDragon]

Would he want his sister to miss out?

[talksensetome]

Which Toe is it OP? I recently broke my little toe and although it was pretty painful I still managed to walk a good 5 miles every day. get him some comfy shoes and painkillers and I am sure he can crack on.

[iseenodust]

What about other activities like canoeing?
Also you could leave the compound CP and spend some time exploring the area.

[Amelie10]

Would be really daft and silly of you to cancel. It's a shame that he can't participate in everything but as suggested there are other activities he can join in. And besides its not fair to the others on the trip.

[PinkissimoAndPearls]

Crocs are the comfiest shoes for broken toes, IME.

[titchy]

I'm currently sat in my office with a broken toe. I've walked on country tracks, up and down stairs and on concrete. It's a bit sore but OK.

Honestly by next week it'll be much better. He obviously needs to take it easy, but I don't honestly see why he couldn't do all the activities except laser, even the high ropes. You can walk on the flat of your feet on the high rope course and keep the broken toe slightly raised from the other (cotton wool underneath) so not too much weight goes on it.

I'm pushing 50, a 12 year old shouild be perfectly OK so go!

[hmcAsWas]

"This is a good time for him to learn that often in life you have to be happy for other people's enjoyment despite being on a crap position your self"

Thanks, that's just about clinched it.

I guess we're going!

Its Longleat ..so don't know about wifi there, but yes he can do starbucks and the wifi there whilst we are laser combatting

Ds reckons he could attempt the high ropes because that is next Thursday and it might be less sore in 8 days time - plus you tend to be slow and steady rather than careering around when doing the high ropes challenge

Thanks for everyones suggestions - I guess I could ring CP and ask them about switching dates but ds has said that he is game to give it a try, so we will. I will ask them if they would consider refunding his place on Laser Combat though - out of good will (circa £27)...they might I guess

[YelloDraw]

A broken big toe is pretty limiting because it is essential for balance when walking. Other toes, not so much.

[hmcAsWas]

It is his big toe YelloDraw

[LifeInJeneral]

It's definitely worth giving them a ring and explaining the situation and just getting a bit of advice on what activities he night be able.to do and asking if you could maybe swap to them for some of the activities you have already paid for. If they know about it they might be able to make a few changes to help accommodate you (e.g. putting you in rooms closer to activities etc)

[titchy]

It's my big toe too - honestly he'll be so much better in a few days.

[maddiemookins16mum]

DS up for giving it a go would swing it for me, good on him.

[HoneyDragon]

The land train is there which is great. They might let him use the pick up service too on the check days if you ask nicely :-)

[Downtheroadfirstonleft]

A friend went recently, with a daughter with a broken arm. She said they still had a great time. They had to alter some plans, but had a ball (& daughter got to both be spilt AND look heroic).

Longleat has good wifi in lodges.

[sashh]

Glad you are going.

I think ds should be the 'official photographer' for your trip, it will give him something to do if he can't participate.

Put it this way, if he had broken it on day 1 of the holiday would you come home?