Wwyd? Aib selfish over holiday?

[Tractorprincess]

Long and short of it is we'd like to take the dc abroad this year but can't afford it.

We usually go to a lovely holiday apartment or cottage in the UK, 5*, very home from home, beach on the doorstep, short walk/train into town with more beaches, shops and restaurants, but, we have to make our own fun with games on the beach, day trips, picnics, walks, meals out etc.

We could, for the same price go to a butlins style holiday park in a caravan, accommodation wouldn't be as nice, not in so nice area and beach not so near, but there would be more 'entertainment' for the dc. A pool onsite, and children's activities.

I've never been anywhere like that and I know what I'd prefer. Wondering if the dc would prefer the latte and I should embrace this type of child friendly holiday?

We sometimes go to Haven sites with our own tent. Direct access to the beach is the selling point for us. I quite like the evening entertainment for my daughter, she has fun and I get a chance to relax but I don't bother with the daytime activities and rarely use things like the pool.

I think Butlin's is way overpriced and not very nice.

I would do the nice accommodation and go for one or two days out at theme parks and kids' swimming pools etc and chill out on the beach. The kids will love it.

You're not being selfish to have a holiday you enjoy. Why would you think that? There's nothing wrong, or selfish, in a gentle seaside holiday.

Yes, compromise. If you go somewhere on the Yorkshire coast, you could stay in the nice cottage in the quiet area and visit different areas/beaches and have a day in Scarborough with its waterpark.

There may be coastal towns in other areas that also have waterparks, or you can also get a day pass to Butlins I think.

I used to be a Butlins snob but went last year and actually it was fine. The children loved it, the accommodation was clean and the people weren’t rowdy or anything like that.
However... we only went as an ‘extra’ holiday. We’d already had a villa in Spain for 10 days earlier in the year, a week in a cottage in Norfolk and a few weekends away. If it was my only holiday there’s no way I’d choose Butlins.

There is a middle way. Self catering yes, but in a chalet/ ready erected tent on a "naice" campsite like this one:
en.campingdelabaie.com/

There are others, but I've stayed here several times and the dgc love it. Pool, next to the beach, kids club, nice walk to a pretty town with yachts- but not a "holiday camp" feel at all. You can book through Eurocamp but it's cheaper to book direct. They have a sister site across the road called "la Plage".

We used to go to Butlins 3 times a year as children - we adored it, just went off and did our own thing as there was plenty of stuff for us to do without needing adult supervision all the time (which is also great when you're starting to find your independence a bit)

I would definitely choose Minehead or Bognor Regis over Skegness though - much nicer camps, although Skegness site is right on the beach with its own private entrance.

My two youngest loved Haven more than any other holiday we have had. We swerved the evening entertainment though and stuck to the pool, soft play, playgrounds and beach.
It wasn't much different to Centre Parks tbh, shite overpriced food, loads of other annoying people. The major difference aside from the cost was in CP the bratty squawking kids were being helicoptered adoringly by their parents, in Haven they were either unsupervised or being bellowed at to "get here" or "pack it in".

I went to Potters in Norfolk - it's a family run place. No cooking, no washing up, no cleaning, everything just there in front of you, kids always entertained, beach on the doorstep, it was heaven. We had a bungalow, which was basic, but there's a hotel that looks much more fancy. Very clean, lovely people, very well run. Both DH and I came home feeling refreshed because we didn't have to do any sort of housework or even any thinking really for a whole week. The kids had a fantastic time.

We've been to a few caravan parks with onsite entertainment and they definitely have their place imo.

Whilst beautiful cottage accommodation is lovely, my dc would rather have a pool, a couple of structured kids evening activities, other dc to play with and £5 in coppers for the arcade

We went to a lovely site a couple of years ago, in New Quay, West Wales. Lovely caravan accommodation, pool and amusements, decent food in the club house and reasonably priced. And you've got New Quay and the dolphins and crabbing to see/do.

I wouldn't go to Butlins though or other massive sites.

there are plenty of Butlins style places but where you can hire private accommodation and with stunning sea views etc. basically, a cottage type holiday but with all the holiday park amenities 5 minutes walk away.
we go to hafan y mor in Wales, right on the beach and stunning scenery.
This sort of thing is best of both worlds. away from the main caravan site but still on site with all amenities included like swimming pool, entertainment etc.
www.hafanymorholidays.co.uk/Golf6

I'm imagining poor, dirty accommodation, lots of litter, rowdy people.

We have done various holiday parks and none have been like that.
High quality caravans / lodges, very clean, no litter around the parks, and 'normal' people.
If that is what you are worried about then don't be.

My family went to Cofton last year and loved it- children aged 11 and 13 at the time, great for teens/pre-teens as well as younger ones. Near to the beach, beautiful clean site, two pools, restaurant if you can't stand cooking, but also you can explore and do your typical days out that you would do in your luxury cottage.

www.coftonholidays.co.uk/devon-holidays/

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g551656-d673315-Reviews-Cofton_Holidays-Dawlish_Devon_England.html#REVIEWS

I have done caravn holidays since having DC. Often in Cornwall, but have been to other places. I would avoid the biggest parks unless you have teenagers. Devon Cliffs at Exmouth is good too, always gets good reviews.

The smaller parks seem to attract young families as there is less to do, but saying that the park that we have been to for several years, has got a lovely pool, a great kids play park, and daily activities and good evening entertainment. The beach is 5 miles away.

Ruda at Croyde is lovely and right on the beach, with plenty to do nearby and onsite, various grades of accommodation too, from luxurious to basic.

I like Parkdean parks, but have stayed at Haven and John Fowler several years ago.

Funnily enough, I am now looking at doing the opposite and getting a cottage on the beach , but I think DC at 10 still wants the holiday park, so maybe a couple more years of it.

You are a better parent than me. I wouldn’t even consider a holiday camp!

Do they like swimming? What about something like center parcs? Not near the beach but loads to do for the kids.

Go to a holiday cottage, and take a day trip to the Butlins/Hedra resort. That way you get the benefits of both and will realise how truly horrid the resort holiday is

I have enjoyed both types of holiday you describe, both as a child and an adult. As a child we went to Butlins twice and I adored it, my first memories are of being there.

We have taken the kids on cottage holidays in Cornwall and Suffolk, and also done Butlins and a few Haven holidays. I think Haven holidays are fantastic. Beach is usually right next to the site. There is so much for the kids to do, we booked into archery, nature walk, swimming thing where they were pulled along by jet thing, boats, fencing. In the evening I like the fact they can go to the entertainment and I can sit with a glass of wine and watch them dance to Superman and all the other songs I remember from holiday camps when I was little. Yes, there are arcades and yes there are sweets on tap, but the accomodation was not dirty. And you don't have to stay on the site, we have done day visits to the Norfolk Broads, Southwold, Arundel, Edinburgh (not all from the same site obviously!).

I can't imagine anything worse that Butlins - the cottage sounds perfect.

We have done Butlins (meeting up with my sister and her children) and the children all loved it. So much so we went several years in a row.

My own children have done everything from glamping, Butlins, Center Parcs, weekends away staying in Premier Inns and Florida (Disney/Universal/swim with dolphins) several times.

They have enjoyed it all, every holiday. We just enjoy spending time as a family. As a child we went to Butlins every year, yes it has changed a lot but you can still enjoy it. The pool, slides and rapids at Skegness are fantastic as is the beach.

I love Butlins! The site was pristine, accommodation the same, no drama with other residents, in fact, when I saw someone breaking a minor rule, and grassed them up....the staff were on it like flies on shit!
The kids were in seventh heaven, and we got to actually relax because they didn't need us beyond giving them money 😂

It's interesting that the people saying holiday parks are shit are the ones who don't seem to have actually gone to any holiday parks!

We used to do Club Med, which was not too expensive and great fun. Although I did get told off for calling it an upmarket Butlins (which it was). There was a mix of europeans, so you got to practice your French too. The child entertainment/care was brilliant, and lots of sports for adults.

Don't know if they are still going?

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all.

Holidays are meant to be an enjoyable time for everyone, not just kids. If you do your preferred option, everybody enjoys it, including the children. It's a win-win!

Why not a Eurocamp type holiday? Often not much/any more than Butlins. You can even stay in a Villa or sometimes Chalets. You don't have to join it but its there if your DC want to.