To ask if you’ve had a nice holiday with your kids?

[sandytoes84]

Currently pregnant and naively thinking about lovely future holidays with child (children if I’m lucky enough to have another).

I feel like all I’ve read this summer on AIBU is how awful holidays with kids are and what a terrible waste of time and money mumsnetters are experiencing.

So I’d like to ask, did YOU have a a nice holiday? (I hope you did!) And what did you do/where did you go?

We had a lovely holiday in Holland with our two year old. It is very child friendly and we went to a variety of parks/playgrounds, a beach resort and Efteling theme park. We stayed in two bed apartments so he could be put to bed separately and we could have an evening. Some of it was self catering which worked well. We even extended the holiday by a few days as we were having such a lovely time.

All our holidays before DD was 4 were shit because she couldn’t settle anywhere that wasn’t home and we’d spend the whole holiday in a sleep deprived mess.
We’ve had great holidays in Butlins where they’ve got loads of entertainment for kids so they don’t get bored.
It’s not my dream holiday destination but anything which keeps DD busy means I get a bit of a break too! She loves it so much and I love seeing her have such a great time.

We haven't been on holiday for several years because we don't have the money but the last time we did, we went to a caravan site on the east yorks coast and that was OK. Dh didn't come (he'd won himself a nice weekend away, by himself, in a sunny country but the less said about that the better) so it was just the dc and me and it was fine. They were 4 & 6 at the time and no hassle. We went on the beach, on a boat trip, on lots of walks, shopping, to cafes etc. It was just 3 days as that was all I could afford but it was relaxed and fun. I'd love to be able to do it again.

Our holiday is yet to come this year (the action kicks of end of next week!!) But I. Can honestly tell you that the past 3 summer holidays, when it's been just DH, the children and me, have been the best weeks if my life! I LOVE our summer holidays and can't wait for next week :)

☀️🌈🌠🍷🍷🍩🍫🏊⛱️⛱️🏖️

It’s mostly about adjusting your expectations and understanding that there’s no holiday from parenting (unless you’ve got help). Children have the same needs regardless of the location and in fact those needs can increase when you’re out of your home comforts.

We always have great holidays but I don’t expect it to be restful or “easy”. You just have to enjoy it for what it is.

I took my toddler son on holiday once. It wasn't a holiday, it was just relentless graft chasing around after him. I'd wait until they are over the toddle/running away/tantrum stage. 4 upwards is great. I love holidays with mine after that. And I was a single parent so it was just the 3 of us.

I think you’re in for an absolute treat!

Ok - Agree entirely there is no holiday from parenting.

But somehow, with normal menial tasks removed/the daily ball ache of running your own house, you actually get to SPEND TIME with your kids!

We have travelled extensively with DS since he was four months old - not expensive places or mega luxury - and actually I think I’m in a minority that we do still have the holidays we used to - lots of travel, tropical/remote places and long journeys.

He copes absolutely fine and always has done. It’s a joy to see him experience all of it for the first time - sand, new animals, the sea - and for the most part travelling with a little one is like travelling with Elvis; he gets mobbed everywhere and everyone wants to hold him!

We are off to the Far East with him in two weeks and I can’t wait.

Oh ps - jetlag is an absolute bastard 😂

Had a fantastic holiday with DS when he was 11 months - DH and I spent the whole time in a state of disbelief over how much fun we were having, mostly because we had a truly dreadful holiday when he was four months and came back SO depressed because everyone had told us that 'travelling is so easy with a baby but so hard once they're mobile' so we thought we'd never have a good holiday again. Not true for us! We've, a bit unexpectedly (I changed jobs and had a gap in between) both been off all of August and we have had the best time - he's 14 months now. Spending a whole month as a family has been the most incredible privilege.

I really enjoy our family holidays. We couldnt afford one this year but going to Butlins next year, can't wait!

Lol on our first hol in Portugal with our Ds he was 9 mths, we went with our friends & their dd same age. Half way through the week me & my friend realised we were doing all the cooking pureeing n looking after the babies while the boys were 'on holiday' unknown to each other we both flipped out & had a right go at our DHs same night. The next day the boys were chatting & it unravelled & they realised they had been in pre kid mode! We went on few holidays together after & everybody pitches in since then. we still laugh about it! we've two older ones now & I know it's a cliche but just love the down time with them. Life so busy at home! Key is finding something a) relaxing as we all need a break b) fun activities that everyone can enjoy (this year it was beside a great surf beach & pool n slides). Its simple but keeps us happy!

I'm really lucky (maybe? Or is it just how things SHOULD be?) - DH will take the DCs out for a few hours while I do my own thing so I can relax. First holiday with 2 x DCs I found myself up at 5am (bottle) feeding the baby, making breakfast, organising everything whilst he laid in bed and sat around doing FA. I snapped after a couple of days and insisted he did his share. Since then we have always made sure each other can read a book, have a drink, shower, lie in in peace. Now DCs are older they get up at a civilised time anyway. But I'm glad I was assertive back then.

The 10 days we just had in Tokyo with our 6-year old have been some of the best days of my life.

Yes. We love holidays with DS. Have been on a resort holiday last 3 years when he's been 2,3 and 4. Greece, Majorca and Greece. All were brilliant.

We stay in apartments that are part of a hotel complex with a pool, next to a beach in a resort out of school holiday time.

DS still gets up early so one of us gets up with him and one of us sleeps a bit later. We find somewhere to have breakfast, head to the beach or pool, have lunch, everyone has an afternoon nap, maybe some more pool time and then head out for the evening. When he was 2 we'd rock him to sleep in his buggy, when he was 4 he stayed up late quite happily and 3 was a mix of the two and repeat for 10 blissful sunny days with the odd boat trip or excursion thrown in. If DS needs an earlier night we stay in and can have a bottle of wine and a chat because it's an apartment and he's sleeping in the other room.

I think it helps that DS has always been used to going to new places, eating out and napping in his buggy. And we're really lucky he'll still have a nap now at 4/5. He loves being in the sea and pool and is really adaptable to the change in routine/time zones. It's our favourite 10 days of the year.

All's about to change though, with another DC and having to take holidays in school holidays so we'll see if it's as easy!

Iv enjoyed every holiday iv taken my boys on.

Yes some where more stressful then others and their been little "tiffs" but iv loved them and would do it all again

Holidays dont mean changing into some one completely different or that every thing has to be perfect magazine looking 24/7.

When they where young everything situated round them and it was tiring running after them but as they get older it's easier . Ds are 10 and 13 and weve just come back from a long weekend at the beach. I had a mini melt down at them acting g spoilt at one point. They apologised we put it aside and carried on having a good time. They wont remember me telling them to pack it and stop being a brat because they couldn't do something right that moment but will remember us randomly going back to the beach at 10pm for a game of baseball.

That's said I would love a holiday no kids to but holidays with kids are what you make it, dont put to much pressure on your self to make it perfect.

Yes every family holiday has its shit moments - I remember the day when DCs had between them been carsick and had wee and poo accidents all in the space of one afternoon and on top of a very early flight. Also recently the Eiffel tower got rechristened the Awful tower due to the queues and the DCs epic whinging and mucking around while queueing. But the good moments way outweigh the bad. And the older they get the easier it gets. Bit like having children generally.

The 10 days we just had in Tokyo with our 6-year old have been some of the best days of my life.

@Femunculus I'm so jealous I could puke. I've always wanted to go to Tokyo. Was it absolutely amazing??

we've done caravan holidays since my first was small. can cater when you want what you want and have a living room to relax in once child asleep, separate bedroom too.

don't bother going abroad, too hot, travel, less stuff.

For those of you enjoying term time holidays with your under 5s, just be aware that once they turn 5, taking them out of school for holidays can result in fines, criminal charges and court appearances.

I love our holidays. My kids are 3 and 6. This year we are in the UK and trying to still make it feel special. But actually the kids just love the company and a play ground. Thankfully it's stopped raining. We went to Spain last two.hols but very different as north and south.

All inclusive - great for teens
Villas
Eurocamp style - great for tweens
Butlins - great when they are small
centre parcs - great when older

Agreed

For those of you enjoying term time holidays with your under 5s, just be aware that once they turn 5, taking them out of school for holidays can result in fines, criminal charges and court appearances.

This makes it sound like you think they shouldn't be enjoying the holidays in the meantime!

Absolutely not, but don't be too smug in the meantime.

Mine is only 2 - but we had an amazing holiday. Tiring yes, not relaxing like holidays pre DC.

We went to a centerpark type place, and loved it!

Yes really lovely. Went to Lake Garda. However DS is now 7. I remember the holiday from hell in a self catering cottage in France when he was very small and learnt to crawl suddenly and there were steep stairs and no stair gate and he wouldn’t sleep and we couldn’t go anywhere because of nap time and he wouldn’t keep a sun hat on and screamed when we put suncream on 😂😂😂

But now holidays with him are great and have been since he was about four. So it does get better