AIBU to find holiday with small DC bloody relentless?

[Rainallnight]

That’s it, really. DP and I just had an argument. Think we’re both exhausted.

Holidays with little ones is just surviving in a different place - normally less well set up than home!

I genuinely don't understand most of these posts.

There is nothing I'd rather do than go on holiday with my children (age 3 and 6mths).
The oldest has been to Majorca, Disneyland Paris twice, CenterParcs twice and countless hotel trips in this country.
The youngest has had 2 hotel stays in the UK and a week long caravan in the Lakes in June which was amazing, we did Beatrix Potter museum, Aquarium, Zoo, boat trips, steam railway, lovely restaurants, fish and chips, ice cream, swimming every day. We all loved it.

We're going to Menorca next month (can't wait for this! Beach, sea, pool, walking, parks, lovely family meals). Then CenterParcs in December, Disneyland Paris again next May, Barcelona in August.
I'm absolutely gutted DS missed out on trips to Portugal and Holland last year due to Covid.
Once DD reaches 2.5 we plan on trips to the US, Japan and some more of Europe plus we're considering camping from next summer.

I'd go on holiday every month if I had the Annual Leave and money!
Just as happy on beach trips, city breaks, theme park holidays, rainy caravans...just enjoy being together having fun.

TUI Blue for Families.... all inclusive, kids club, kids disco, kids pools... for the four of us in August it was £2500 so not cheap at all. However, for a 4 bed house in Cornwall for the same week was £4500 😂

DH had 2 weeks off for the first time in years and years atm. We decided to stay at home and have some day trips. So much better for us.

We went to Norfolk in June for a week. The beach was lovely but ours are still little (2.5 and 6 months at the time) and it was just a relentless, exhausting parade of highchair wiping and napping.

I do think it depends on what your children are like to be fair. We took DS aged 6 months to Mauritius. It was lovely but he wouldn't nap in his pushchair at all so one of us had to be back in the room for naptimes (all 3 a day) and we had to bolt down dinner at the earliest time we could to stop him from being mentally overtired. It was a lovely holiday but the grind of routine and seeing to someone else's needs all the time was tough.

@Sunnygold

Is there any point in going on holiday with children? You can’t sleep in, or have a leisurely breakfast, or relax with a drink, or read a book, or sit in a bar in the evening. We haven’t been on holiday since before we became parents because it’s a pointless waste of money. If we’re going to be tired and bored we can do that at home for free.

Why can’t you do those things?

Starting to think parents who want to whinge about little kids on holiday can ask do it in one thread. There's multiple a day; how much more poor planning, lazy DHs and lax discipline can there be left to discuss!

Oh god yes I feel this! love my dcs but it's bloody exhausting. My youngest is very sensitive and has meltdowns at times you wouldn't expect. I've spent a lot of money just trying to entertain them but still feel like I'm failing.

A Lot of rose tinted spectacles on this thread! Just got back from our 'jolly holiday' . Absolutely relentless, physically and emotionally exhausted. 3 kids under 5. No break, no lie in, no book reading and no relaxing. Meltdown central. Feel so much better now were back at home with holiday club!! Am googling all inclusive with kids club as pp said! When they are all over 5 I think it might be much better.

All inclusive with kids club is definitely a good idea. We've been doing them since DS was three.
I'd highly recommend TUI ..... every one we've been on has been fab. We're away right now and we're having a blast!

We are about to book a TUI all inclusive for next year. Bungalows so we can watch films or sit on the terrace while DD is asleep in the other room, kids club, loads of pools, different restaurants. I'm really excited

@Starjammer

We are about to book a TUI all inclusive for next year. Bungalows so we can watch films or sit on the terrace while DD is asleep in the other room, kids club, loads of pools, different restaurants. I'm really excited

They're fab! Perfect for young children

Experience has taught me that being on a site with lots of amenities and staying in the best accommodation you can afford makes holidays easier. The holidays where I actually relaxed were Center Parcs and Ribby Hall. Able to just amble out and immediately access stuff if we fancied but also able to relax in the lodge.

Eating our for every meal and taking enough clothes to never have to do washing also really helps.

I am keen to try an all inclusive as I think that would be relaxing too. While DC are young I will be sticking largely to center parcs I think (both in UK and Europe).

I'm on holiday in the UK and agree. The sea is too rough to swim so she's grumpy about that, no swimming nearby and she's bored, weather has been a bit naff too.
We normally go AI abroad and find that much easier as she'll be in the pool a lot or kids club

it is their holiday too

I’m currently SAHM and do enjoy holidays with the kids. I find it refreshing for myself to get a change of scenery to be honest. Also enjoy some proper family time. But no, it’s not relaxing in the same sense as holidays pre-kids, and in a way requires more effort. Do lots of takeaways and meals out (at family friendly places ) to reduce chores during holiday.

“Same shit - different location” is how a friend once described “holidays” with young children.
Holidays with children only work if you book a holiday where they will happy. That’s why bucket and spade beach holidays are so popular .
This time will pass and before you know it you’ll be wondering how much longer your teenager will want to come on holiday with you . I miss making sand castles and eating sandwiches with sand in.

@Sunnygold

Is there any point in going on holiday with children? You can’t sleep in, or have a leisurely breakfast, or relax with a drink, or read a book, or sit in a bar in the evening. We haven’t been on holiday since before we became parents because it’s a pointless waste of money. If we’re going to be tired and bored we can do that at home for free.

How old are your kids?

I think it sort of depends on expectations & where you go. I have 2 DDs, 4 & 1. We went to Cornwall earlier this summer with friends & their young children. Weather wasn't fantastic but spent a lot of time on the beach / farms etc. We had a fantastic time, but of course absolutely zero relaxation. It was brilliant though.

A couple of years ago (before DD2) we went to mallorca and had our own villa with a pool. That was hard work and pretty boring tbh. Once DD was done with swimming there was very little to keep her entertained. We wouldn't go back whilst children are small.

Things with DD1 are a lot easier now she is 4 - she loves eating out etc and is generally wonderful company. DD2 isn't yet walking which makes things tough as after a few minutes in the pram she is crying to get out and crawl. Also wouldn't inflict her on evening diners at a nice restaurant! I can see that perhaps when she is around 4-5 things may (hopefully!) get a lot easier and holidays may be a bit more relaxed again.

Going away with a young child is not a holiday

agree, it depends on your expectations
and remember a change is as good as a rest.

you will benefit from having a change in surroundings

How many DC do you have?

With one small DC, we can just about enjoy our holiday a little bit. My DH is there, which makes a nice change, so we can "tag team" DC when in the swimming-pool (one gets to swim, one shadows DC) or at a theme park or playground (one takes DC on rides or follows them about, one gets to sit down with a coffee). Also, now DC is 3, we're getting to the stage where meals out are less of a torture.

With more than one mobile DC under 5, no chance! Nowhere to "corral" them, they start moving in different directions and unknown hazards everywhere. My advice would be to book a holiday abroad and pop them in the creche/holiday club for a bit (obviously not possible now due to Covid but hopefully will be in a year or so).

Two words: all inclusive

We always took ours abroad on all inclusive.
They could do the pool and beach all day long as well as join the other kids in the kids clubs, which were excellent. As well as stuffing themselves with ice cream and drinks till the moon came up.
We once tried a caravan holiday in the UK. Never again.

Depends on the age of the child really.
I found holidays exhausting when they were v little, say under 5.
After that they got easier.

Agree with those saying take it in turns with your partner. That way you both get a chance to recharge and the child gets the full attention of an adult.