To not want to go on holidays with DC?

[NearlyAlwaysInsane]

OK so here goes. We are potentially planning to go with DD1 (6) and DD2 (3) on a week's holiday this December. We actually have some flight vouchers we could potentially use somewhere in Europe.

But: when I think it through, it all just seems stressful. The idea of decamping abroad for a week, just seems heavy and a right PITA. The DC are not that age yet where we can really do more than 1-2 days in a city (AirBnBd this summer and two nights was more than enough.....DD1 doesn't have much attention span for museums yet), and we've otherwise been doing self-catering in the UK with the car (pros: the car means you can just leave and come back, no stress; cons: self-catering basically provides zero rest of any kind, so it's a bit like being at home, just somewhere else, and the routines come with us of course).

So: AIBU to think sod it, stuff the vouchers, at these ages it's just too heavy to get going with overseas holidays?

Ynbu about not wanting to go on holiday with young children. Yabu about thinking self catering means more work. I always do self catering. I like to eat in different places of my choosing. You don't have to cook because you are self catering. You just don't have to eat the same buffet every day.

Why do people keep saying the canaries? I’ve never been.

Are the vouchers due to expire?
Could you scrap the family holiday and just have a night or 2 away with just you and your DH?
Lots of people travel with young kids fine but I would think it’s a lot more stress than it’s worth.

TUI Blue Flamingo Beach Lanzarote with trips to Timanfaya, Jardin de Cactus, Cueva de los Verdes for 'the secret' and Lagomar to see what looks like a real life Bond lair. No time in stuffy museums or art galleries required.

@Tal45

TUI Blue Flamingo Beach Lanzarote with trips to Timanfaya, Jardin de Cactus, Cueva de los Verdes for 'the secret' and Lagomar to see what looks like a real life Bond lair. No time in stuffy museums or art galleries required.

God forbid anyone, much less a child should have to bore themselves with boring old shit like history, culture, art, great architecture etc. Not when there's a pool to splash around in. Yeah!

@NalPolishRemover

I think perhaps you just need to research your trips a little more. We travelled a lot from when dc were small. Once we'd decided where we'd like to go we'd book an apartment as close to the centre as could be found. I love that sort of research so would spend ages picking the right one. We favoured serviced apartments over hotels as it gave us a bedroom for dc & a living space for us in the evenings to relax once dc were asleep. It also gave us a fridge to store snacks / fruit / milk for dc as well as all important wine & beer

We never cooked as such but it was v handy to be able to give dc cereal & fruit whilst one of us ( usually dh) went out to get coffee & pastries to bring back. We could eat in our pjs etc

Once all that was sorted I'd research the top 10 things to do in that city with children the age our children were at the time.
Playgrounds, special museums for their age, walking tours with a 'spot the lion' or what ever theme -lots of cities have these!
Best pizza place, best ice cream parlour, best chocolate shop. Some cities have botanical gardens or zoos etc swimming if your kids are into it

Then I'd figure out an itinerary based on interspersing the kid activity - so one day might be walk to a lovely park, admiring the architecture etc along the way, a big run around the park, then off to the best pizza /pasta/ burger what ever place for lunch.
Another walk to find the best ice cream place but again meandering through the city as you go.
Maybe take in a market or food market. Coffee / wine / ice cream/ cake breaks as & when an opportunity arises
Home at a reasonable time & they were usually wrecked by then so showers; & into bed. Takeaway & wine for us.

Another day might involve a trip to a toy shop for a small new toy & a trip to a museum seeking out the interactive parts suitable for them

Aquariums are good if there is one

Basically use a carrot on the stick approach with them - you're out & about because you're going to do the thing they love but you incorporate the things you want to do an route

We've always had a great time travelling with ours . Hope you have a great trip if you go

I agree with all of this. Travelling with small children is absolutely magical, you just need to adjust your mindset. No, it isn't relaxing, but exploring the world through the eyes of your children is just about my favourite bit of parenting imo.

@WonderfulYou

Why do people keep saying the canaries? I’ve never been.

Are the vouchers due to expire?
Could you scrap the family holiday and just have a night or 2 away with just you and your DH?
Lots of people travel with young kids fine but I would think it’s a lot more stress than it’s worth.

I’m guessing they are saying canaries as it’s still hot / warm in winter unlike most of Europe.

Of the parents I know those that enjoy their holidays either go to an all inclusive at that age or get a local nanny/babysitter for at least part of the time

Ynbu, sounds stressful. Could you and DH go alone for a few days and then come back and do kid-focussed day trips?

What about flying to The Netherlands? Couple of days at Efteling, and some time in Amsterdam/Rotterdam.

Rotterdam has an amazing zoo, and both cities are very family friendly.

You are choosing holidays for the adults you used to be within children. It's much more relaxing if your holiday is aimed at small children even if it's not what you would prefer.
So I wouldn't dream of a city / sightseeing holiday with small children, save that until they are teenagers. Think about all inclusive beach / pool holiday.

@NalPolishRemover you could totally charge people for that. I would love someone to just hand me an itinerary like that !

@Cheeseusmydownfall I totally agree. Travelling & exploring new places with dc was / is one of the very best parts of parenting for us too! It's amazing how you see a totally different, sometimes more real side of a city when you're navigating with a small child. You visit parks & playgrounds & supermarkets/ markets which you wouldn't necessarily would when travelling as adults- well we wouldn't have anyway. You see other perhaps local parents & you can often pick up tips on other good places to visit in the area etc

@Chocolatewheatos that would be great! O could give up the day job!! I just love planning trips. Looking up stuff & imagining being there keeps me going in lots of ways. We have teens now & although we missed lots of travel with the pandemic etc It's a lot of fun travelling with this age group. And far easier in the evenings- they love going out for dinner, are v adenterous with trying local cuisines & are great company! When they've had enough of us we head back to the hotel & let them go to their room & we can have a nightcap or two in peace.

We're heading away in a few weeks & the hotel has a roof top bar which I plan to make good use of!

Kids have fun no matter where they are and it’s always fun being somewhere else, not distracted by your leaking kitchen tap, jobs you should be doing etc. There will be some great Christmas markets in Europe in December, wrap up warmly and go for it. Hotel, self catering, even a caravan, it’s all exciting when you have a young family. Go, make some memories.

You could go to a family friendly resort with a kids club type place, all inclusive so easy to try lots of different foods plus endless ice cream.

My favourite holiday when the kids were that age was actually to the creiff hydro in Scotland which we all loved!

Kids have fun no matter where they are

You have obviously never been to Pontins

Worst decision of my life.

Tenerife would be lovely. Had a great holiday there when my kids similar age

@NalPolishRemover

You should be a holiday planner that sounds amazing.

@Mosky

You are choosing holidays for the adults you used to be within children. It's much more relaxing if your holiday is aimed at small children even if it's not what you would prefer. So I wouldn't dream of a city / sightseeing holiday with small children, save that until they are teenagers. Think about all inclusive beach / pool holiday.

Agree with this.

You could go see Santa in Lapland!!!

I took my DC to Paris when they were 5 and 3 and it was great. We took their scooters and walked for miles, stopped for regular hot chocolates/ crepes, they loved the Monet waterlillies at the Orangerie (after which we went on the Carousel in the Jardins de Luxembourg), they loved the winding Montmartre streets, they loved the escalators and watching the skateboarders at the Pompidou Centre etc. - and they super loved going out to supper and out for breakfast and going on the metro and how it was slightly different to the London tube etc. They keep asking when we're going back....

That sounds wonderful! I don't really get this designation of city type holidays as being 'not for children'. Particularly for children who don't live in cities normally, just a trip on a double decker bus or people watching in a busy plaza or getting to eat streetfood is a great experience and adventure. I have had brilliant holidays like that with my children and have never done the beach/pool like holiday because I would consider it a collossal waste of my precious leave and money and the children show zero interest either. Europe is a bloody treasure trove of places to visit, we are so lucky to have these places to explore and enjoy. It seems to me a shame to narrow oneself to beaches, pools and specifically child-oriented activities.

‘Kids have fun no matter where they are’

This I’d turn on its head and say toddlers can be bloody miserable buggers wherever they are. My 5yo is a delight to take places. I think I could have a lovely time if I took her on a city break of the type puffykins has described. My 2yo hates a lot of things. Did an afternoon tea with her recently and she even hated the bloody cake. She did not hide her disdain for pumpkin picking when we did that either. I have a brilliant photo of her looking utterly disgusted by the entire thing.

I would only take children of that age to an all inclusive family resort type place, preferably with a set of grandparents in attendance to help out.

My dc are teens now, but we had many lovely holidays with them from when they were younger than the OP's. Never in my life been to an AI resort. We have been on holiday with extended famioy, which is always fab, but taking grandparents along as childcare seems a bit off! We do camping and self-catering. I do think a city break would be a bit wasted on a 3 and a 6yo though.

I always used to choose where I wanted to go and then Google what there is do with DC in that area. There’s nearly always zoos, good parks etc. then I
would get to see what I wanted and the DC would have a fun trip too.
I travelled abroad with my DC since they were 10 weeks old and we’ve only had good times, so many amazing memories.

You’re lumping all overseas holidays together in one category, when there is so much to choose from and so many different types of holidays. While I understand that the travelling might not be much fun, it shouldn’t be that bad by the time your children are 3 and 6 so if your holidays are stressful, it’s because you’re choosing the wrong type of holiday.