To think I can make two days by the seaside as good as two weeks abroad?

[Toothiehurtie]

For a variety of reasons we can’t go away this year and we haven’t been away for the last two years mainly because covid but other reasons too. We have a friendship circle where everyone else has been away at least twice and just heading into talking about everyone’s summer holidays. We can do two days by the seaside but I’m thinking if we throw money at it and try and find a nice hotel with a pool and just let the Kids have as much ice cream and fish and chips etc. Wondering if you fantastic people can think of anything inventive to make it seem extra exciting. We are going to get up very early to go and I’m going to make the kids a pack like you get on a plane.m, and make hotel welcome basket etc but trying to think outside of the box.

If you have money to throw at it why can't you go away for longer than 2 days? 2 days wouldn't be a holiday for me.

Why only 2 days? That's not a holiday.

Nothing wrong with a uk holiday but at least make it a week!

If you can throw money at it could you get much cheaper accommodation and do longer? Remember children don’t remember the room they slept in so it might not be the nicest or best place but if you’re out all day they and you won’t care.

My kids would prefer a self catering cottage for a bit longer, or a theme park. But it depends on your kids ages I guess. I wouldn't bother with things which emphasize the fact you are not going on a plane (the pack) but do things which are completely different eg. A treasure hunt. Make the most of what you have. Getting up early/ traveling in the dark is always very exciting, but bear in mind check in won't be till later. Or would you be able to go in half term? There's some nice centre parc type places in Holland/ Belgium but much cheaper.

How old are your kids? Mine don't really remember any flights from when they were young so wouldn't worry about trying to emulate that experience.

How old are your kids?

My 5 year old would love (and remember) picnics on the each, playing in the pool, rock-pooling, a boat trip, making huge sandcastles, playing beach games, fish &chips, ice cream. None are revolutionary but actually, when I ask her what she loves and wants to do, it’s those things she comes up with.

How old are your kids? Can you do a few weekends instead of just the once?

I second the suggestion to stretch the money to stay longer - get an AirBnB somewhere nice, make a packed lunch and go for days out - castles, waterparks, theme parks. Free stuff like going to the beach. Get a family National Trust membership and pack in a load of visits to places with fun gardens/interesting houses to explore.

There's loads of stuff you can do for free/cheap and the kids will remember having fun with the family - they don't care where they are as long as they're being entertained and loved.

Well 2 days isn’t going to be as good as 2 weeks no matter how nice the fake plane pack is

Go for longer & do cheaper accommodation!

we have obligations that we can’t get out of, and responsibilities with work and personal lives that mean we couldn’t all go away together until possibly October at the earliest. We can do a night sometimes but this is the only two days we can all do and be together. Difficult to explain without outing myself but there are other people who would have to be either paid for to come with us or we’d have to sort cover for them and it’s then just not a holiday at all with them there. Kids are 10 and 7. Thé money isn’t the issue really it’s more how to make the two days feel really nicer

I know I know but sometimes if you’re really thoughtful about things you can make it feel much more special.

For two days in October if you had the money to throw at it, I'd be on the Eurostar and at Disneyland Paris rather than two days by the seaside in the uk in October, when the weather isn't the best.

At those ages surely you’d be better off doing 2 days 1 night at Alton towers , get water park passes for both days and get there at park opening . I can’t see kids of that age being impressed by airline packs and welcome baskets .

Or, Legoland/chessington if you wanted to stay in the uk.
We did one day at each with a two night stay last October and had a great time.

That's exactly what I was going to suggest - go to Alton Towers, stay in the hotel, they'll have a blast.

I wouldn't go to the seaside in October - it could be miserable.

Agree with the last two posts, given your update.

(Was agreeing with the 'week in a cheaper place' posts until then)

Or go to London and "do" the capital ?

I was going to say the same 2 days I would do Euro Disney or a theme park something like Alton Towers.

Depending on where you are a city break is doable and loads of different things to do based on your children's interests.

You'll have to keep your fingers crossed and hope for good weather otherwise no amount of money thrown at it will help!
A nice hotel with a pool would be nice but spend money on other days out too.

Or a child friendly festival something like camp bestival

I think I am right in understanding that you can do 2 days away over summer but can’t do more days than that until at least October?

Two days can certainly make a big difference to your wellbeing. I’m not sure I would try to do anything very novel though. Instead I would keep it convenient and low stress, don’t drive far once you are there, picnics, eat whatever, build sandcastles etc. No queueing for things or activities! Just spend time being together. I think days pass more quickly when there is a lot to do.

I would put time into finding somewhere with plenty of space and not throngs of people though.

Most kids of that age would love a Famous Five type holiday. Would you consider camping or a glamping yurt maybe? Then you can have evening camp fires 🔥 which will make the days seem longer and is something a bit special. Even cheap hotels can be fun if the aim is to be outdoors a lot.

I would save the theme parks for day trips.

2 days of excellent seaside would be brilliant. Then back home to play with friends and go swimming and build dens in the back garden.

OP when I was a kid one year my mum couldn’t get time off in the summer and decided instead of going on holiday we’d just do lots of day trips at the weekend, with the odd Saturday night away. It was brilliant. We went to Blackpool and did silly stuff all day. We went to theme parks and zoos and National Trust properties. We had a day learning to sail on a lake (disaster, but a fun disaster!). A hike and picnic in the Lake District. A trip to London to see a musical.

it was great.

Maybe you already do this sort of stuff at the weekends anyway, but if not I think you can totally come up with an experience that is as good as going abroad for a week. Don’t be limited to only doing stuff you can all do together, be flexible, for the 2 days you can all be together, do something you all like, but don’t treat it as though it’s the only “true” bit of holiday. Take photos and at the end make up one of those photo books “Hurtie Family Summer 2022 - The Kaleidoscope Year” or something, to bring it all together.

A family lesson in something like sailing, surfing, stand up paddleboarding etc (depending on where you're going) could be lots of fun and make it a bit more memorable.