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.

I'm aware this isn't what you're asking, but I do find it depressing that the treats for your kids are things that are fun to play with, listen to and eat, for your husband it's something lovely to eat and drink and for you it's something to improve your appearance. Wouldn't you like nice food or alcohol or a new book or similar? Why is your treat something to make you more aesthetically appealing for other people?

Saying that, I hate pamper experiences and spa days etc etc so perhaps it's just that I'm over-thinking it and blaming patriarchal oppression/expectations because I don't get the appeal of that kind of thing.

To your actual question - if it's already agreed that it has to be near the beach and the hotel has to have a pool, then I'd say they should be the focus. I have a 7 year old son, and frankly his ideal holiday would be us at the beach building sandcastles and den and jumping over waves, eall day long. Get a beach tent as advised by a PP, and some fun beach toys, make up luxurious beach picnic hampers, stock up on suncream, and pray for good weather.

i think if you cant all get away together, then id take kids away seperatly

No. 2 days on a UK beach is never going to be anything like 2 weeks abroad, or as good. You can have a great time but you need to drop that notion to do so

Can you tell us where in the UK you are? We can get specific!

Don't fly, airports are grim at the moment.

Broadstairs is great. Beaches, ice-cream, crazy golf.

I think to make it extra special, stay in the nicest hotel you can - lovely pool/spa, nice sitting areas, somewhere that offers a great breakfast, and dinner, comfortable spacious bedrooms, etc. Nice grounds.

Try not share a room with your kids - go for interconnecting rooms or if not available, family room with a separate sleeping area set-up for kids. At that age, my kids loved ordering hot chocolate from room service before bed and loved a good buffet breakfast.

Id stay at st Annes...... That way you have the option of beaches / pleasure beach / waterpark / zoo. There's plenty to do round there. The kids will love it.

Butlins. They do three day holidays and some you can get for under 400 depending on what you wanted to spend. Pool is included as is all entertainment. Food is extra but does come as all you can eat.

Absolutely love Broadstairs. Would go back in a heartbeat

Christ, Butlins? Might as well stay at home. 3 days at Butlins...I'd rather go to work.

My DC's are adults but the holidays they remember are, "2 days at Disneyland Paris, 2 days we spent visiting Longleat (1 day at the Animal Park, one doing the house and the petting zoo etc) we stayed at a Travelodge and ate at the Park's very good restaurant, also a long weekend at Warmwell holiday park in Dorset, loads of activities there for all ages.
Longer holidays were not remembered with such affection

I think you can do something amazing for 2 nights. Even not spending huge amount.
Things kids remember
Hotel with a pool, room service, picnic on the beach, adventures together.(zipwire, go ape).
Let the kids decide what they want to do.
Dessert first before lunch
Chocolate for breakfast
Plan together.
Sounds fab

Anything you can offer is good enough. Don't punish yourself for being unable to live up to the expectations of other posters. Personally, two weeks on a luxury AI resort is my idea of hell (and I do get that you can leave for excursions). Perhaps choose (or make it!) a long weekend and book for three nights (which often comes with a further discount). We recently went away for three nights and it had the required effect. Forget the idea about making packs, just pack their usual comforting toys/games.

We've done exactly what you are suggesting with our kids 8 and 12 a couple of times recently. In our case it was about getting a good break away from (NHS) work and whilst moneybags a factor it was all about it feeling distant. My advice is actually to package few different things in to each day so you can look back and think oh we did that on X day and that on Y day and then realise it actually was all 1 day!

Things we have done:

Blackpool- this was during the illuminations though. Arrived at hotel - which had a pool, did pool them quick lunch then walked the prom (and went shopping for gloves/hats!). Then we caught the tram down to a recommended fish and chip restaurant for early dinner, and then rode the tram for a couple of hours getting off to see all the tablet light displays etc. Next day we did the tower to the top, then the ballroom (strictly fans) then played on the beach before heading home.

We've also done much closer to home an offer marriott hotels have where you get a room, evening meal, turn down - which is hot choc and cookies before bed - bed & breakfast and a posh afternoon tea. Again hotel has a pool. The kids get the 'plane packs' (book, teddy and other bits) and they are set in nice walk areas. I think it's called family adventure package or something. We didn't leave the hotel grounds and thought we'd been there a week!

Depends on what your kids like!

You could look at PGL if you kids are more into adventure sports. Don't know how short a breaks they do but...

That is actually insane. You'd be travelling for hours only to turn around and come back again.

@garlictwist

no you wouldn’t. You would be there for a few hours to enjoy.

@SilverGlassHare

Some women like a face mask not to look more aesthetically pleasing but because they find it relaxing or it makes their skin feel nice or - and this might blow your mind - because they like to look good and take a pride in their appearance for themselves, not for the benefit of men.

2 days at uk seaside will never never be as good weeks abroad OP, it’s just not possible.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t make it special and have a lovely time

I live in a tiny seaside place. 2 days here would be great!! We have amusements, bowling, fab chippy, ice cream parlours - sit in or take away. A cinema very nearby. Plenty of B&Bs and a Travelodge.. Currently also have 'shows'...

I didn't say "for men". I said "for others". I think it's definitely naive to assume there's no element of people-pleasing in anyone's desire to "look good". But yes, if it's a treat for OP to use a facemask, it's a treat. I suppose it's no different to getting nice clothes or jewellery as her treat, which wouldn't have even registered on me, and it's a sign of my own bias against pampering, as I find it mindblowingly boring.

I'd book 2 days doing an activity somewhere - like surfing or something.

Or Isle of Man for 2 days - it's 'foreign' different money, steam trains, fish and chips, stay outside of Douglas - Port Erin for a beach. You can paddleboard, surf, etc. Great places for a drink in the evening on the beach.

I suppose it's because to me, a facemask would come under the category of "basic maintenance", like razors or shampoo. It's not the same kind of treat that even nice make-up seems. It's boring dutiful appearance-improving stuff, not fun adornment.

It didn't escape my notice that you position not thinking a facemask is a treat as not taking a pride in your appearence or looking good, though, @LuckySantangelo35. This may shock you but you can take pride in your appearance, and still think a facemask isn't a treat in the same category as toys or luxury food.

Oh noooooooo

who wants butlins?!

it has to be at least mildly enjoyable for the adults too as well remember

When my children were small we never had money to do much for holidays - usually a trip in our touring caravan - but the kids loved it. I would always make a new craft box, add some comics and a book each.

Obviously the money isn't the issue for you but I can assure you that my kids loved those trips and saw them as holidays. It sounds like you have a really busy lifestyle so having so much time with both you away from home will feel like luxury to them.