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.

Ok

Center Parcs. Top of the range accommodation and restaurants for meals. Wall to wall activities and fab pool.

We checked in to ours online 48 hours before arrival (marriott) got up early, travelled, went to beach, got automated message from hotel letting us know room was ready around half 2, then when we were done, went straight in to hotel round 5, pick up key cards, freshen up and out for dinner. One night gives us 2 full days away.

I'm assuming they let you leave your luggage there? You didn't take it to the beach?!

It was in the boot of the car. Same on checkout day. But they did have a left luggage room if needed.

I think it sounds wonderful and your kids are gonna love it OP.

Find it quite worrying how many people are suggesting hopping on a plane for a one-day trip. Not exactly great for the planet is it?

We did a two day one night mini break in Colchester last year that was fun, day 1 we went to Colchester zoo, then drove to Mersea Island for dinner, stayed in a B&B there. Day 2 we played on the beach after breakfast, then drove back into Colchester for lunch and spent the afternoon at the castle.
Colchester is a day trip distance from us, but staying the night made it much easier to pack in several things to make it feel more like a holiday than two days out.
Cutting down travel time will increase the time you have to do fun stuff at your destination too - or is there something half way there you could stop at for a few hours?

I agree with cutting down your journey time. A max 2 hour road trip is plenty.

I'd choose somewhere touristy/ beachy within a 2 hour radius. Lots of castles, woodland (forestry commission parks with wild playgrounds are great) and have a few things planned in case of rain.

We stayed in a Youth Hostel Association place in Suffolk a few years back for a few days. Had our own private room with 6 bunk beds and a private bathroom. You can bring your own food, cereals and stuff to make your own lunch and use the shared kitchen. Kids loved it.

You meet some interesting folk staying there too. Loads of cyclists staying when we were there. You can keep to yourself too!

We loved it. Happy memories. Had good weather though. Fish and chips on the beach one night. A pub meal treat on another. A private room and bathroom is a must with small kids though.

@Mamibaer
It’s not no, but you only get one life

She’s said she can do two nights, so three days.

I kind of like the adventure idea. Is there something unusual you could go to or kind of place you could stay? Like one of these places theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/articles/the-most-unusual-hotels-in-the-uk/

We have recently done this although our children are younger (8 and 2). We travelled two hours to the seaside early Sunday morning, left Monday afternoon and crammed in so much in that time: lots of playing on the beach, fun fair rides, arcades, aquarium & dinosaur park, crazy golf, donkey rides, ice creams and doughnuts etc. All of the usual seaside stuff and both children loved it.

Not sure we will be getting a proper holiday this year but if we don’t we will definitely have another weekend away - just the break from work / normal routine is needed. I’m sure with 2 nights you can have a great time away, it won’t be the same as 2 weeks abroad but it’s definitely worth doing!

I'd do a weekend at a holiday park that has loads of activities and entertainment for the kids.

Are these obligations more important than your kids? You can't get this time back. Sorry to sound blunt x

Of course, why not?

What is it about being in a different country that changes the holiday intrinsically?

A holiday is a stress-free time away from home. There's no stipulation that says it must be so far away you need a plane or boat to get there.

One life which for many people will be cut short, and be brutal while it lasts, because of the climate crisis. A day-trip flight is shameful.

Yes this! Thank you x

@stuntbubbles won't the plane take off & land whether they're on it or not? Lol

Ooh I totally get this comment but I find a cheap face mask an excuse to lie down and relax for twenty minutes and I’m not that bothered about my appearance, I’ll be making sure I have excellent books, the gin and snacks I like and new pjs, my husband isn’t very good at doing things for himself but I very much am.

BRB just buying myself a holiday piece of statement jewellery

Nothing is more important than the kids but the obligations we have are more important than going abroad for two weeks which I would love but just isn’t possible this year or probably for a while.

it’s a combination of a lot of things, disallows relatives, Very ill friends who I help as much as I can, relatives who need a lot of support, incompatible holidays at our respective works, work obligations which I could get out of if I absolutely had to but would leave people in a complete mess due to small company and someone else with a very tricky home life who would then not be able to spend time wigh someone who doesn’t have much time left

if I was being selfish we could go for more than two days I suppose but we are lucky, we have a nice house and we are happy at home but it’s just more that we weren’t expecting to get any time away and now we have this little window I wanted to try and make the absolute most of it to be as special as possible.

thanjs for everyone’s tips and advice, keep them coming!

id love to go abroad but we’d have to renew three if four passports and it doesn’t seem cost effective to go for just a couple of days

Why does it have to be seaside? Is that something the kids are desperate for? Not sure on ages

Do they like activities? Maybe something on the Cotswold water parks

The over whelming majority of kids are happy as Larry on a beach.

Plenty of people... with around 400,000 visitors per site over a year.

So probably around 1 million people?

Honestly, go camping for longer. Some of the best holidays I ever had as a child were camping and I still love it as an adult. Is this more about your children's expectations or your own?