Took my 11 and 7 year old on a 4 night PGL family adventure in May half term. I was slightly dreading it tbh. But as a single mum with 2 kids of different ages, different interests, 1 boy 1 girl, I was hoping it would engage both and avoid me being constantly pulled in 2 different directions.
It was a punt that more than paid off. The children adored it, no screens, no squabbles, no time to be bored. There were 5 families, split into 2 groups, as the smaller group we had very little hanging around waiting time (unlike theme parks) and the kids were constantly engaged and challenged and worked together as a team.
We were lucky with the weather, and there was a pool, which helped, but the thing that absolutely made it was the staff. They were energetic, bubbly, enthusiastic and took huge pains with the kids.
It is not a relaxing holiday. Every minute is scheduled and I came back exhausted, battered and bruised and half terrified, half proud of the activities I completed. Important for the kids to set an example and engage with them in the challenges I think. I wasn’t expecting to get that stuck in myself, but you get drawn into it!
If you want great accommodation and gourmet food, don’t go. Tho both were perfectly adequate. If you want to see your children attempt and achieve things they didn’t know they could, and to show them along the way that you can climb a telegraph pole and swing on a trapeze with the best of them, despite being older than Methuselah, then it might just be for you.
They pack a lot in which makes it a lot of holiday for the money. Mine are desperate to go back and, once my bruises fade, I might even consider it. I know for sure it’s a holiday they’re always going to remember and they’ve been playing PGL at home ever since.