To book a PGL trip as our Oct half term holiday?

[RedAngel19]

Can't go abroad as flights and accommodation are too expensive. DH also can't take the time off. I'd really like to go somewhere but UK weather in October isn't reliable. So I'm considering booking a 2 night PGL trip with the kids. DH will stay and as it isn't somewhere abroad or 'exciting', he won't feel so bad missing out. I figure that it won't matter if it rains for these types of activities? Has anyone done a PGL family trip before? I never went as a kid so I have no idea but my kids like the type of outdoor activities so I'm thinking it might be a good thing to do for half term. I have no idea whether it's popular with families but hopefully there will be other like minded families so the kids can also make friends? Has anyone been on a family PGL trip and happy to share their experience? Thanks!

@YomAsalYomBasal that's worrying! I'm choosing PGL because they have such a well-known reputation for working with schools (since I was a kid) for residentials and they are a long established company. So I'd like to think one of the safest.

@OhGoodnessItsSoExhausting perhaps the shenanigans is why everyone looked forward to PGL when I was at high school! And possibly why my parents refused to sign the consent form to go! The weather is the only thing possibly putting me off. More worried it dampens the kids' enthusiasm.

@emmathedilemma the price is inclusive of activities as well. My only extra cost would be to get to the site and back.

@TheseOldShades sounds like you had a fab trip! Not bothered by basic accommodation or food (as long as we have enough to eat, basic food is okay for us). We are very much there for the activities. Like you, I also have two kids with very different interests except that these type of outward bound activities are ones they both enjoy. I also enjoy them! I never got to do these things as a kid so I like the idea of being able to enjoy them with my kids!

@wishingchair1 thanks. Will check out Kingswood. PGL only accept childcare vouchers if only children are going. Not for family trips as it isn't really childcare then.

It's brilliant so many of you enjoyed your PGL family trips and have been on them!

We've been to three different PGL sites as a family with home education groups and we're booked to go again in Sept. It worked really well. Easy for parents as staff are doing all the work and you don't have to make any decisions: you are told when to eat, where to go and which activities to do, and you don't even have to navigate your way around site (some sites are huge!) as they like keeping everyone together and will lead you about as a group. Parents can join in the activities or watch -it costs the same either way - but on a family trip you do need to accompany your children at all times.

It's slightly more fun if you bring one or two of your kids' friends along. You spend all your time with a small group, which is brilliant for making friends, but of course there may not be anybody your children gel with in that little group. One year my wild giggly child was with children who were all pretty serious, so it wasn't such a good fit socially, but she still liked the activities.

At two of the sites the food was basic but fine, and at one it was terrible - but even there, they do always have a few things out such as salad bars with fresh fruit and pasta salad, so I always found something edible.

They have rain shelters at every activity so at least you are dry and out of the wind while waiting your turn, but if rain is forecast you may want to bring plenty of spare warm clothes to change into.

Wow I was always obsessed with the PGL brochure as a kid but never went!! Looked so cool! Had no idea you could go as a grown up.

By the way, my eldest went on a lot of PGL and YHA trips solo, where parents drop kids off for the week and staff looked after them. One of these was the PGL "Xtreme adventure" featuring highly desirable activities such as quad biking and sailing. My kid didn't like that one, as it involved a lot of coach travel off the site and then ages spent waiting for their turn on the quad bike or whatever, so actually very little time DOING things. Plus it was more expensive!

In that case I’d say it’s a bargain, go ape high ropes course is £35pp and other activities would be similar per session if paying privately.

We've just got back from our second family adventure four nights break (I posted earlier on your thread to say we'd done it last year too). We got a 60% discount and it was £500 for four nights and 15 different activities (plus the evenings- campfire, crepe making, bingo, family showdown races, cluedo and more).
The staff were fantastic.
There were some safeguarding issues and Ofsted got involved in the press last year for the child solo trips. I think possibly drug issues on a site with staff.
However I suspect handful of staff and it wasn't in relation to their family trips. I also suspect this may be why they've now separated out the family adventure sites from the solo children sites (as family trips can include alcohol in eves etc - obviously for adults).
Safety on activities was very good and staff were well trained. They are mostly young but they were so good with the children and adults alike, and enthusiastic/energetic and always checking in that everyone was ok. I would really really rate it.
Once again we had a really good trip and challenged ourselves with lots of activities.
We got the 60% off by leaving it so last minute. There are always offers but not convinced early bird is necessarily the best. I hope you have a good time if you do go!

We got back from Caythorpe on Friday. Fantastic week and we are all shattered. DD loved it, made lots of friends and wants to go back again. Only downside was quality of food but not bad enough to prevent us going again.
Would definitely recommend.