Does this exist?

[FantasyHoliday]

We have 2 children age 1 and 6
Desperate to have a holiday this year, fairly limited budget but not overly tight.
My wife refuses to fly abroad or ferry etc as she says it's too much hassle with the 1 year old which I can understand.
I refuse to do anymore 'caravan" holidays like sun holidays as I feel we've done too many of them and since covid the cleanliness and amenities are generally very poor.

Is there a compromise? Centre parcs seems ridiculously expensive and we're not into camping. My son loves a premier inn/travelodge but as a couple it's boring sitting there in the same room in the evenings when the kids are asleep.

Please give us some inspiration 🙏 we are based in the South of England. . Thanks.

We go to Warmwell holiday park in Dorset and love it. There are only lodges on the site and lots to do. It's owned by Parkdean resorts.

You're so right. Definitely a contender for me but it might work out too expensive.

We've done it a few times, normally touring Scotland but the whole of the UK is in your scope. We tend to stay on campsites and do a bit of planning so what the facilities are on each site and how necessary it is to book in advance. Some sites are extremely basic whilst others have recreational facilities, on-site shop and restaurant etc. You can also park up overnight off-site somewhere though you need to consider things like toilet/washing facilities - motorhomes tend to have a proper toilet and shower but campervans generally only have a porta-potty and sink.

You don't really have that many options.

City break with kids that age is awful, you need somewhere either coubtrified where they can play outside or a site with kids activities.

So your only options are renting somewhere in the country or a butlins style place.

What's your budget? People always say centreparcs is expensive but is it really much more than you'd pay to go on a foreign holiday? Often people just don't want to spend the same money on a UK break.

So no pool and no beach and no flying, driving, or ferry? Places with activities built in are too expensive.

Staycation?

We really like Forest Holidays, we go to the sherwood one. You get a lovely cabin which is fully fitted out like a small house with a full kitchen, living room and bedrooms, a hot tub, bbq and fireplace. There's an on-site little shop and restaurant.

Then we drive out to local attractions, we went to Yorkshire wildlife park last time which was fab.

How about taking the overnight ferry from Harwich to Holland? Everyone will got some sleep (although there is a call via tannoy to wake everybody up quite early).
I can't recommend any places to stay because we have always stayed with family.

Dorset - air bnb

Have you looked at Butlins they have some nicer accommodation - been several times with DC and they loved the amount on offer

I'd make the case for taking a ferry to your wife - it'll be a car journey either way so what's the difference? Otherwise you could just get an Air BnB a couple of hourse away but it's not terribly exciting. (If you had lots of money I'd opt for Center Parcs, but it is bloody expensive).

Moonfleet Manor is fun but can be expensive (near Weymouth) plenty to do onsite and it the local area.

This is South West and my kids had a great time www.manorandashburyresorts.co.uk/

We stayed here, self catering but a pool and lots to do on site and in the area (Norfolk)
www.lowerwoodfarm.co.uk

Have a look at centerparcs in the Netherlands or France maybe? They are about a third of the price of the UK and you can use eurostar or euro tunnel tonaccess them which make it so quick and easy

Another thought and it does include some of your no's but with reason.

How about the Eurostar train St Pancras to Paris and then the Paris centreparcs. You get a self catered lovely cabin, there are activities on-site, it's cheaper than U.K. centreparcs for some reasons, they have kids clubs and childcare which you could take advantage of so you and your wife can have some grown up time while the kids are safe and occupied. You can do a wander through Paris and check out some of the big attractions.

There is a bus from Paris train station direct to the centreparcs.

What!?

We went to Centre Parcs in November last year, 3 night. 4 of us. It cost £1550.00 just for the accommodation. Then extra for every activity.

No idea where you got your 'few hundred' from.

Self catering accomm in beautiful North Norfolk... near a beach. Young kids no more 'entertainment' and the beach is free. Mundelsey, Cromer, Sheringham for example

It was almost a grand when the three of us (2 adults and a baby) went for three nights last summer. And that's not including activities.

So yeah, expensive.

@Amuseaboosh depends when you go. We went in May last year and it was £340 for the week

@Pollysprocket if you book outside school holidays it will be under £1000 for a week but once the main holidays hit it goes crazy. We paid £1000 for a long weekend at the beginning of the summer holidays last year, it would have been half that for the week before.

Eurostar or Eurotunnel - no more hassle than getting the train or going by car in the UK.

Away Resorts - we've stayed at Sandy Balls loads to do in the New Forest.

Also recommend North Norfolk coast

I know you said no ferries but what about the Isle of Wight? You load up the car like you would any holiday and drive onto the ferry then leave the car and it's only an hour!

Get an air b&b.

Forest Holidays.
There’s a lovely one in Cornwall