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.

I would Airbnb it every time tbh. I'd rather pay relatively more and have a shorter, nicer holiday in a nice place than a caravan or poky self-catering place for longer. I think often the insistence on having to be away for a long time makes it needlessly expensive. So four nights somewhere really nice and comfortable rather than seven nights in a caravan.

But I can't deal with camping and being uncomfortable and having shit facilities and would honestly rather not go away than deal with this.

www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk/

Tenby is lovely
St Ives but will be expensive
Norfolk coast
euro tunnel then short drive into Normandy. Loads of eurocamp places there.

Bluestone in Wales is good. It has a waterpark, soft play, woods. It's near beaches and Folly Farm too.

There are also nice cottages right at Durdle Door. They are called Durdle Door Cottages I think. They are nice and really close to the beach. There's a little play area on site and a games room. It's more peaceful than Bluestone (or it was when we visited), but there is less to do there.

Other UK places we have visited with kids (but I can't remember the exact name of the cottages) are Cornwall, Devon, Anglesey, the Peak District, Yorkshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Always find loads to do. I prefer it to beach holidays too

How about forest lodges. We went to the forest of Dean last year, which was quite nice. Not lots to do in the evening but you could relax and use the hot tub after the kids have gone to bed.

www.forestholidays.co.uk/locations/gloucestershire/forest-of-dean/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAq5meBhCyARIsAJrtdr4N31swUKu80SdnMaItFZ_1-zGwiJSWC6VHtNNXNkVuY09TeDY7U-caAhwvEALw_wcB

Many years ago we stayed in a chalet here northfieldholidays.co.uk It was a David Bailey green park and all about the wildlife but that seems to have changed.
When I try to find somewhere to go on holiday I decide where I want to be, what view I want and if it's dog friendly and then go from there.

How about butlins? We go to minehead every year, it is a bit run down but loads for kids (we stay in one of the privately let caravans though I know you said no caravans but they do have their own accommodation) we love it :)

*David Bellamy not Bailey!

🤣🤣🤣 you are so right!! I think pools and beaches not abroad will be ok,its the idea of trying to field them next to a busy pool surrounded by loungers with nothing else to do that fills my wife with fear. Or on a mega hot busy beach.

If you’re happy driving abroad, look at a Eurocamp holiday. You can drive there, although I’m not sure how driving with a one year old is any better than flying or ferry.
alternatively, drive to Dover and do a Disney cruise. Terrific family holidays.

These replies are so hugely helpful thank you everyone so far.

Also, parkdean holiday are really family friendly.

I’ve taken my grandchildren to my favourite very quiet resort in Wales many years because there’s not much to do so the kids are not mithering for everything. It’s literally a gorgeous beach and a camp site .
Reasonably nice campsite too, if you’re happy with play areas, pool, small amusement arcade, nature walk, and evening entertainment.

DH and I just back from renting a cottage at Seahouses in Northumberland. Took our 15 month old grandson.
Was absolutely fantastic

I wouldn’t think a motorhome/touring would be a good idea if your child gets travel sick. Air b&b or sc cottage sounds like it’s your best option.

@ConcussedPigeon
Sand Resort has been bought out by Watergate and another company who I can’t recall right now.
They’re going to completely renovate it to remove existing floorplan and add 17 new apartments I believe - it’s going all self-catering with building work commencing this summer….I would not recommend it right now.
I posted about this and a link to the relevant works in the UK part of the Travel section recently. Shame as it fitted the bill for a lot of families.

Was just in case she was worried flying was going to be awful 😁 I'm saying it's sometimes not as bad as you think.

Glamping? you can stay in Yurts or wood cabins type things

i have no idea how i found this old post ! sorry!

When my DS were little we used to go on the ferry from Plymouth. I know you said no ferries but we are in the SW too, used to book with a window cabin, chill/sleep/eat on the ferry and then stay in a gite in Normandy, Brittany, Loire. I also found the prices for May half term brilliant and because you have the car you can take everything you need. We did our first when youngest was five months and every year for three years until we went back to aeroplane holidays. We also stayed in luxury static caravans which were exceptional quality and cleanliness.