To not make use of our last opportunities for a cheap family holiday abroad?

[OrangeySnicket]

I have three DC: three year old twins and a baby nearly a year old. The twins will be starting school in September 24.

We've never been on a holiday abroad since having children, and if we want to do it we really need to before September 24 when we'll be restricted to school holidays and so paying a lot more.

At the moment, we've just done breaks in the UK with Butlins etc which my kids adore because of all the shows and entertainment, and the pools. We can also drive to nice places on the coast within about 90 mins so the traveling is stress free.

Going abroad would bring us more reliable weather for the beach, outdoor splash parks etc but we'd have to pick carefully so it wasn't somewhere too hot especially for the baby.

I want a holiday to be a holiday, and as easy as possible, so if we went abroad it would be to an all inclusive resort which we'd be unlikely to leave more than once in the week for a day trip somewhere.

We could do 4 or 5 midweek Butlins trips next year (with food included) for the price of one week to an AI from our local airport (Spain/Greece/Turkey/Canaries).

DH is really keen to go abroad over the next year but I think we'd be much better off having multiple trips to Butlins etc. I don't think DCs will care about being abroad and would prefer more trips. With school holiday prices and then having to pay for a seat on a plane for all three kids/needing accommodation for three kids a holiday abroad will be out of budget after next year.

AIBU to make us miss out on our chance to go abroad next year in favour of UK trips?

I'm with your Dh. Not all AI are that expensive, we've found corking ones quite cheaply.

You don't have to go somewhere hot to go somewhere more interesting. You could consider Denmark, Sweden, the Channel Islands, Ireland, among others. All different to Butlins in the UK.

Do the sun holiday. The kids will love the pool and the unlimited icecream! We're away with our 1.5 year old DC at the moment who is incredibly pale and I'm v v careful about sunburn, but they've been absolutely fine with regular suncream applications, UVF protecting swimsuits and siestas. It's definitely not a "relaxing" holiday but the guaranteed sun is worth the month. You can always do some days out on the other weekdays before school starts.

What an odd post. It's not nonsense, that's the difference in prices

@OrangeySnicket no it isn't! Or if it is, simply post the price of 5 midweek trips to butlins with their food package included compared to a week of AI in a three star (which if we're doing like for like is being generous to butlins) resort in Spain including regional flights in term time. You've obviously costed it up

There is nooooooo way. And that's leaving aside you don't get free drinks with your butlins package!

That’s an unfair comment. The uk holidays they’ve had aren’t op’s idea of a great holiday- she’s simply putting the dc first as all mums do, so she’s hardly “getting what she wants”

Lets face it, it sounds as though op does the lions share with 3 under 3 yrs- she said her dh helps but gets “stressed” if the dc are playing up (which with toddlers happens most of the time).

I completely understand her reservations with travelling abroad with 3 little ones: one a baby sitting on your lap during the flight.
It’s a lot of additional work and it might be worth shelving this holiday until the dc are older.

Agree 👍

We did cruises when the kids were that age. The kids clubs on a lot of ships are amazing even for babies so you can have time as a couple. Onboard ship (if you go towards the med) is warm and if you choose a ship with a water park onboard the children are happy. Get off at some ports and stay on for others to enjoy the quiet ship. All food and entertainment included! No flights if you go from Southampton.

Obviously Disney cruises are amazing for kids but ££££. Royal Carribean, Carnival and P&O can be super cheap out of peak times. We did a family of 4 week cruise to Norway on RC at the beginning of July for £800 per adult and kids were free.

Op dc like almost anything... They don't need entertainment or anything. Like that

I'd do the holiday abroad. I'd stick to a shorter flight, say 2.5 hours or less. The older ones will most likely enjoy the flight anyway. My family enjoy a British holiday as much as the next person, but it's not the same as playing in the outdoor pool all day, joining in with the kids club and evening entertainment at an AI abroad. Yes, let your DH have his holiday pick, because the children will love it too.

This only sounds stressful because you are making it stressful. It’s going to look different but you can still have a great time

twins in kids club. Make sure the resort will take them from 3 and normalise them going young. I know couples with older kids who have kids club refusers and they literally have never had a couple of hours break on hols.

shifts with the baby, so you both get a couple of hours of downtime. Even walking a lovely resort in the sun with baby in a pram and an audio book is a great thing to do on a ‘shift’

choose accommodation with a terrace so you can sunbathe during nap time and retreat to your terrace for AI drinks after dinner

its going to look like a different holiday pre kids, but so much better than crusty Butlins

It’s really not an arduous task to spray sun cream on a child. Babies don’t combust in the sun. I don’t even know why this is being factored into your decision

For kids that age I would really recommend Villa Pia villapia.com/
It's basically a small all inclusive hotel which is totally set up for families with small kids - they have all the equipment you could need. Breakfast and lunch are buffets, kids' tea is a buffet (always including plain pasta etc) and then adults dinner is served around a big table later on and everyone has baby monitors. It's the only restful holiday we ever had when our kids were that sort of age. Sheer bliss. It's quite a long drive from any airports - Perugia is nearest, or Bologna has more flights - but it's worth the drive

We did AI in May to Menorca in term time this year, it was half the price compared to going in the May school hols (£2000 instead of £4000 for 2 adults, 5yo and 1yo).

We spent our time around the pool/play park, we did have alcoholic drinks in the aft/eve, the AI food was good for the kids but I got a bit bored of it - depends on the hotel food though I guess. Personally I wouldn't do AI again as I prefer going out to different restaurants.

It was good to go in May as the kids just wanted to play in the play park and it was cool enough to do that, I think if we'd gone during summer it would be too hot (hot slide etc)

Next year we're going to go to France and stay in a caravan, as I think there'll be more for the kids to do and it'll be more enjoyable to play where there's lots of greenery rather than just having a pool area to hang about in,so that could be an option? You would save quite a bit doing that type of holiday during term time too.

I’m with your husband - it can indeed be a little stressful getting there but spain/ malta or portugal etc in may is lovely - nice temperature, kids pools, parks etc - just choose well! I took mine abroad from little, first trip with both my daughter was nine months, son was 2 and a half - I didn’t find it any more difficult than being in the uk. I also found that in good family friendly hotels the staff are fab - all the kids clubs have been great (we choose sessions for them which were outside in the shade) so we could sit and watch and relax) especially for the first few days).

Mine are 17 and 19 now - they still want to come with us but the stresses are different 😀😂😂.

We did this too - my oldest is 19 but can still remember the kids club on board and how amazing it was!!

what about disney land paris

I'm with you if the holiday abroad is just going to be in a hotel with the children going in the pool or the kids club. If it was to visit family abroad, or some particular attraction (like Disneyland Paris as someone has suggested), then yes take advantage.

If you have not been abroad recently, passport controls are longer (Brexit), some airline service has deteriorated (BA especially) and you have no idea how children will react to warmer temperatures.

I have not done two weeks away for years, never more than a week, so I can have several holidays, like you have done.

I'm with your DH! Holidays abroad are sooo much better, we've never had any stress going on them - although we're always flexible and laid back with regards to routines abroad and just go with the flow.

DS5 and DD2.
We've done CenterParcs, hotel breaks, Haven etc in this country.

Also Mallorca, Menorca, Salou, Disneyland Paris x 4, Holland, Belgium. Going to Portugal next month.
We're not fans of AI, prefer to go exploring on an evening for nice restaurants (not posh, just pizzas/steak houses etc) Much better to be out and about with kids rather than just sat in one place.

This.

To me the simplest argument in favour of going on a week’s AI abroad is that having enjoyed Butlins holidays for the past 3 years or so your DH now fancies a change. And it will be difficult to afford it once the older DCs are at school. Of course there are lots of reasons why going abroad is a bit more hassle in terms of getting there than popping off to Butlins. But none of them, in my view, justify not doing something that your DH is really keen to do.

uggh, I have lived with 1 DD in Spain for 15 years. I have neverr known anything like the humidity (70/80 percent, more at night) and the heat (40 and as PP says only a bit less at night)

I have not been out once, feel sick from the heat. There is no respite and no splashing in the pool between 11 and 6. You would be mad and irresponsible with DCs so young.

Its not pleasant at all.

3 DCs to watch in a pool? Not a holiday.

Menorca in September sounds perfect. I think you would get similar weather late May / early June.

I can't see the point at all in the Holland/northern France trips people are mentioning - what a huge hassle to get there and weather similar to the UK? Short travelling times are a must with younger children - so a UK holiday within 3 hour drive, or a short flight.

Mainland Spain can be cheaper than Balearics- so check prices. You may be able to afford a Butlins or Haven break as well .