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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Help a mum out… where to go in the uk (or abroad?!) with a 2.5 year old?!

54 replies

Muuuman · 20/12/2024 15:04

Looking at somewhere to take ds in spring or summer. Don’t know where to start really… is it even worth it at 2.5? Will he get much out of it?! Have a reasonable budget but don’t want to spend for the sake of it! I thought uk better than going abroad but maybe not?

OP posts:
SpanThatWorld · 20/12/2024 17:26

I've had 3 kids and we have had lovely toddler holidays all over Europe.

One of our favourites was Duinrell which is a camp/caravan site in the Netherlands with a massive leisure pool, theme park and playgrounds all included. Lovely little town about 1km away and the beach a comfortable 4km bike ride away. Easy reach of Leiden and Amsterdam is a day trip away.
With a car you can get to Efteling which is a delightful theme park with lots for littlies.

Also some of the Landal Greenparks have subtropical paradise pools.

But we have had camping, caravaning and chalet holidays with toddlers in UK, Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Spain and had fun wherever we've been.

Only thing I'd caution against is hotels. Tricky if you're sharing a room, little one goes to bed and you're stuck in the same room.

boysmuminherts · 20/12/2024 17:30

Did you watch I'm a celeb? Coleen Rooney said Butlins is her boys favourite holiday! These are children who fly private jets to the Caribbean. So there's your answer.

user2848502016 · 20/12/2024 17:53

Yes I would stay UK based with a 2.5 year old. Ideally less than 3h drive.
They will be happy anywhere really. We like Pembrokeshire/Cardiganshire or Yorkshire coast.
Haven are good because you have the pool and kids entertainment

TheFairyCaravan · 20/12/2024 17:58

Menorca in June, before it gets too hot and too busy. It will be sunny and warm, the beaches are sandy, the sea is clear and shallow. It’s so family friendly and very beautiful.

RegulatorsMountUp · 20/12/2024 18:01

Muuuman · 20/12/2024 15:04

Looking at somewhere to take ds in spring or summer. Don’t know where to start really… is it even worth it at 2.5? Will he get much out of it?! Have a reasonable budget but don’t want to spend for the sake of it! I thought uk better than going abroad but maybe not?

Disneyland Paris

SkankingWombat · 21/12/2024 06:32

Haven are good because you have the pool and kids entertainment

So does Butlins, but at Butlins there is loads of other entertainment included in the price (and the pools are better). It has been a few years, but the Just For Tots weeks had indoor and outdoor fairground rides, soft play, playdough sessions, meet exotic creatures sessions, show about dinosaurs, and the opportunity to see performing on stage and then meet a good number of their favourite characters (ie people in big furry suits).

We camped at a Haven last summer, one of the bigger newer ones, and it was a mistake we'll never make again: we felt fleeced at every turn. We had picked it due to location and thinking it would be nice to camp somewhere with good facilities and entertainment for once.
Everything was an extra except the postage stamp-sized pool (which was a pain to book and do if you wanted to swim daily), tiny playground, and evening entertainment. Butlins entertainment had pantos and kids' celebrities for their evening entertainment, whereas Haven had pot luck performers (two were good in our 10 day stay), a lot of quizzes, and on one particularly awful night where clearly the entertainment had cancelled last minute, one of the blue coats singing out of tune karaoke for an hour... The paid-for activities were expensive for what they were, and to run salt into the wounds, we found the timings pretty dishonest eg paid £12 for 45 mins on the climbing wall, but when we turned up there were only 3 walls and 12 DCs per session. Once the harnessing had taken place, they were lucky if they had 10 minutes of actual climbing. In comparison, their usual indoor rock climbing centre charges £15 for a whole hour of climbing, it has more walls than DCs per session, and the kitting up and safety briefing takes place before their hour starts. We found the timings for all the activities at Haven worked a similar way, but the climbing was the worst example.
On top of that, the drinks in the hub were really expensive and the campsite etiquette was awful. Think multiple pitches blasting music, and if you had the audacity to politely ask the pitch next to you if they could just turn it down a little (not even off, just not at full volume less than a metre from our tent), you got an earful of delightful language combined with an colourful explanation that this is what is to be expected at a Haven (thank you: noted). If you can't tell, we were not impressed!

HPandthelastwish · 21/12/2024 06:34

@SkankingWombat agreed, everything at Haven you need to pay for in addition to what you've already paid. At Butlins it is all inclusive, we went when DD was in her Barney phase and the look on her face when she got to meet Barney and Baby Bop will stay with me forever.

Theright1 · 21/12/2024 06:36

Drayton manor to see Thomasland

TwirlyPineapple · 21/12/2024 06:39

We did Anglesey when our DS was the same age and had a great time. We stayed in a chalet next to a beach and spent 5 days there. We went to Pili Palas, Newborough beach, Conway Castle, Llanberis lake railway, the Sea Zoo and a few other little towns for a wander. None of the things we did were mind blowingly amazing but definitely pleasant with a small child.

We did Cornwall when he was 9 months old and I was thinking how good that would have been at the same age. Again, lots of beach time and wandering around little villages, getting the train to St Ives, Newquay Zoo, Lappa Valley, Eden Project.

DDivaStar · 21/12/2024 06:40

My immediate thought was Longlete we love it there and baths a lovely area. Haven great for accommodation at that age with swimming and entertainment on your doorstep.

Heatherbell1978 · 21/12/2024 06:43

Eurocamps. We've been going since DC were toddlers. Short flight to France, loads to choose from at different budgets, brilliant outdoor pools and splash parks and comfy lodges.

westcountrywoman · 21/12/2024 06:44

Bluestone in Pembrokeshire. Lovely swimming / toddler splash pool / play area / activity dome on site.
Off site nearby you have Folly Farm, Tenby Dinosaur park etc which are fab days out for little ones.

AutoP1lot · 21/12/2024 06:46

I agree with Haven. Kids of all ages love it, and if they're occupied you can relax. They're all pretty good ime.

Also, I've never been to Centerparcs but people do tend to rate it so I'd say get in there before you're tied to the massively overpriced school holidays.

EasterIssland · 21/12/2024 06:48

It really depends on what you fancy doing. My son is nearly 7 and been to different countries.
when he was 2 we were meant to go to Japan but that was 2020 so it got cancelled. We ended up visiting the highlands.

before being 2 he’s been to Mexico , Disney Paris and dolomites in Italy. They all are good for 2.5 years old

AutoP1lot · 21/12/2024 06:49

But if you want to go abroad, I like Majorca for an easy family holiday. The SE corner, around Cala D'or is pretty and laid back, with warm gentle sea and good, fairly inexpensive hotels.

CandiedPrincess · 21/12/2024 06:52

Go abroad! Honestly mama needs a holiday too and a UK holiday park ain't it. I love them but wouldn't be my first pick.

You could get a decent break away, book somewhere with a kids club so your little one could go in the morning maybe and you could have some time chilling.

We've stayed at the TUI Blu range of hotels and the kids club was fantastic! Loads of activities during the day and evening, great food, in the sunshine ☀️ lots of pool time.

CandiedPrincess · 21/12/2024 06:53

I agree with Haven. Kids of all ages love it, and if they're occupied you can relax. They're all pretty good ime.

We got to Haven once or twice and year but with a 2.5 year old you're not relaxing.

Babbitbaddit · 21/12/2024 07:01

Eurocamp is fab for this age.

ChristmasFluff · 21/12/2024 07:16

I always went on holiday in the UK and self-catering when son was very small. It's so much easier to self-cater, as you can be on your own schedule, no rush for mealtimes etc, whilst still using the on-site dining facilities if they suit. .

I actually agree with @xmasdealhunter about Pendine Sands - I went there when son was about 8, but it would have been great for toddlers too. There are lots of attractions nearby (we went there because it was near a Dinosaur Park), and it's a lovely beach on the doorstep.

I really enjoyed the holiday park too.

Readysetgooo · 21/12/2024 08:07

Another vote for abroad. We've taken my son to Ibiza and Majorca at 5 months, 13 months and 17 months and it was a joy. He could play for hours in the sand or with a ball, loved going in and out the water playing in the waves and every night would run the length of the promenade. It was perfect. All inclusive was definitely easier for a fussy toddler than self catering but we've managed both and it was absolutely fine.

We've also done a couple of lodge/holiday park trips in the UK and they just didn't compare. Nowhere near as relaxing and risk of poor weather restricts you a bit.

TikehauLilly · 21/12/2024 08:31

Somewhere with a farm park and a decent playground plus some good walks for you. Also depends if your want to l go for a full week or few days. Yorkshire is beautiful/ Scotland equally so ... but often it's quite a drive to the next thing if there for a week.

Then I'd also go to calagaldana in minorca and just watch them splash in the waves before or after school holidays. I have 3 and we went over my youngest 2nd birthday and was really stress free.

MayaPinion · 21/12/2024 08:39

I don’t know where you’re based, but if you drive a few days in Hampshire would be perfect. You have Paultons Park and Peppa Pig world which is magical for young kids, crabbing, Lido, and fish and chips at Lymington, ferry to the Isle of Wight to visit the Donkey Sanctuary and beaches, forest walks, trip to Winchester, Marwell Zoo… tonnes of fun stuff.

DancefloorAcrobatics · 21/12/2024 08:40

Just to add travelling/ holidays really depend on your child and if they are able to cope with the changes.

We took DD on many holidays as baby & toddler all fine!
DS was always sick, didn't sleep and overall grouchy. A total nightmare!

So if it's a first ever holiday I second something like Hoseasons by the seaside with a pool. 3-4 days ...

Porcuine20 · 21/12/2024 08:41

We had a lovely holiday to the Isle of Wight when dd was 2 - she loved the ferry, and we stayed in a cottage that was walking distance from a little sandy beach. I agree with the poster advising against hotels where you share a room with your toddler - that’s definitely not a holiday!

Covidwoes · 21/12/2024 08:42

My youngest DD is now 3, and we first took her abroad at 19 months (her older sister was 4 at the time). We went half board on a package holiday in a lovely area of Spain. DH hated the idea of a package, but was sold on it within hours of being at the hotel. No thinking about food and entertainment (or cleaning!) was absolute bliss on my part as well. Does your DC like swimming? If so, anywhere with a pool is an absolute winner.