Annus Horribilis February half term holiday HELP

[farmerinthedell]

I am slowly going insane trying to book a last minute(ish) holiday commencing on 15th Feb. We never normally go away but after an onslaught of bad news are taking a fuck it approach.

Happy to go anywhere in the world but must be worth it for 1 week. We have a 4 year old and a 7 year old.

Budget £7k

Don't mind chilly weather if there is lots to entertain kids. Would love to just lie on a sun lounger but places like Dubai seem to be over budget when you factor in flights that leave at reasonable times.

Anyone?

I'd even be keen to spend less and stay in the UK but it needs to feel like a real treat where we can leave our woes behind for a week.

Thank you if there are any replies!

Nope. Done it plenty of times.

I'd book a city break somewhere near enough that travel is cheap and you can afford a wonderful hotel with a pool that the kids will love and have plenty of spending money on top. Visit loads of fun museums. Eat lovely food. Maybe Edinburgh. Or Copenhagen if your kids like lego. Or Amsterdam or Paris.

How about Lalandia? It's somewhere between CentreParcs and Butlins but with the added excitement of being abroad. Quite active, but scope to relax by the big pools. The one in Billund is also near Legoland and Lego House if your kids are into Lego I would very much recommend Lego House in particular.

If you really don’t mind cold February weather try Crieff Hydro in Scotland. Loads to do with kids, adults only pool, free child care. But you will have to contend with Scottish weather!

Can people please stop suggesting center parcs - the op has a 7k budget -we all know half term at CP is 55k for 4 nights in one of the 30 year old lodges.

Butlins have really upped their game it's not 1960s Hi-de-Hi anymore, it's a really great place to go..

Centre parks! Simply because if you’re on your knees a long travel with children will be hellish. Then you are somewhere child friendly with budget to eat out every evening.

What is there to do in Cape Verde?

There's lots of options across the canaries, why do ridiculous flight times?

Japan is cheap right now. Not sure about flights but actually being there is cheap. Plus there is so much to see and do.

Egypt but not Sharm El Sheikh

All that way for a week?

We are going to a 5* family hotel in the algarve for half that. Try BA holidays - they had lots of great options, ours has a kids club and things and sounds really nice.

the other great option that I couldn’t afford is club med, or the German/austrian kinder hotels.

and all my sympathy - we are also having an annus horriblus!

Have a look at Hurghada in Egypt. Weather will be good and plenty of hotels to choose from.

I'd go to one of the places in Greece with a kids club so everyone can get a proper break. A friend recommended the Grecotel Amirandes in Crete which looks amazing:

https://www.grecotel.com/amirandes/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ5t-7nMR7KdpkLQRiQmiaPVVJs2m4Hsmk8REoObiHa3Hwn0zURIIWHicaemmzHZMZXnwoaJ6GwhU3PBiSQ

In the UK, I'd go here: https://luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/locations/fowey-hall/

I’d either fly to Miami or Fort Lauderdale and do a week/5 nights Caribbean cruise (the weather will be lovely and sunny and warm) OR I’d go for a week all inclusive to the Canaries you can definitely do either of those for £7k! You will get a nice 4 star hotel with a family room in the canaries in Feb for under your budget. We only got quotes of £6/7k for the same in August and that’s THE most expensive time of year.

I offer Croatia @farmerinthedell 🙂

https://www.maistra.com/properties/family-hotel-amarin/#/

The Greek islands aren't open for tourists until May...

There’s absolutely nothing to do in Cape Verde. I loved it because I went with DH after he came back from a deployment and we’d not seen each other for 4mths so we just spent a week of quality time together. We left our kids at home.

I wouldn’t take children there, they’d be bored to tears, plus the sea is rough and you can’t always swim in it.

Honestly if you're needing to get away to escape stress and everything life has been throwing at you I'd be looking at avoiding airports like the plague, packing up the car and staying in the UK. Especially Feb half term week 😬 Treat yourselves to an absolutely amazing holiday cottage somewhere with an open fire, big kitchen and a hot tub. Pack up the board games, walking boots and several bottles of wine and just unwind for a week with no schedule.

We just booked a long weekend in Feb to do exactly this!

How about Egypt- Hurghada or Sharm. Guaranteed good weather & some great hotels for kids. We always go there for winter sun.

Went to Thailand for a week in February well under that cost for 4 of us. Was amazing and prefect weather but the flight was just too long for a week. Still don't regret it though.

Dump kids at GPs and get yourselves onto flights somewhere hot.

As I've got older, and had a child, I've prioritised shorter, closer to home but more luxurious breaks. So I'd go for somewhere like Lucknam Park where there's a pool, horse riding, activities for the kids as well as a spa, fancy restaurant and places to go within a short drive.

I’m in Japan right now. Come every year to ski. Have you been recently? Prices have pretty much doubled on last year if not more. Crowds of Australians are out of control - the ski fields are literally jammed and good accommodation is very hard to find last minute.

@Wintersgirl ah I was misled by the fact she was there in December - the hotel in Crete opens again for the season on 1st March.

So go to Fowey Hall instead OP. I'd definitely go to a hotel where other people are cooking your food and taking your kids off to do fun things to give you an actual break. Whatever you do, don't fly long haul for a week and definitely don't do self-catering! Same family workload but with the sea outside the window. My favourite Onion article ever:

theonion.com/mom-spends-beach-vacation-assuming-all-household-duties-1819575406/