To ask for help with holiday planning?

[lunarwhisper]

Posting for traffic

Just thinking about a holiday this year as we haven't been for 4 years. It'll just be a basic one to a caravan. Maybe Mablethorpe as we have been before (though not for years) but open to suggestions, we're from
Leicestershire. The last holiday we had I was still with ex so it does feel a bit daunting.

There'll be me. DD15, DS12 (will be 13 the holiday though), DS5 (6 in August), DS4 and DD2 and my grandson. If we go May half term he will be 3 months, July/August He will be 5/6 months but if we waited to October he will be 8 months and sitting up etc. Its been a while since l've taken a baby on holiday and my younger 2 have never been on one

The plan would be get a 3 bed caravan and dd and grandson have the main double, ds12 has a twin room to himself and then ds5 and ds4 share the other twin and myself and youngest have the sofa bed.
I have been looking this morning and I have found a 4 night stay the first week of July for £95 though that's not including swimming or activities / entertainment. Just the arcades. I never used to book the holidays my ex used to so l'm clueless tbh but I want them to have a good time

When's the best time? DS's 6th birthday is August so leaving toward then but then again my other DC won't have a holiday for their birthday is seems unfair. They finish the 9th of July for summer so can go anytime from then.

Price wise, sounds fine. But would it be enjoyable? Will you all actually sleep well in a caravan with a tiny baby who is up through the night and you are sleeping on a sofa bed in the lounge with a toddler? That sounds quite stressful, particularly for your dd (I assume the 15 year old who will be parenting a 5 month old who is possibly starting solids and teething). I’m not saying not to do it, but it seems quite a tricky undertaking with those ages and a new baby. Though at £95, that’s less than a night in many hotels, so you could always abandon ship and come home if it’s too much.

wow this is quite brave! is the baby dd15’s - Are you sure she would feel comfortable taking the baby on holiday? It’s quite daunting and I’m guessing you’ll have hands full with dc age 2 and 4 and 6.

i would say go end of August when weather is ok and baby isn’t crawling yet!

I would repost this in UK Holidays, you’ll get more practical replies I suspect.

You and 6 kids in a caravan, you must be bloody mad or the calmest person in the world,
There is not enough money ( or drugs ) in the world could persuade me to take 6 kids in a caravan in the UK
Sorry I know that might not be the response you're looking for.

First week of July - so you're taking them out of school?

Factor in food costs as well, snacks and eating out will be extortionate.

This is going to be unenjoyable for pretty much everyone. Nobody will sleep and everyone will be tired and aggy.

I'm assuming the baby belongs to your 15 year old and isn't even born yet? Is she going to be capable of taking the child away on holiday? You obviously have your hands full with your own children.

Have you checked if you are even allowed that many people in the caravan?

If I went with first week of July option the older 3 (If dd is back by then) will miss the Monday-Thursday as they finish the 9th yes I'm aware that's early for most schools in the UK state especially but our schools go back earlier too (the end of August instead of sept)

I've not booked anything yet as I'm unsure on what to do for the best

I know it's a lot of dc but it feels unfair to not take them on holiday just because they've got siblings/a nephew

I havent taken them since 2022 and that was with ex mostly due to money but then me and ex split while i was pregnant with dd and its seemed really daunting the last 2 summers but i want them to have a fun holiday like their friends just nothing extravagant

You sound lovely and want to give your children some lovely memories, but seriously 6 kids, 1 parent in a caravan, where it could potentially rain all week, be cold?

Like I said, no amount of money or drugs could make me even consider this

If DD is back from where?

We’ve had some great weeks away in a caravan. Will you be able to afford the swim pass and activities because thats what our kids have really loved. Otherwise I would wonder what they would do all week especially if the weather isnt great?

Using the sofa bed isnt something I would want to do really, they’re generally very uncomfortable and of course in a caravan you’re going to hear baby crying. No sleep and then trying to entertain this number of kids doesn’t sound appealing!

1 adult can't supervise that many children swimming.

Honestly sounds like a total nightmare in the nicest way possible, sorry

@ThejoyofNCdd gave birth 10 days ago and so far baby is calm and content though i am aware that could change at ant time. i was unwell and kissed the birth and then was hospitalised myself and dd coped well on her own during the first few days (my ex was here with her though obviously) im just looking ahead

she does like the idea of taking him on holiday but i don't know when is the best time. the caravan sleeps 8 people (sofa bed, a double, and 2 twin rooms)

to those saying its a bad idea what do you suggest? genuine question. my youngest has never been on holiday, my 2nd youngest doesnt remember hes ever been on one as he was only about 7 months and it has been a while so i dont know when the best time would be as i got quite lucky really that he did sleep through the night pretty much from being about 10 weeks (we didn't do anything different from our other dc it was just luck)

You cannot miss what you have never had, plenty of children never have a holiday.

I would just leave it, have days out.

What is your transport OP? Can you get everyone there and back easily?
I'd book a trip that is not in term time, to avoid potential fine dramas.

You'll not be able to use the pool together I expect but you can do the arcades and go to the beach. Eat fish and chips and icecream.

I’d not venture too far, you only need to get away from your own kitchen sink to feel like you’re on holiday.

Research the prices for all the different dates and go for it!

My older 3 children have had holidays though

Check the adult to kid ratio in the pool. You might not all be able to get in. And that would be annoying

So?

How much is it going to take to keep 5 kids entertained in an arcade when its peeing it down?

My son wen through £5 in about 5 mins!

I love a caravan holiday but that sounds like hell. It's not just the sleeping arrangements, you'll all be on top of each other.

What do I suggest? I suggest you skip it this year, save the money you would have spent and put it towards some bigger accommodation next year.

I'd go in July/August to give you the best chance of good weather.

There are 4 of us and we book a 3 bed caravan as my sons can't share a room, and we still find it incredibly cramped. If possible, I would upgrade the caravan as much as you can to give you more space, especially as the baby may need a lot of stuff (pushchair, high chair, etc). The dining area is typically very small as well.

With regards to DD sharing with DGS, keep in mind that a travel cot will probably not fit in the bedroom.

The sofa beds in the living area tend to be quite uncomfortable, and whoever sleeps there will also need to be ok with being the last to go to bed and the first to wake up.

I would definitely get entertainment passes etc to ensure you can use all the facilities at the resort. With that many kids, it may be tricky to go out every day, as well as expensive.

Also recommend staying in a resort within walking distance of the beach.

I would take your three youngest to a caravan from a Monday to Friday. Leave the others with your ex.

can you and your ex divide and conquer? Let him take DD15 with baby, plus the 2 year old, on holiday somewhere.

Then take the 12, 5, and 4 year old to the caravan. Get a 2 bed plus sofabed. You will be allowed to supervise the 2 youngest in the pool and the 12 year old will likely be allowed in without supervision (do double check the rules though).
12 year old will probably make friends and go out to spend time with them, leaving you free to look after the 2 youngest.

Allow PLENTY of spending money - and budget carefully:
-activity passes
-arcade
-sweets and ice creams
-any additional paid for acitivities
-buying food at the on-site shop is extortionate if you forget to bring something from home
-an over-priced meal out on site

Good luck!

I have an 8 seater car so should be able to get there and back easily. luggage wise should be fine though i probably wont be about to bring dd2s pushchair it's only lightweight but with grandsons pran it will be a squeeze with our suitcases

in previous years we had bought the entertainment passes and the pool and arcades etc. last time entertainment wasnt that great though but it was years ago

i do think leaving my older 2 at home will be unfair and it wont work

Go for it. Not sure why everyone is being so negative. I took mine on caravan breaks when they were younger and we always had fun.