To cancel holiday during heatwave?

[RedLeicesterRedLeicester]

Lone parent of 4 and 6 year old boys. Planning to stay in a eurocamp on the south of France.

I’m totally knocked out by the heat today and I’ve only had one of them most of the day. Can’t sleep…

Due to leave Saturday. Forecast is between 31-34. Just don’t think I can do it. Flying and not planning to rent car.

Those are pretty standard south of France temps. We did eurocamp in France last summer- plenty of outdoor pools to cool down in. Our little chalet had air con aswell. Had a great time with three small boys

We did a Eurocamp in south of France in July- it was mid 30’s at the time but it was fine. We kept the aircon on about 20 degrees through the night and left the bedroom doors open. It was cooler than our house because of the aircon. Also there is the pool, water slides, sea, it was great. My 4 year old loved the kids club so you might luck out and get some time to yourself too.

YABU. Have you been a lone parent for very long?

You have to develop a kind of resilience, an armour. You can't just cancel a kids holiday just because it's a bit hot.

As a Eurocamper since my children were tiny (now older teens) I think you'll be OK if you have air con in the caravan.

We would have a morning doing something (pool, beach, laze at the caravan and read), then a siesta middle of the day, then pool or beach later in the afternoon.

You'll get into a relaxed rhythm. Take lots of books/magazines/card games/bat and ball/football if you can. Have low expectations! If the kids are happy pootling at the caravan with neighbouring children, then so be it.

I think it's worth going. We have had a caravan woth no aircon in high heat and that was hard work.

Wishing you all the best for a fun holiday.

Would you get a full refund?

If not, you might as well go and see how you get on.

It may mean waking up and getting out earlier, going back during the day and then going back out later on.

If you can afford to cancel and lose money a holiday for a reason like this, then it sounds like you can also afford an aircon unit.

What temperature were you expecting in France btw?

I think you’re right to worry about it. As a lone parent of two small boys around a pool you need to have your wits about you, everything is down to you. If it’s really hot at night with no air con and you can’t sleep, and it lasts a few nights, you’re not going to be in top form. I totally get it

its the night time temps that matter more as you’ve no air con. It is going to get cooler so I think you should go for it, but as a LP myself I understand why you’re worried

I spent all my summers in the south of France in my childhood and teens and that is a pretty normal temperature in summer! What were you expecting? A lot of camping places there are in shaded woods and feel quite pleasant.

Are you staying in a tent? Or will you have a cabin with aircon? We have just got back from
France and it was late 30s when we were further down south. It was unbearable and I wouldn’t have coped in a tent.

But OP knew all of this before she booked the holiday....

Just been in Croatia where it was about 35 but with aircon in the apartment and plenty of swimming in the sea it was gorgeous.

I thought you were going to say it was a UK holiday. That's normal temps for south of France so why did you book if it's too hot for you?

Really harsh! A single mum who’s booked euro camp in the first place isn’t selfish.
When you’re a lone parent the entire burden can be too much (eg whether you’ve slept enough to be sufficiently alert to be in charge of the kids whilst travelling). I find it intense even if DH is away overnight and I have huge respect for single parents.
I do think it’ll be okay if you go and you’ll end up glad you did OP, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be wondering if you can make it work aftrr the heat we’ve had.

OP should have booked somewhere like Iceland and gone whale watching instead

Why would you book a holiday with what is normal temps for the area?

Would you rather be home in hot temps, in a carpeted house sat on a sofa with 2 children who are fed up... or playing in a lovely pool with your DCs, in a different fun environment.
Don't get it

If your kids no that you are going on holiday I think it’d be mean to cancel their holiday because it’s summer

We live in France. The heatwave is finishing today, and temperatures will be returning to normal tomorrow. Use the pool loads, stay in the shade when it gets hot later in the day, you'll be fine.

I think you are just feeling like this because we have had such intense heat here in the UK. We were looking at holidays but decided to hold off because quite frankly I’m fed up of the heat.

There is a difference though because whilst you are away you won’t be working and there will be pools, beaches to cool down in.

Dont cancel! You’ll have a great time!!

We live in France. The heatwave is finishing today
I live in France and tomorrow will be 37 degrees where I live, so probably depends on where OP is going exactly.

I am also puzzled though why OP would book a holiday in South of France in August, if 31-34 is unbearably hot for her. That's the expected temperature, nothing unusual.

I always find heat far more manageable abroad as the humidity is different. You don't have to do anything other than relax, and can keep cool in the shade/pool. Kids will be far easier to manage as well when they're occupied.

Just when you thought you had read it all.

You will be fine, as everyone has said, the temperature is normal for that area. It's set up for heat. There will.be activities for the kids and lots of other kids for them to play woth, even aged 4 and 6. Generally they're much more tolerant of kids in restaurants etc too, so you will be able to enjoy yourself. Look out for things like night markets and local concerts, all good evening experiences for the family.

Next year I recommend the west (I know it's hotter this year but that is unusual) or North of France. Also, if you drive, driving in France is much easier than the uk, so don't be afraid to hire a car ir drive over next time.

I agree.
Or at least, if you can’t face a holiday in the heat, don’t book trips to the South of France in August, and don’t allow your kids to get excited about a holiday they might not have.

I'll go if you don't want to!!!!

Seriously, get on the plane. Go!

We're in Spain at the moment. It is hot but everything is geared up for the weather. Swimming multiple times a day, decent air conditioning, plus it isn't as humid as the UK. I'm coping far better than I did at home in July where I came up in a heat rash all over my neck

Indeed. @Ibi seems to have missed the massive drought much of England and Wales have been under. It's rained twice here in weeks and the last decent downpour we had here was at the start of June. OP could be in Scotland where they had flood warnings last week though.