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.

Thank you to everyone who has been kind!

Yes I knew it would be hot in the south of France in August… seemed like a great idea curled up in the winter when I booked it.

I was feeling extremely overwhelmed last night as youngest hasn’t been sleeping in the heat then is wingey all day. I’m physically very tired too. We do have aircon booked though so hopefully that will fix this while we are away. Considering taking a blackout blind too…

I will go of course, don’t know what I was thinking!

Thanks everyone.
Looking forward to it, sort of 🫣

Why did you book a holiday like this in mid August? Last night in the UK was very very hot because most of us dont have a/c!

'Rainy England'??? Where and when, please! OP I would definitely cancel - we've all had enough of this horrible heat now - plan to do things with the kids in the UK instead. They've had 3/4 weeks of this sweltering weather already.

I hope op feels strong enough to go, and that she and her boys have a good time, but if they don’t, I doubt the dc will be scarred for life, especially aged six and four, when you are hardly conscious of what you are looking forward to, never mind missing it!

And fhs, why feel so extremely guilty cancelling a holiday when you were ill? It wasn’t intentional and couldn’t be helped, it’s very disappointing, but just one of those things. Ime, young dc follow your lead in how they react to things. And if you don’t make a big deal of it, they won’t either.

Plus I think it’s worth bearing in mind overall that if a holiday in France really is too much for Op atm, then as a single parent, there is no one to support her and buoy her up at the other end wheb she gets back home. Everything carries on as relentlessly as it did before. And what her boys will benefit from most of all is a calm, happy mum.

Quoting my post bc I have just seen your update op!

So glad you are you going and hope you have a fabulous time!

I bloody hope so!

OP I would normally be the first to throw in the towel in the face of a heatwave but I really think you should go, and I think you’ll be really glad you did.

You’ll be in the perfect place for that kind of heat - pool, swimwear, aircon, cold drinks, you’ll have an amazing time.

The South of France is PARADISE! Have a fantastic holiday 😄

Judgmental! Not selfish if the heat makes her ill and she’s then unable to look after her kids🙄

Like an hour or so before bed. I am surprised by how well it works! You can get it off Amazon for about £10 for probably about 2 months supply. Money well spent.

Phew! I hope you and your kids have a great time @RedLeicesterRedLeicester!

I think it depends. Caravan or lodge with air conditioning so you can sleep at night? Then I would go. Staying in a tent with no air conditioned spaces to escape too- no. It would also depend on the travel there for me too.

If you are in a cabin i'd go.
You can always pack a fan for the sleeping area just in case.

We've done holidays in Croatia and France where its been nearly 40 degrees.

Do what the locals do get up early.
Lunch and Siesta,
Stay up later in the cooler air.

You'll have the pool and the beach. Just be strict with hats, sunglasses and sun cream and cover ups. Buy some spray water bottles so you can spray the kids down. You can buy sunscreen umbrellas on Amazon ( these really do keep you in the shade and I'm a burner)

You may be able to do coach/day trips these will be air conditioned. You can find parks and shade here as well as interesting things to look at . We also used to go into the city as art galleries etc, always have great air con and so do the Giant Casino supermarkets in France. We also took the kids into an Apple shop to cool down . Air con there was superb and they were able to look at the ipads etc, so they found it quite entertaining.

I know it seems daunting, but I'd take the risk. T
These countries are much better adapted to the heat than your average UK town.
he kids will really enjoy the flight and the change of scene. ( I used to pack a party bag for the flight with things like Football or Pokemon cards, kinder eggs with a toy and some sort of toy/joke book they would like. and if you can get some of those tubular water pistols you can refill in the pool. You can pack that in the luggage and they will have a lot of fun with those.

Best of luck, hope you can go and have fun x

I was in the S of France 35 years ago it was 40° , you must have been expecting very hot weather what did you think the temperature would be?

Whatever next. Take some fans, buy some fans out there. Spend your days in the swimming pools.
Remember it's a holiday, you won't have the normal stresses of home life. You can laze about, not bother cooking if you don't fancy it.

Maybe in future think about going with another family and then maybe it'll feel more exciting for you?

Go! Highly recommend taking with you a power pack and a USB fan (you can get very inexpensive little USB desk fans at Flying Tiger). Then you can use it in any location where you're feeling the heat.

Blackout blinds will bring in all the heat of the day, so make sure you open them during the day.

Ours was 94% yesterday and 46% today. Obviously depends where you live in the UK. I’m working so it’s always much more bearable with a cocktail by the pool!

Rather than take a heavy blackoutvblind with you, just take a large handfull of drawing pins and use a bath towel or two? Can also help with the drying of them depending on your situation 😊

As you've got air con, you'll be grand. Maybe do afternoon siestas (quiet time in the cool even if noone sleeps). Bon voyage!

For several weeks rain has been forecast next week in the south of England.

I think OP you should go as humidity is less and more options of shade I expect.

I remember a time where low 30s was the sort of temperature people were hoping for for their summer swimming holidays. I get that the heat can be annoying, I didn’t particularly enjoy sleeping in my 30 degrees bedroom last night and neither did my toddler, but I do think it’s important not to overreact. Go and enjoy your holidays as I’m sure you did in the years before we got a few hot days in Britain.

Re magnesium - check what kind because the wrong kind will just give you the shits.

OP I did Vienna with preschooler twins in 40 degree heat last week. It was absolutely fine - pool-ice cream-pool-ice cream-pool-telly - you get the picture.

Try when they are a bit older OP.

Yes we stayed in a eurocamp in Italy and our caravan had fantastic aircon