to never go abroad on holiday again until the kids have left home...

[liath]

Have been out of the UK 3 times since having the dcs and even when it's gone relatively well there has been the unpleasantness of flying with small kids, endless queues, dodgy weather etc. We've had endless delays, missed flights, gastroenteritis & broken bones. I get back more knackered than before I left.

AIBU to want to spend every holiday between now and my youngest's 18th birthday at bloody Centre Parcs - at least I know the chocolate ice cream there is good.

One thing we don't do, which I think helps. is not go to so called family resort/holiday/kids club type places. We tend to rent villas and apartments and enjoy doing our own thing. And ideally we haveur own pool too, so DD can make as much noise as she likes and not disturb people.

DH and I were never sitting on the beach orsunbathers anyay, so that isn't an issue.

And DD isn't that keen on the beach herself, so isn't one to want to play in the sand all day, and likes cities and exploring, etc.

Second always getting at least a 1 bed apart - we usually go for suites in 5* hotel-even if it is only b&b, as IMO there is nothing worse than being cramped into a scuzzy room with a sleeping baby/toddler at 8pm every night. At least we can have a bit luxury

I have done my fair share of "basic" hols, inc a number of 18-30, but decided a long time ago, that I was never going to stay anywhere that wasnt as nice as my home, otherwise I would rather be there!!

Oh and we only have one ds

YABF bollocks!

I think part of it is down to money. We rarely holidayed abroad even pre-DCs due to lack of money, and now we have a 2 year old we have even less money, so could not afford to pay for all the extras that make life easier. Plus I am loath to spend all that money even if I do have it with the risk of it being more stressful than it's worth.

And you know what, there is nothing wrong with wanting a lay on the beach doing nothing holiday! I've have never had one and after 2 years running around after DD I really crave one and it ain't gonna happen.

And you know what, she gets fed up being dragged town for a couple of hours here (quite rightly) why do I think she'd be any different in Madrid or Budapest?

The problem is there are a certain type of people who look down on you if you haven't travelled with kids, as if you are 'unadventurous' or 'denying your kids some sort of education'

Sorry, I'll get of my soapbox now, it's just I have never gotten over the way people looked down on my at uni as I didn't have a gap year. Hello! My parents didn't pay for my education, I didn't 'invest my loan' and had to spend every summer working at Haven to be able to afford to live!

We started taking our children abroad when the youngest was 5, They loved it and so did we. We have even been to a cntre parcs in Hollend and it was cheaper than going to one here. I wouldn't take very young chikden on a plane. My brother did it when one of his was only a year old and he said he wouldn't do that again until they were much older, But he has sjince taken 4 children to france on the ferry and the youngest was 5 at the time.

Well my children only get to go on holiday now because their dad and his wife take them, so I'll probably never holiday with them again, given their ages (By the time I can afford it, they'll have moved out!)

But they haven't been problematic to travel with since the age of 5, really. When they were 6 and 4, I took them abroad having broken my arm 3 days beforehand. My arm was in a sling, so the 6-year-old was laden down like a packhorse, with a rucksack. We flew, then caught the train to where we were staying. They thought it was a huge adventure.

Since then we've been to Canada, the States, Europe and camping in the UK. We always had great holidays.

The best place we ever stayed with DS was this tiny little cottage on Ithaca where DS spent all day everyday for a week working with the elderly owners in the garden. DH slept and I read. DS said it was better than Disneyland! Who knew compost could be so much fun?

My DTs have done 10 countries before the age of 2 (8 of those before turning 1).

We love traveling and won't let having kids get in the way.

It's really healpful reading this thread as I have never taken my 8 yr old twins abroad and they've never yet had passports I thought I was the only one in the UK who 'deprived' my sons of foreign hols!.

As a single mum, I just can't face the extreme hassle alone (no family or ex to help) and both DCs are incredibly prone to gastric bugs. I can only imagine the nightmare of having a vomiting child somewhere aborad, with the other one wanting to go off and play and needing to keep him with his twin, whilst mopping up sick and the heat, the food they won't eat (both also v v picky eaters)...no sleep and nowehere to wash the laundry and unable to get out to get water and food....Both hate the heat and one burns even in UK shade!

We have a UK cottage hol. each yr. For me this is great, although still just like being at home and cooking meals each day and clearing up after the DCs...not really a hol. for me. But as I hate heat and it's much easier to be nearer to home when they get sick and to buy foods they'll eat, it sort of works.

But do you think I'm depriving them and should I MAKE myself take them abroad? If so, where would be the best place to go where it's not too hot, has food like UK food, no crowds (my idea of Hell is a crowded beach with noisy nights and days, easy access to medical help if necessary and possibly emergency childcare????

of course its all down to money, who are we kidding here!!!!!!!!!!

try going abroad with 2 kids on £500, doesn't happen does it?

some of these posts sound so smug to me

Money does make things much much easier.

Solo2, my first flight was when I was 21 and heading off on my honeymoon. There is no need to travel, the kids will be just fine without it!

We just did family holidays, caravan parks etc. Though that was in NSW so there were more options as far as beaches and stuff.

TBH I've never had any problems. I've driven round Europe by myself with DC since they were young and we have back packed around to non popular places for holidays Denmark, slovakia,Poland Belgum, Luxemburg, Germany etc.

When DS2 was 6 months did a resort holiday in Majorca (sp)

Flights have never been an issue. We've never had any illness. We have skiied in many places and done cycling trips. We do a lot in the UK as well.

The boys still talk about the salt mines in Krakow and the myths around St Mary's church. They have ice climbed in the French Alps and had loads of fantastic expierences.We laugh at some of the hostels we have stayed with and things that have got lost in translation! Don't give up on going abroad -It is good fun. Please don't restrict them to the artifical world of Centre Parcs. I've been and once is more than enough!!

Its not about money at all - being able to afford a holiday is a luxury for most people, me and the OP included.

I didnt go abroad until I was 16, my mum was a single parent, we didnt have the money. She still took us on holiday every year - the most memorable was when I was 5, we had a caravan at -Whitley Bay, 10 miles from where we lived. It was the most wonderful holiday, and at that age I had no comprehension of distance - the hightlight of the holiday was going through the Tyne tunnel.

I dont think this thread was supposed to be a "well I travelled round the world with my kids single-handed when they were 6 weeks old" type thread, or an excuse to boast about how well travelled they are, more the OP having a moan about a stressful holiday.. thats all.

Chill out people.

It doesn't matter who's managed to travel with small children and who hasn't...............It's your holiday - do what makes you happy! If you're happy, the children will be happy!

We had some great holidays in Devon even when the weather was crap!

actually it is true that if you are only going on one holiday per year and have a small budget then you are not going to risk it if that ONE holiday could be ruined by a vomiting child...

Off course it is about money! I would like to go and visit my sister who has just moved to Germany but before we even go it is going to cost us 70 odd quid for a passport for DD, and possibly even DH's has run out, so the same again. I would be loath to drive in my 12 year old rust bucket so that is not really an option either.

Yes holidays are a luxury but they are a luxury some can afford. We actually have a little bit of money put aside for a holiday but it's not enough to go abroad. Unless someone can find me flights for 3, self catering accommodation with a separate room for DD, outdoor space and a bit of nice weather that isn't in a massive resort type place, but near a bit of water (sea, pool, lake, not fussy) for under £600 then please point me in the right direction. Anything that doesn't meet that criteria and I might as well be at home where at least I can get some sleep with DD in a room of her own.

We also never had holidays when we were kids, my mum didn't go abroad till 10 years ago and hated it, though she will have to suck it up to go and see my pg sis in Germany. One of the few holidays we had was with social services actually. My mum was a single parent and being from a deprived background my bro and I were taken to Devon by the local children's centre. We were pretty young too, seems bizarre now.

Anyway, I managed to get a bloody good degree and masters despite my obvious deprivation, I'm polite, not afraid or 'forriners' and take great pains to learn some of the local language when I do get the opportunity to leave this sceptred isle, so there is hope yet for those of you cruelly refusing to take your children abroad. They might still turn out ok. But better let them watch Wish You Were Here just in case

You are all wierd. Going abroad with 2 children is easy. No stress at all.
Centre Parcs costs twice as much as a 2 week all inclusive holiday in Ibiza.

Morningpaper, we have. Never holidayed with anyone else. Had the best time. Mind you never had a bad holiday. Never been ill. Never had ill children. Never been delayed.
Every single holiday Dh and I have had has been brill.

Typed a long message and then lost it somehow...

Let's try again: No, I don't think YABU, but I do think you might have been unlucky.

We travel often with ds (22 months), and I fully accept that this will probably get harder, and that we might stop when we have more than one.

Whilst we can, though, we find the type of destination and attitude there towards children, more than the fact that it's not home or that it takes longer getting there, can make or break a holiday.

For example, a weekend trip to Bruges was exhausting as the restaurants were not really geared towards children (fair enough), so it was all rather stressful. A holiday in Peru, on the other hand, was brilliant as the people loved children and they were accepted (and encouraged) everywhere, so we often had "free childcare" - from other children to the personnel in cafes etc.

We're flying to India tomorrow (dh for work, we're going with), so I hope my argument is not complete rubbish and that we hate every second...

We go abroad on holiday. To see my large extended family, whereupon we hand over the kids and park ourselves by my sister's pool complete with waterfall and jacuzzi at one end, dine out in tons of great restaurants, go shopping, to the cinema, etc.

But abroad on our own?

No way. Not until the youngest is 8 or so.

Oh, and about "missing out" or not if you go abroad... I don't think children could care less. We never went abroad when I grew up (wasn't that common where I grew up, and anyway, with 4 children, I'd think that's insanity anyway). My favourite holidays were Christmases at my grandparents with all my cousins.

No way! couldn't bear it. we have taken ds and dd away, usually long haul, 2 or 3 times a year since they were 4 months old. they are now 15 and 9, i think travel is great for them, really broadens their minds and lets them see things outside of UK.

Morloth, Ithaca is one of my all time favourite places. I think I want your holiday.

I think if you don't take your children abroad, they can 'discover' the world for themselves, in their own way and - most importantly - at their own expense.