"What's the point of going on holiday?"

[Zoidberg]

Said DP to me last night during discussions of what we might do in the summer. This stems from being very tired on holiday last summer as DD was very wakeful after the first couple of nights and grumpy during car journeys, DP worried how to entertain her on long drives.

DD will be 2 and a bit by July, we have several options for not too expensive holidays open to us. Possibly rent a chalet near where GPs have a house, stay with them a couple of nights (one bed place so we can't all stay there for more than that and we have to holiday when they are as GM does childcare). This is most expensive option but doable. Is countryside France by a lake.

Possibly rent friends of my Dad's villa on Costa del Sol urb, cheap rent, shared pool, near the sea.

Stay in (empty) friend's house near Plymouth, about 5 hour drive from us.

Houseswap with friends about 2 hours away in the Essex countryside, maybe.

I see what DP means, what would we actually do when away that makes it worth going away? I said, good not having to do housework and getting away from all the stuff you end up doing when you're off work but still at home.

What do DC like to be doing at this age and is it worth disturbing routine and going through travel hassles? Which option might be best?

Whats your budget and when are you looking to go. There are some good deals around if you look and spend the time.
Ive just booked for 5 of us for 2 weeks in Majorca in August for £2.5k which i think is really good.

As for are holidays worth it? Too me they are yes, I love my holiday, its what I work for, love spending every day together as a family, eating out every night, not having to cook, wash clothes, go to work. Love relaxing in the sun, and having long lazy nights with a few drinks and the kids having fun. Our yearly holiday is the one thing I would never compromise on

If you go to Plymouth you can get to the Eden Project and to the beaches in Cornwall. My DC's were 3 & 1 last July and they had a whale of a time there. No cars once you're on site, pushchair friendly and loads to see.

The cornish beaches are fun too, it might be rainy but better that than keeping a 2yo out of scorching heat IMO. I love the heat but keeping hats on the dc's is a PITA.

Our holiday was hard work but I planned it pretty well and didn't over do it and we had a good time. The DC's were allowed ice creams, chips, snacks etc, no stressing about set meal times etc. I did try and keep bedtime the same, but they were so worn out they conked out straight away.

mosschops, your description is making me sigh with great memories

Good point about sun and heat, and the Cornwall option is the one that can be left to the last minute.

I'd do Plymouth too - no stress about flights and ferries and French strikes, and if you've got a family house to yourselves then lots of space to play in on wet days. But then we don't do foreign hols at all if we can avoid it.