First holiday with twins

[ceeveebee]

Our DTs are now 5 months old and I'm desperate for a holiday. We're thinking of maybe driving to France and staying somewhere on the normandy or brittany coast (we live in SW London so not too long a trip). Pretty flexible about time of year, preferably before school holidays to avoid rip off prices! As we'll be driving we can take some equipment but would prefer not to have to take cots, high chairs etc if possible.

Could anyone recommend a resort and/or some accommodation to us? TIA

Watching with interest!

We didn't take our DTs abroad until they were nearly 4, so well done for your ambition.

Our first holiday with them was at a nice cottage in Devon when they were about 9 months. We quickly realised that what we used to look for in a cottage (rustic, rural, rambling, etc) is far from ideal with babies. A few months later we went to another cottage in Norfolk, this time very modern with all mod-cons and walking distance to the beach. Not what we'd have even considered BC but much more practical.

We had a couple of travel cots but cottages usually only have one high chair or cot, and then it's often a bit grotty. We also had a couple of fold up cushion things that turn a regular chair into a high chair. Our double buggy folded fairly flat with the wheels off and is a godsend if you can get it in the car. We took a really full Zafira for a week away in those days. Also a large beach tent (like half a two-person tent) for shade and nappies/feeding privacy.

And when on holiday with the twins just remember it's them on holiday, not you. It's same sh*t, different location for the parents...

Thanks Peetle
We've decided to do a week in Cornwall first in early summer and then a short haul trip in late summer, not sure where yet but thanks for tips re staying near to beach etc!

We took ours to Spain when they were 9 months old. It's exactly what Peetle said, same shit different place when they're that young.
My tip would be to take 2 single prams rather than a double. Life is easier with a single.
We also went to Cornwall when they were 18 months old and we rented a cottage advertised on Tamba website. They had two cors, two high chairs so we only had to take the rest of the house bits and pieces.

Hi - we've been taking our DTs abroad since they were 8 months. As redblanket says, there is deffo an element of 'change of scene rather than a holiday' - that has changed now they are older and we go to places with kids clubs so we can get some down time and they can do stuff with other kids.

When ours were babies we did Eurocamp to Brittany as we figured it would be easier to be self catering - we stayed in mobile home not tent (largest available). One of the places we went there were 7 other sets of twins there! They supplied travel cots, high chairs, baby baths (check for their special toddler friendly sites). We took our bouncy chairs with us. Ferry was good - could wheel them round in buggy, we took play mat for them to play on floor and we had a cabin as well with travel cots in so we could all have a nap.

Pros and cons

Pros
easy travel on ferry
not too expensive
not too long a journey in UK or France (2 hours to site)
great swimming pool (go to one iwth indoor pool as well in case of bad weather)
usually have kids play tent with toys etc for change of scene/amusement
near beach
very family friendly
childrens couriers will babysit for you in the evening so you can go out child free

cons
self catering - we made it easy by french bread cheese/ham for lunch, bbq in evening
no child free time (except evening babysitting)
in bad weather can be very limited with things to do - weather unpredictable in brittany

we also stayed at an apartment in spain for a week which was owned by people who had twin grandchildren. large apartment, balcony, pool, fully equipped for twins it had everything, near beaches. It was not picturesque spain it was more golfing spain but it had everything there and was great for a week by the sea/pool. booked it through baby boltholes it was called Roda Golf Apartments near Murcia.

Since DTS are older we've done neilsons which has been brilliant for us all (Greece, Turkey) and we've had plenty of child free time whilst they go out on boats etc

Have a great time wherever you go!

Thank you all! The Brittany trip sounds exactly what we had in mind, Almost tempted to take my inlaws with us for babysitting, not sure I'd cope though!

Why don't you try the villa we have just returned from outside Marrakech. www.marrakechholidayvilla.com. Fully staffed with two wonderful morrocan ladies so absolutly no chores shopping cooking etc....better than a hotel as much more flexible...and amazingly affordable....only 3 hour flight....

Ooh, not sure about flying, think we'll play safe and drive for our first holiday. Thanks anyway!

We used to own a mobile home in Brittany at Bel Air at Landudec (they have a website but I can't link). There are always some to rent (try owners direct) It was fantastic and I still miss it. A really good site, the park is brilliant (and free if you're staying there) lovely beaches, towns, countryside in easy reach. We did overnight ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff then about an hour's drive from Roscoff

Thank you, this sounds great, will check it out

Baby traveller, I would definitely go on a plane with only one baby, but twins might be a bit harder, for one thing I don't have a foldable buggy and have no intention of buying one until we need one. Also I very much doubt i would be able to tandem bf on a plane without breaking decency laws!

I just re-read my last post and realised how rude it sounds! Sorry, and thanks for the link which looks good for future holidays

I think the key is in the name: babytravellee, different to babIEStraveller!

Sorry, I was just trying to help. But, how can you survive without a foldable buggy and baby twins?

I highly recommend taking grandparents or other extended family. That is the only real way you will get a break.

Rent somewhere large enough for you all, preferably with a private pool. Then take the time to get a bit of couple time, even if it is just having an afternoon nap, or taking a walk to the bar.

There are plkaces out there with cots and high chairs for several babies. Search on baby friendly gites or villas, then ask the question.

Thanks French fancy.

Not sure whether this is a bit late now, but we have done both with DTs. First flew with them when they were 11 months (although this is going back 6 years now). One thing that I wasn't aware of - if they are under one, you can't sit next to each other - on a normal 747 plane (where there are 3 seats on one side, the aisle and then 3 seats on the other side) there is only one baby oxygen mask in each bank of 3 seats so the only way to be next to each other is effectively be on either side of the aisle.

At that age, you don't get a seat for the babies so you'll have one on your knee and your husband will have the other baby on his knee. Very difficult to eat / have a drink / do anything. It was a 4hr flight and eventually they slept but it was quite hard work.

My other recurring memory is pushing one of them on the beach at 6.30am. If you're in a hotel (as we were) rather than an apartment or a villa, you're all in one room so when one of them woke up early and we were desperate for the other one to sleep a little bit longer, it meant a very early start on the beach / pool!!

We have since had Number 3 and we drove to Normandy when she was 9 weeks and the twins were 3. We stayed here (in one of the chalets) - welcome.lez-eaux.com/ would thoroughly recommend it. Fab indoor pool complex with great toddler / baby pool (plus an outdoor pool too) - lovely site and great beaches nearby. Great base for exploring, some really pretty quaint little towns locally. Les Castels have sites all over France and are very well regarded (and if you book direct with them, its often cheaper than if you book through a UK company).

A couple of yrs ago we stayed in Normandy (Houlgate) at a Pierre et Vacances residence with 3 children. We booked the ferry separately & did the longer ferry journey which meant less driving. There was a pool & spa & the beach was very close. The accommodation looked exactly as it did on the pictures- beautiful.

Last yr we travelled by ferry to Roscoff & stayed on the L'atlantique site in southern brittany. We booked through Venue Holidays (which was much cheaper than the big companies). We had a really lovely time & got to know lots of new people.

This yr we are considering doing the 24 hr ferry journey to northern Spain and stay on a site there.