Ho far do you compromise with your kids about holidays?

[roisin]

Obviously everyone compromises to some extent, and it's about finding the appropriate point.

We took the boys to Centerparcs 18 months ago, and they loved it and want to go back. I didn't like it at all, and think it's overpriced for what it is. In a mad moment this week I entered the Mn Butlins comp, then spent the rest of the week panicking in case I won it, because I know I would loathe that! I also refuse to even contemplate Disneyland, Paris. But is that fair and reasonable of me? The boys really would love to spend a couple of hours a day for a week in a huge swimming pool complex.

In the past couple of years we have done a lot of City Breaks, which we've all enjoyed; This summer we're heading for a fairly remote cottage on Mull and hoping to do lots of outdoor/walking/wildlife/boating sort of stuff.

roisin, you can book short breaks more than 4 weeks ahead outside school hols - you could get a weekend (Fri-Sun) any time.

Also you can book the weekend at the end of a school hol ahead of time too, as long as it's a cottage that normally starts its full weeks on a Friday, eg ref RLP in the list at the side of the Knockerdown one (it won't let me link it, keeps going straight to homepage) - it could be booked now for the first weekend of Sept or last weekend of Oct.

Dates for the whole of next year will be available on the website in the next week or so though if you wanted to get in early for next Spring.

DG, I hope seeing Knockerdown brought some nice happy memories for you

I suppose we compromise. Before we had kids we used to go somewhere hot every year. With two small fair haired, sweaty children it doesn't seem worth it. I used to read a book a day, have lie-ins, drink late etc.

I really don't fancy centreparcs and DH can't swim and is really not into pools which would put the burden of supervising the kids onto me. This year we are going to France with a week in a guesthouse in Normandy (we went there last year and it is lovely and we know the owners) and a week in a cottage on a farm in Brittany.

I think this will be great for the kids. Lots of lovely beaches which they both love. The French culture/language and going on the ferry appeals to DS (5). Last year he loved asking the waiter for a chocolate ice cream please in French. Last year we also did Mont St Michel, Bayeaux etc and visited some of the war museums, went to a proper French street market etc.

We are also going to Edinburgh for a couple of nights next week if we get round to booking a travel inn. DS will be impressed by the castle and we thought we might take DD (2) to the zoo. And of course DH and I love Edinburgh.

We are planning to do Disney in Florida once!

To me a family holiday is a family holiday. I suppose we are lucky that our two love all sorts of stuff and on out last holiday they loved the historical sights in Tarragona and the architecture in Barcelona as much as they loved Porta Ventura. Last time we went to Paris the kids had the choice of Disney with a day in Paris or Paris with a day at Disney. They opted for Paris.

They love sailing, walking and playing on deserted chilly beaches too.

We went to Keycamp type complex and sorry it was a bit to Butlins for me. So as long as I can avoid stuff like that we are all happy, as the two of them love the pool but aren't desperate for 24hr entertainment.

OK, we've looked at lots of options - thanks for the sites Janh, and have compromised!

We've booked a weekend at Center Parcs in January (when it's cheap), but we'll just go up for a short weekend - i.e after school/work on Friday. Then the boys will get their time in the huge swimming pool. I guess it's a compromise I can cope with - CP once every two years or so - and otherwise holidays away from lots of people!

We just go to places we like the look of that we can afford (Amsterdam, Pamplona, Cozumel, Costa del Sol so far) and the kids come along for the ride. TBH think that if the kids can't have fun visiting somewhere knew and having treats like days out then something is wrong!

new even - doh!

We looked at Northumberland and after looking at tiny cottages in very quaint looking villages near beaches , by a river etc we plumped for a 6 berth bungalow (there are only 4 of us) for £100 less a week with a huge garden for ds to play footy in, a patio area for dh and I to relax in of an evening and no stairs to worry about dd (18 m) around. In the middle of nowhere, I can't wait! On the OS map however there is a pub half a mile away- lovely jubbly!

I'm of the opinion that if the kids are happy, then the parents are happy. I would never dream of going on holiday that was mostly city based where we had to drag them around shops and museums, or make them sit quietly on the terrace of a bar while we had a leisurely drink. Plenty of time for that when they have flown the nest.