From adventurous exploring, pre-DC, to a package holiday. Anyone done it?

[mimolette]

I would be really interesting to hear anyone else's experiences. Did you shift your holidays from adventurous, self-planned, exploring pre-DC, to a package holiday in a resort somewhere sunny (and possibly even AI) post DC? Did you enjoy the package holiday? Any tips/regrets/successes?

I appreciate that different people enjoy different kinds of holiday. Each to their own, For me, I used to love researching and planning accommodation, sightseeing, walking routes around UK, Europe and further afield. Have been on a couple of organised trips, but missed the independence, though appreciated that it was a good way to see far away places in a short space of time. The holiday I enjoyed the least was (and admittedly very budget) week on a beach.
Since having DD, holidays have been much more meticulously planned and pre-booked, with more chill time, kiddy bits and less sightseeing. Great fun for all, but not necessarily always relaxing.
On one of the trips, we got a day pass to a posh hotel with pools, slides, a beach etc, and actually surprised ourselves by really enjoying it. I am now wondering whether to actually go and book a whole week somewhere this summer. But am a bit worried that when it comes to a whole week, we will actually regret the choice. DD is not great in the car, so if we did end up in a big resort somewhere in the middle of nowhere, doing lots of trips from there wouldn't really be an option.
Has anyone done the switch in holiday styles and enjoyed it? If so, where did you go?

In a word - NO!

DH and i used to go on a lot of adventurous holidays pre-children and made a determined effort not to let having children make us take the sort of holidays we'd avoided previously.

During the DCs early years it was harder but we're really not package holiday people. We did a couple of villa holidays but made sure there was plenty to see nearby. Occasionally we'd go with grandparents so that we could still have a day's cycling trip or with friends so that the kids would have playmates.

We've since been on organised adventure holidays too with the likes of Exodus/Families Worldwide/The Adventure Company/Freedom Treks. These have worked really well and since our work life is busy, it means we don't have to research/organise anything.

It does help that our DC travel well, are open to new experiences/food and that we have to money to do it. We'll probably move a bit more towards self organised independent travel now that they're a bit older (if we ever get any free time to organise it).

Hang in there - it does get easier!

Yup, we've done it! We're hoping to revert back to backpacking when the boys are older. DSs are 5.5 and 2 at the moment, so probably in 5 years time.

When it was just DS1 and me and DH booked our own holidays but they were along the lines of a rental house, flights and car hire, so booked it independently but we were based in one area. We did a 2night trip whilst in turkey but it was a bit of a pain with coach timings, bedtime, etc so we knocked that on the head.

Then when DS2 was 6 months we went to Mexico for an all in. The year before we hired a villa in Spain and it was a nightmare. DS wanted to eat, then not eat then go to the beach then the pool then the beach then home then the pool etc. So we booked Mexico, food when he wanted it, a kids club, beach and pool and room right on our doorstep. The resort was great (food not so, but kept DS1 happy) but he hardly used the kids club. We had a few days out (hired a taxi, went to the beach) and it was fine. Would do it again but funds don't allow!

Last year we went to Portugal. Booked it all separate again. 2 bed villa (separate rooms from now on is a MUST!) and flights and transfer. No day trips anywhere as there were loads of beaches within walking distance and all the organised day trips cost a fortune. Didn't hire a car.

This year we've gone back to a travel agent take advantage of the free kids space. So through them we've booked Turkey, 11 nights, half board with pool. Like Mexico, we plan to eat at the resorts few times, and spend most evenings out in the town.

So we are no longer 'travellers' but it works for us. The idea of travelling non stop for a day, or doing a cultural tour with the kids just doesn't appeal. I have sciatica so long day trips out aren't great anyway; I just have to deal with the flight out and the flight back!

What I have found is that we haven't had time to get bored. Either the kids are running us ragged, or we give each other a break and in which case I would have an hour or so to go for a run/swim/read a book... Anything!

When dcs were young we rented a house or an appartment, stayed in one area and did day trips. This worked well when we lived in Germany and Austria and we enjoyed our holdiays in the Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic.
We moved to Asia and have been able to see more exotic destinations (Kathmandu, Cambodia, Bangkok, Laos) - but flights are not long haul for us and we combine visits to temples with a trip to the pool or break for ice creams.
I don't like AI holidays and would rather go self catering and have more space and more freedom. The Flip Key section of Trip Advisor has details of flat and house rents and have found some great places there in Bali, Oz and NZ.

I think the key to a holiday we will all enjoy is a car, accommodation with child friendly stuff to do, with breakfast thrown in.

So stuff for them, and freedom for you. I find Italy v good for this, and nice short flight.

When my DC were preschoolers we did lots of holidays which were mainly resort based and did enjoy them. Then when DS3 was 5 we started to get more and more adventurous each year. But all accommodation is always pre booked before we travel. I've always been open to trying different types of trips as well as different places. If you go for a hotel with slides and entertainment etc you could look for one near a place you have always wanted to visit so you don't feel it's just for the DC. We found Cuba worked well. First part of the holiday at an all inclusive beach resort then flew to Havana for a few days. We found as DC got older it's easier to combine nice pools etc with sightseeing. We visited Cape Town and did lots of day trips that lasted from about 10 am to 3 pm ( my thinking was it was like a school trip) and then still had a few hours at the pool. My DS2 has said this will be his last year of coming with us so I'm pleased we've managed some very relaxing chilled out family holidays and also quite a few adventurous and far away all bit it slightly watered down family holidays.

We've done both adventurous and package holidays with DC. Egypt worked well for us as a package holiday as it was only a week in the sun and we enjoyed fantastic snorkelling. DC loved the AI and the free icecreams. Two weeks in Mexico though was a bit long for us as we start getting itchy feet after a week although we did have some great trips out to Chichen Itza, cenotes etc. I think the best holiday though that has worked for us is Florida as we had some time in the parks, some time in the hotel pool, then down to the Keys, watched turtles nesting on the beach etc - it had a bit of everything for us.

We only went short haul before the children were 5. We stayed in Brittany where there were beach playgrounds, swimming pools in the camping site and generally children about so they made friends. Also did a Mark Warner club - once - absolutely hated it. Like being in prison with people we had nothing in common with! We rented an appartment in Tuscany, had a villa in Majorca and also did a couple of cruises. Children loved it but we felt very cooped up! The children seemed to like beach play, other children and childrens' clubs. When they were older we hired a yacht in the BVIs, went to Kenya for the wildlife and when youngest was 10 we went to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.

I realise this will sound snobby but we had one night at an AI hotel in Barbados and I noticed cigarette butts everywhere so not for us. This is of course a gross over reaction! We too have used The Adventure Company and lots of their trips are fine for 5+. I think sightseeing has to be reduced and flopping time increased so they are a good compromise. I think it depends on what your children really like to do and what you, as parents, are prepared to compromise on. I hate boredom and overeating so just staying put at an AI hotel anywhere fills me with apprehension - I still don't do it!

We used to do a lot of city breaks and walking type holidays before dd. And I did skiing whilst dh did something else. When dd was a baby we carried on with city breaks as she didn't care much, then from toddlerdom we have done a variety of beach holidays, mobile homes, gites in france. W have still done the odd city break though - London, Paris, Wroclaw, Montpellier.

How old is your dd? Mine especially like the Dordogne - lots and lots to see, and being on the Languedoc coast with fun fairs and aquariums.