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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

OK I now accept I am officially cr*p at choosing holidays

58 replies

Katymac · 26/08/2006 18:21

We go to Malta - we have the first wet easter in livibg memory
We go to Spain - the apartments are closed down & comdemed the week after we left
We go to Maderia - we love it DD bored
We go to MW in Egypt - we don't "quite" fit in...it's a bit posh
We go to Haven - we don't "quite" fit in...we're a bit posh

I am officially cr*p at picking holidays

OP posts:
calpopscalum · 26/08/2006 21:24

You can get some last minute deals but we usually save our Tesco clubcard points and use them with French Life. 4 x their value as you probably know. We usually go off season and can have the luxury of overnight ferries etc but next year we have to go in mid Aug and are doing dover - calais with a long drive. Costing us about £1300 for 2 weeks in a 3 bed mobile home. Previous years in Aug/Sept have cost from £470 - 800 depending on ferries.
My brother has just come back from a week in Cornawall in a caravan - said it was fantastic and only £300 for peak season. He was really worried but is gonna go back cos it was perfect. I can get details if you want.

Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 21:27

Rockley Watersports is where we looked at going

We might try for that next year

So just Christmas now........

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Saturn74 · 26/08/2006 21:30

Katymac, you sound just like me. We went to New York and the hotel was a bit posh. We went to Haven, and we were a bit posh. (And I cried because the caravan smelt of chip fat, and we had a gas leak and the maintenance man turned up with a cigarette in his mouth! - sorry, only got home 10 days ago, and it's all a bit fresh in the memory!!) Best ever was a trip to Finland just before Christmas to do the Lapland bit. (Except I kept crying because all the children were so happy!) Just noticed that it doesn't fit your bill re the sun though. I'll shut up!

Saturn74 · 26/08/2006 21:31

Just to clarify that I was crying with hapiness at the children being so happy - not crying BECAUSE they were happy. I really will shut up now!

Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 21:32

Which Haven were you at?

We were at Doniford Bay - & I hated it

OP posts:
Saturn74 · 26/08/2006 21:38

One near Blackpool. (sob!)

The children loved the activities and the entertainment.

DH joined in like a trouper, but then there were lots of young female singers and dancers around!

I slumped into a miserable vodka-sodden heap at a table in the corner!

Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 21:43

I don't drink

I couldn't even overeat - the food was crap and small portions

DH liked the music/dancing
DD liked the "entertainments"
I thought it was dirty, smelly and yuk

I am obviously out of step with society in this country

OP posts:
Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 21:59

& DD got chicken pox on the first morning

OP posts:
Celia2 · 26/08/2006 22:33

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Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 22:35

Tell me more

I can book the site with my Tescos vouchers - but the sailing stuff still made it really expensive

WHat was it like
Did you sail??

OP posts:
seb1 · 26/08/2006 22:37

I have got a new (well this year really) problem with entertainment places and restaurants on holidays. We don't smoke, in fact I hate it, hate the smell and of course because you can't smoke in public places up here anymore, I am kind of use to the smoke free, so seem to walk about on holiday with my nose turned up in distaste at any smoke places. Guess I won?t be going far for holidays in the near future. I'll just stay up here in the cold and (sweet smelling) rain. As well as this new problem I think my holiday picking is about as successful as yours Katymac and it is so depressing when you have researched and planned and it is rotten and often you feel a waste of money

sallystrawberry · 26/08/2006 22:38

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Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 22:41

We have always had that problem - DH is a chronic asthmatic (he is medically retired)

Why can't they understand that not putting an ashtray on the table doesn't make it non-smoking

It was non-smoking at Haven until 9pm......when everyone (& I do mean everyone) lit up

It was awful - & we had to leave each night

OP posts:
seb1 · 26/08/2006 22:48

I hate when your room or caravan smells of smoke

Celia2 · 26/08/2006 22:58

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Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 23:02

That's about £14 or £15 isn't it

At DD's rate - that would cost at least £30 a day.....6 days hmmm how much were the courses

She did her RYA 1 last Christmas.....& is very keen

OP posts:
NotAnOtter · 26/08/2006 23:06

what you need is cornwall - an array of children between 14 and 6 months - waves- sand - pack up- good deli and coffee shop- 'we need to talk about Kevin' and some sun

SORTED!!!

Celia2 · 26/08/2006 23:08

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 23:09

Celia - Did you book late?

Notanotter - not lots of children (preferably none)...remember what I do for a living

OP posts:
seb1 · 26/08/2006 23:26

You could always come to Scotland, smoke free, nice food, relaxing, watersports the only problem may be sun (though I was on that beach and it was 31deg this summer)

Skribble · 26/08/2006 23:47

My problem on holiday is other people, Ihate sharing my sopace with drunks and horrible squaky childen. I need a holiday on a deserted island I think .

Our last holiday in a keycamp caravan in Spain was pretty horrible. We don't really get the time or have the mney to get away and I feel so bad when it is me that has orgainised it all. I think I will stick to Paris.

Original poster
Katymac · 26/08/2006 23:49

Hi Skribble - how's it going (I agree about the other people btw)

OP posts:
Celia2 · 27/08/2006 08:16

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Original poster
Katymac · 27/08/2006 10:41

What a shame - you must have felt really let down....I hope you enjoyed it too!

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LemonTart · 27/08/2006 10:52

How about hiring a lovely chateau in France near the coast. Pre book a youth sailing course for DD (3 or 4 mornings course is common). Spend your mornings in a little chic cafe sipping your cafe au lait people watching, then potter around feeling great testing your french out buying baguette, fromage, vin, jambons etc for your picnic lunch on the beach. Spend afternoon sunbathing/collecting shells/walk along the shore. Evening in a lovely restaurant on the sea front with bucket of moules and suitably chilled wine....Aaaah.
Just come back from a fab holiday and totally recommend it. Didn?t do the sailing course as DD1 too young but would consider it in future.
Hiring your own place is good as you have a retreat and don?t worry about posh/not posh dress code etc. Just pottering, sunbathing half posh bliss

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