Would you rather...

[Sally210577]

We are hoping to go to Austria on holiday this summer (my husband, 19 month old and I) but can't decide whether to go half board or self catering. The advantages of self catering is that we can get an apartment with 2 bedrooms which obviously means more space and also our little boy can have his own room whereas if we go half board and we're all in the same room, once he goes to bed we'll have to tip toe round so as not to wake him. Going self catering is also more flexible in terms of timings for meals. The advantage of half board is that Mummy doesn't have to do shopping, cooking and washing up!! So, what to do, what to do? Any advice??

We took our two to Austria in the summer in 2010, my daughter was almost 4 and son almost 2. They loved it in the mountains - seeing snow in summer!!!

Anyway, we used a website called owners direct and got a ski chalet. With it being summer it was really cheap! Just remember if self catering that in Austria, the supermarkets will be closed on Sunday...

I'd definitey go self-catering

And surely you wouldn't be expected to do all the shopping, cooking and washing up seeing as you have another adult there

Plus, there are restaurants!

We usually alternate one night cooking and one night eating out , with a cheat takeaway at some time in the holiday. Cooking is usually much more pasta/ ready meals/easy stuff than at home to save effort. I do find though that shopping in foreign supermarkets is a fun part of the holiday, and stocking up on local speciality meats/ cheese/fruit/wine for picnic lunches (how sad am I!)
It is so much easier to have the space and if your DC still needs a nap, to have the flexibility to put them down for an hour during the day.

Self catering! Agree with you that's it's a pain cooking etc but it's so much easier with small children going to a supermarket and getting them food they will eat rather than have meal time arguments over food they won't eat as it doesn't look/taste quite the same!

Always prefer sc with children.
Love Austria too - we have Austrian rellies, it's a beautiful place with amazing food

I agree with self-catering at that age, you just have so much more flexibility.

When DS was small we would go out for a nice lunch rather than dinner and then have something back at the villa in the evening. Evening meals were lots of fresh bread, cheese, meat, fish, olives, salad - all the things that are much nicer bought from a local market and eaten outdoors! Some afternoons we could also sit out in the sun and read while DS napped.

You may have to do a bit of cooking but the trade off is sitting outside in the evening while DS is asleep, having a glass of wine and getting a bit of peace and grown-up time.

The alternative is creeping around a hotel room in the dark, wondering why DC are still awake and going to bed at 9pm because there's nothing else to do.

Self catering lover here too. You get the extra space in your apartment, can eat some meals in, and go out for others.