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

Original poster

Large family holiday for my mums 70th- help needed

32 replies

Despicablyme · 07/08/2016 20:06

My parents wants to take mine and my brothers families away next year for her 70th. So there will be 6 children aged 5-14. 12 people in total.

Where would you recommend? Budget is around 15 000 ish. It sounds a lot but I guess it's not for a group of 12.

The older ones get bored easily. My parents can't walk far so Disney is out.

My mum fancied a cruise but DH not keen.

DB hates flying so can't be long haul.

I've pondered siblu but I think my parents would struggle with the beds.

So I'm thinking a nice hotel? I fancy Italy but they've priced a couple up and they came way over budget. My mum suggested Portugal as an option. Hotels are hard as we are a family with 4 children.

Somewhere a little different eg Iceland?

Or maybe just a fantastic place in the UK?

I can't see a large villa working. Firstly we may kill each other and secondly there is nothing for the older ones to do.

So suggestions please!

OP posts:
Original poster
Despicablyme · 07/08/2016 20:06

Obviously that should read family holiday not daily holiday.

Must proof read Blush

OP posts:
nothingtodotoday · 07/08/2016 20:31

We did a cruise and it was perfect. Everyone did their own thing, or met in small groups during the day and we all met for dinner at night .

NewBallsPlease00 · 07/08/2016 20:36

Of your mum is paying and it's a cruise she fancies then it should be a cruise and your dh get over it for one holiday? European one would be doable on your budget and time/flight options I think- with 12 people you should also get a discount so I'd call a specialist only when you've done your own research

HemanOrSheRa · 07/08/2016 20:43

If you wanted to go to Cornwall this company are excellent www.selfcatercornwall.co.uk/accommodation/. We let our holiday home out through them. They have large properties on their books as well as groups of properties in the same area/complexes. You could book separate accomodation so you've all got your own space?

AuditAngel · 07/08/2016 22:14

What about a center parcs in Europe? 6 of us stayed in the Netherlands in Premium accommodation in May half term for about €1,000, the Eurotunnel was £170.

Lots of different activities available, we spent about €1,000, but that included 2 ski lessons for the 3DC and a family ski day as well.

Original poster
Despicablyme · 08/08/2016 08:39

Thanks
I will look more into a cruise but DH is a stubborn man.
The Dec would love center parcs abs we've been in the uk with my parents. I don't know if she'd consider it 'special' enough though.
Will look at the Cornwall link.

OP posts:
Ladymuck · 08/08/2016 10:19

Has your Dh been on a cruise? We've done 3 generation holidays, both cruise and Florida, and the cruises have worked really well. Loads of activities for every age, not stuck in one place for too long. Great supervised kids clubs. Food and drink for every taste and customer service is great (let's not focus on the wages paid to staff). Opportunity to dress up for gala nights or spend the whole time in shorts - up to you.

The only thing you need to think about is that when booking a cruise, people usually book specific cabins, which means that the later you book, the harder it is to find connecting cabins for children.

eurochick · 08/08/2016 10:38

I'd go for a big villa in southern France or Italy.

Original poster
Despicablyme · 08/08/2016 11:48

With a big villa I'm worried we'd argue or it would be strained. I haven't spent more than an hour of two in my brothers company for about 25 years!
I think I will look further into cruising then. DH says they are like a floating shopping centre but that's not based on any facts! Can you get cabins for families of 6?

OP posts:
mrsnec · 08/08/2016 12:09

We did a big villa in france for my mum's 50th.

I hated it. No restaurants accomodated us. Nobody wanted to drive anyehere. Very remote village. I had a horrible room sharing with people I wasn't close to. Split the food bill and it was huge because everybody wanted their own stuff. I spent the week washing up.

Centre parcs in europe all next door to each other is a great idea.

HooseRice · 08/08/2016 12:13

Your DH is being a git if he won't go on a cruise that the birthday lady wants because he doesn't fancy it.

When he's 70 I imagine the family will go along with his wishes.

BusStopBetty · 08/08/2016 12:25

Leave dh at home if he's going to be an awkward twat?

European based cruise ships don't tend to be quite as massive, I don't think? Certainly the one relatives went on (round the fjords) was very small.

Original poster
Despicablyme · 08/08/2016 12:28

He can be awkward for sure.
Any cruise recommendations welcome. I'd rather go from the uk. The thought of adding a flight in adds to the stress I think.

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MyNightWithMaud · 08/08/2016 12:37

There's huge rivalry between P&O and Cunard and regular cruise-goers tend to be loyal to one or the other. We went with P&O on a 3 generation holiday and it was lovely. We handed over our bags in Southampton and next saw them in our cabins.

I'm not sure there's such a thing as a cabin for six, or even interconnecting cabins, so you'd need to do some research.

Ladymuck · 08/08/2016 12:53

Well, let's look at it another way - what does your dh enjoy doing on holiday? If his idea of a perfect holiday is camping on the side of a remote mountain, then not only would a cruise be hellish, but probably any large family holiday will be. But cruisers cover a wide variety of fitness nuts, sight-seers, foodies, young families etc.

Bear in mind that with most fly-cruises, you check in your luggage at the airport and next see it in your cabin. So yes, a flight might be a faff, but not as much as you might think.

Cabins for 6 are unusual and may well be already booked for next year. But ask a cruise specialist and they may be able to point you in the right direction. You should certainly be able to find connecting rooms - so 2 cabins for the 6 of you where you can keep a connecting door open throughout the night.

One advantage of cruising directly from the UK is that you aren't restricted to airline baggage limits and can pretty much bring anything on - depending on the ages of your children that can be a significant bonus. The downside IMO is that you are more limited in your destinations or you can end up having to spend a couple of days sailing to and from the Med. Having done that once I would prefer to free up the 4 days by flying!

There are a few specialist companies - Bolsover Cruise Club and Iglu come to mind. P&O and Royal Caribbean are family friendly companies which sail from Southampton.

Original poster
Despicablyme · 08/08/2016 13:30

I didn't realise that about baggage. I imagined having to collect it then take it on a coach to a port or similar. That makes flying seem less of an issue.

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MyNightWithMaud · 08/08/2016 14:16

To satisfy my curiosity, I've done s bit of googling and learnt that the newer P&O ships do have family suited for up to 6. Bolsover Travel offers lots of discounts and deals but not (when I last asked, some time ago) in school holidays.

Original poster
Despicablyme · 08/08/2016 15:12

That's interesting thanks. I may need to research before I mention to DH.

Mum looked at a hotel in Sardinia that came out at 25000! And many of the really nice ones in Europe not far off.

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ohdearme1958 · 09/08/2016 10:55

I was also going to suggest a cruise and not just because I thoroughly enjoy them.

I'm off again at the end of the Month around the Caribbean then Florida and a FB group I'm on currently has two separate family groups travelling as well as one large group of friends. So out of the 92 people in the group I would say the 3 large groups make up 54 of us.

Sometimes I cruise alone and I'm always being told by someone in a group ' you're on your own - don't just sit there come and join us for a dance'.

Are ships a large shopping mall? Or whatever it was your husband said. No. They're not.

How about a 5 day trip around the Med?

That would come in ok price wise

Clayhead · 09/08/2016 10:57

I did something I thought I'd hate for a 70th birthday trip last year - gritted my teeth and didn't look forward to it (and was a grumpy cow in the run up Blush).

I was wrong - I loved it!

Sometimes it's good to try something you never normally would...just in case!

Ladymuck · 09/08/2016 11:25

Seriously, what does your dh enjoy doing on holiday? Other than remote camping, I'm fairly sure we could find a cruise to suit! And they are brilliant at feeding large family groups - and no one has to drive home afterwards (there are usually kids clubs in the evenings as well).

ParadiseCity · 09/08/2016 11:29

I don't like the idea of a cruise at all. The image I have is of Meadowhall on water. But if someone else was paying I'd be out buying deck shoes before you knew it.

Original poster
Despicablyme · 09/08/2016 21:39

Yes he says Trafford centre on water so a similar thing.
What does DH like? Well skiing is his favourite holiday. He likes a road trip. He enjoyed Eurodisney though and eurocamping.

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Original poster
Despicablyme · 09/08/2016 21:39

No one apart fromDH ski's though.

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Floralnomad · 09/08/2016 21:46

As this doesn't sound like a lot of fun why not suggest that you all go on a weekend break somewhere in the uk and then your parents spend the remainder of the budget on a really special cruise for just the two of them . It sounds like they're spending a lot of money on something most of the group won't appreciate at the moment.

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