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Original poster

Should I still go on my Sunsail holiday?

30 replies

JoshandJamie · 11/05/2007 19:27

We have a two week holiday booked for Sept at one of the Sunsail resorts. We've been once before to a different resort and loved it - but we used the baby listening service every night. Didn't think twice about it.

Now (given recent events) it bothers me. I still think in the scheme of things, that my children will be perfectly fine, but it seems that there are many, many people who think that it's really not acceptable to leave your child using a service like this. The whole point of paying a boatload of money to go to a place like this was so that we could have some alone time in the evenings.

I don't want to pay a fortune for a babysitter everynight (over two weeks it would really add up). I don't want to keep my kids up late and have them eat with us because they become truly miserable and it will hardly be the relaxing break we need. But if I use the listening service, I wonder whether I'm just going to spend every evening worrying and not relaxing anyway.

Help! I have to pay my final deposit soon and am really not sure whether to go now. How is everyone else who is going on similar holidays with baby listening services handling it?

OP posts:
cab · 11/05/2007 19:35

Which resort are you booked for? Folk who have been there before might be able to give you some ideas re layout/ general security.

LIZS · 11/05/2007 19:35

Have you seen this thread ?

Judy1234 · 11/05/2007 20:29

YOu could pay for someone to sit in the room. My daughter who has worked a lot for Sunsail would do that for extra money in the evenings I think.

yogimum · 11/05/2007 20:48

I went to sunsail in Antigua with an ex-boyfriend and his children. We hired a babysitter a couple of times, had food sent to our apartment or took children (baby in his buggy asleep) to dinner with us. It would be expensive to have a babysitter every night as the ones we had (from the creche) wanted to do a full evening not just a couple of hours). If you are going to worry it might be worth the extra expense though!

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 11/05/2007 20:57

We're going to Marvarde in Turkey. And thanks for the link to the other thread - only just got through it all! Wow. And it's made me feel even worse.

I genuinely never questioned using a baby listening service before - did it at Sunsail and again at a place in Cornwall. EVeryone did it - thought it was perfectly fine.

There were lots of arguments on the other thread about 'if it's a family holiday, why wouldn't you want to eat with your kids etc etc.'

And I certainly don't want to stir up another debate - but I haven't had any kind of holiday (family or otherwise) for two years. I have no family that live in the country, my DH works away a lot, I run my own business and am seriously need of a genuine break. Since my children were born (eldest is 3 and a quarter) we've had three nights alone together where we've begged friends to have our kids.

Part of the reason this holiday appeals is that we for once get to relax as a couple and work on our relationship a bit. There were lots of comments about how being a parent you sacrifice ME time but kids need happy parents who have a healthy relationship, and unless you get real time out, that may not be the case.

But because of poor Madeleine - and the outpouring of sentiment against leaving kids/using listening services, I just think I am now going to worry, which won't make it worth the money. I sort of think, well we can just do a self catering thing. But to me, that just feels like any other day, doing cooking, cleaning, looking after kids, only in a foreign place. I need a genuine break - but am now so concerned that maybe I've been a bad parent by using baby listening in the past that I feel too bad to do it again.

OP posts:
yogimum · 11/05/2007 21:01

I forgot to add to my last message, we used baby listening at a hotel in Cornwall recently aswell and was very happy with it. My husband works away for four months at a time and we had just got married so I understand having a little time with your husband.

cab · 11/05/2007 21:45

Maverde's lovely. Go and enjoy your holiday - but maybe phone them first and get them to agree that you can eat with the kids at 5 whenever you want to.
That way you're still getting a break from cooking and cleaning, but can have the odd night off for good behaviour with a babysitter in tow.
Suggest you get an interconnecting room as it makes babysitting or relaxing together once the kids are asleep much easier.
Maverde is self-contained, in the middle of nowhere and has security guards on the gates, so a totally different kettle of fish to MW in Portugal.

gingersj · 11/05/2007 21:55

Marverde's quite big and I would take a monitor if you are in doubt at all. Quite a few parents had their kids with them for dinner so dont worry if it does not work out.

The baby listening worked a treat, but they never woke up.

Have a great time

Judy1234 · 11/05/2007 21:56

Weird parents who want to spend 24/7 with their children on holiday. Don't they want a break for a few hours a day? I'll therefore keep off the other thread.

Blackduck · 11/05/2007 22:02

Check how they are doing it - last year at Perili they gave out walkie talkies (range is far better than the average baby monitor and you don't get 'cross talk'), there was no baby listening.....

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 11/05/2007 22:07

I think I just need to call them and find out how they do it - we went to Perili last time (2005) and they didn't have monitors at all, just people listening outside doors every 20 minutes.

My DH is adamant that we should just do it. I mean, how are all these companies going to handle this issue because surely there must be lots of mums going through the same thing now.

OP posts:
Blackduck · 11/05/2007 22:09

The monitors are new.....we did Perili in 2005 and 2006 - came in last year....not sure if it is better or not really, but as half the time they couldn't find our room I reckoned it problem was better that we could hear him....its a tricky one - I really don't know what I'd do this year (sorry not really very helpful...)

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 11/05/2007 22:18

Are you going again this year Blackduck?

OP posts:
Blackduck · 11/05/2007 22:21

No - but not because of recent events. I think sunsail is wonderful and we have had great holidays with them. What I mean is I too used the listening service and all that and really didn't think about it, and recent events have stopped me in my tracks a bit.....I suppose I'd just make full use of the 'free nights' and get a baby sitter...In Perili we also used to take ds round to the next bay even on inclusive nights as we felt we could have some family time in a safe place without having to wait until 8.00 to eat. But obviously that adds to the cost...

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 11/05/2007 22:22

ooh - I wonder if we were there at the same time in 2005? We were there at the end of May I think. I was the very pregnant one

OP posts:
Blackduck · 11/05/2007 22:23

Nah...Sept ..... (did Javlin in May - won it on Mumsnet!)

yogimum · 11/05/2007 22:31

I'm sure you won't be the first parents to call these companies to voice your concerns. They may be very accommodating with recent events as they won't want lots of cancellations.

Judy1234 · 11/05/2007 22:47

If you make enough demands they might hire more staff for the children and my daughter might have a better chance of a summer job again.

cane · 11/05/2007 22:52

can you get a bebetel? It's what we use and it's brilliant, it's for hotels and call you on your mobile if there is any noise in the room.
Incidentally, we were booked to go out to Praia da Luz tomorrow and cancelled, so totally understand how you feel!

cab · 11/05/2007 23:54

JoshandJamie - I've never been to Perili but hear it's gorgeous - hope you aren't too disappointed with Maverde in comparison. (Perili wind and accomodation meant to be in a different league.)
If you do go for it and decide to use the baby monitor now and again think you would be best with rooms at front or right of hotel looking at it from beach. (Those to the right on ground floor will also have decent sized patios for relaxing drinks later in eve.) If going for baby monitor option you could pack a a small battery operated fire alarm that could be heard on monitor (can't remember if they've got them in each room) and ask them (well in advance) to provide a stair gate for door (cos think with new fire regs all doors can open from inside so kids can escape).
Recommend brill day trips on the yachts with or without kids to Turk Bucu, Torba, Maya Maya, Guvercinlick and the Island (with a picnic.
Have a great time.

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 12/05/2007 06:27

Thanks for the info Cab. Perili was fab - but the transfer was just too long. OVer 3 hours after a 4 hour plane ride - not fun with little kids. Am still torn about this. Can see DH and I having a bit of a discussion about this. sigh

OP posts:
Slacker · 12/05/2007 08:02

On the Sunsail website they say that if there's a high demand for babysitting they may run a night creche instead in the kids club - obviously that's a bit more disruptive for your children's sleep than just leaving them in the room, but would give you peace of mind and be cheaper than the babysitting service?

I'm sure when we had a babysitter at Sunsail it wasn't that expensive, but it was one of the general staff who came, rather than the trained childcare ones - he said lots of staff like being asked to babysit as it gives them a night off from their hectic social life!

If I were you I would phone Sunsail and see what they have to say, they must be making plans to respond to concerns about the baby listening service.

Blackduck · 12/05/2007 08:05

Think you will find it will be a night creche - basically they can't use non trained staff to babysit anymore (that was certainly true last year...) So they have to set the nuresery up with beds..... There have been changes in childcare regs which effect them too. Does mean you have to drop them off and pick them up from the nursery. Isn't any cheaper with the little ones...

noonar · 12/05/2007 08:28

hi, have you considered mousses in lefkas? (see my post that i just made on the thread liz gave a link to earlier).

there are dozens of MNers who've been and would vouch for the safety of the set up there.

nappyaddict · 12/05/2007 08:33

i think its only under 5s where they have qualified nannys as babysitters. for over 5s they just need to be CRB checked and have a first aid course afaik.

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