Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Holidays

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Holiday of a lifetime for 5 year old girl

47 replies

Ash19 · 12/04/2020 14:42

We have had to cancel 2 holidays this summer. One was during my 4 year old bday and she was so excited. I am hoping I will be able to take her on holiday of a lifetime in 2021. Would love to hear suggestions.

Things that are important kids splash Park with slides. Playground. Mini disco. Promenade etc. Just sé where that is super fun
Thanks

OP posts:

Gemma2019 · 12/04/2020 15:38

My kids always enjoy the First Choice Holiday Villages. We've been to Turkey, Rhodes, Ibiza and Spain and would like to try more. Lalandia and Efteling are great for that age, and Lalandia has Legoland next door. No mini discos though.

Just to say I wouldn't spent a huge amount or set my heart on making it a "holiday of a lifetime" for a 5 year old as they remember bugger all until they are about 6 or 7. None of mine remember any of the places we took them when they were little.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 12/04/2020 15:42

Agree with PP the Holiday Village in Rhodes is pretty much perfect for that age group. Cruise holidays are a massive hit with DS too as the kids facilities are amazing on the bigger ships.

Original poster

Ash19 · 12/04/2020 15:54

Yes was looking at holiday village. They look class. Be great if there was a place you could do a comparison. We did four cruises before our lttle girl but didn't think of cruise with our little girl. Any ship you can recommend thanks

OP posts:

LBOCS2 · 12/04/2020 15:55

Disney cruise?

Or there's a hotel in Benidorm which has a safari and water park attached?

User202004 · 12/04/2020 16:07

Yes I wouldn't stress too much about holiday of a lifetime at that age, sadly they don't remember for long! We love Blue Lagoon Village in Kos, and Disneyland Paris is great for that age group, my 6 year old (who was 4/5) still talks about it.

faithinallisee · 12/04/2020 16:10

I don’t think at 5 they would appreciate such a thing...

AmelieTaylor · 12/04/2020 16:11

Doesn't matter where you take them. They only ever remember some random thing -like you dropping your ice cream. 🤷🏻‍♀️

midnightstar66 · 12/04/2020 16:14

I wouldn't worry too much about holiday of a life time - we spent the whole summer holidays travelling - Cyprus, scottish highlands, London, Lincolnshire when dd was 5 and she doesn't remember any of it - not even with photos (she's 10). Just pick somewhere fun that you will enjoy

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 12/04/2020 16:24

At 5 is it really worth a holiday of a lifetime? She will have hazy impressions but she won't take remember much.

We went to lapland last year, my youngest was 7 and it was a bit lost on him though he did have huge amounts of fun in the snow. I knew it would be lost on him I have older kids too.

We also went to Croatia and that was hands down the most relaxing holiday. We didn't go to a holiday village or anything as I really dislike them but we hired a static tent with proper beds, fridge etc and there was a good pizza place on site. All around the site was the sea. Just a few steps from the tent you could jump off the rocks and snorkel with shoals of fish. Plenty of shallow spots for smaller kids too. It was bliss. The then 7 year old loved it and does talk about it.

However he also talks about random events, about the holiday to Scotland when he was 6 and it rained all week. To hear him talk it was exciting, sunny, wonderful and we did loads of brilliant things. In my mind it rained, the children bickered and I threatened to leave them all with dh drive to Edinburgh airport and fly somewhere sunny.

Anyway. Kids remember time not once in a lifetime stuff at that age. Yesterday we had a bbq and slept in the tent in the garden. The 8 year old said it was the best day of his life ever. The 11 year old agreed.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 12/04/2020 16:25

I went on what would be a holiday of a lifetime for many adults when I was 5.

I remember very little apart from finding some maggots ("Mummy, what are these wriggly things?") in a dodgy restaurant and playing in a pool which, looking back at the pics, was a deathtrap. Same pics also prove we saw some absolutely mind blowing things and breathtaking sights. Couldn't tell you a jot about them though....

So you may as well just take her to any water park/spanish island etc and save up for when she'll really remember it.

CokeEnStock · 12/04/2020 16:41

When dd was that age the best hols we had were Eurocamp type places with a kids club and decent pool with slides. Then a wander in to the local town where there were always roundabouts and those bungy trampoline things and candy floss or icecream. Kids disco or talent show always went down well.

Ylvamoon · 12/04/2020 16:45

I'd suggest camping! My kids absolutely loved it when younger. It's pretty safe and there is lots of opportunity to be "independent" and make friends. Mine would spend all day/ everyday on the playground or racing around the site in their scooters and bike. We always choose sites with swimming pools and some kids entertainment, as well as stuff to do in the surrounding areas.
One of my best memories is of my DS -than 4years old. I woke up from the zip opening on our tent only to see DS disappear through the hole. By the time I was at the entrance all I could see was DS in his little blue dinosaur PJ's, running to the playground. That was at 6am! 😂

Lllot5 · 12/04/2020 16:49

How can it be holiday of a lifetime at 5.

ScarfLadysBag · 12/04/2020 16:54

I'd just do a normal holiday and save up for the lifetime holiday when she's older, at least 9/10 I think. I went to Disneyland when I was 9 and I remember plenty of it and talked about it for years, but I don't really remember any holidays before that (except for Flamingoland when my dad went on the pirate ship and it made him hurl, and that's literally the only part of that trip I remember - my dad puking ) She'll get the same enjoyment out of a much cheaper holiday than a more expensive one at this stage, so stick the money in the Disney fund for a few years' time or something!

CokeEnStock · 12/04/2020 17:07

I remember dd being so excited about the Canvas kids club I found her at 6.30am with her bag packed, eating cereal out of a Pyrex cooking dish.

NewName54321 · 12/04/2020 17:27

Colleague was —showing off— asking his children to tell me which was the best holiday they’d had. Was it Disneyland, Paris, Greek islands etc etc.?

Both without hesitation said it was the week at Skegness in a caravan when it rained and they had to all stay in and play games together.

Basically, fortune spent on going to lots of places but actually what the children appreciated was their parents' time and undivided attention.

Artesia · 12/04/2020 17:30

Not sure I’d spend much time looking at cruises at the moment OP....

Original poster

Ash19 · 12/04/2020 17:34

Sorry what I meant by holiday of a lifetime was that she would have great fun.. Don't need her to remember it but I love hearing her laugh and jumping around with excitement. I just want my little girl to have the best times she can have and although she wont remember the holidays she would of had a brill time on it. Cambrils eurocamp was one of our holidays booked for this year. We had been before and loved it I probably worded my question wrong. Was just looking for suggestions of bril holidays people have had with 5 year olds. Thanks to everyone for replies

OP posts:

Greendayz · 12/04/2020 17:34

I think I'd hold off booking anything even for next summer until things get back to normal. Whilst I'm hoping we get done sort of normality back in a couple of months and maybe schools in September, I can't see foreign travel opening up until most countries in the world have got people vaccinated. Which may or may not be by next summer

Greendayz · 12/04/2020 17:36

My DS's favourite ever holiday from about that agree though was Lanzarote. And what it was that made it so special was a villa with a pool which was within his depth and he could go in whenever he wanted. He remembers that still, and used to draw pictures of his "dream home" with that same pool outside it. I think it's the little things they remember at that age.

Bunnybigears · 12/04/2020 17:38

Holiday of a lifetime for a 5yr old is very different from an adults holiday of a lifetime. Personally I would take them out of school at some point and go to Center Parcs or hire a campervan ( this was my youngest kids all time favourite holiday and they have been to Lapland and New York)

MartySouth · 12/04/2020 17:39

When my kids were that age I tried so hard to make sure every holiday and every birthday were special too. Your DD is lucky that you care so much.

Honestly though and I know you have heard it 100 times and probably think it's a cliche but she really will not remember it. What you think of as a holiday of a lifetime is not the same for her. It truly does not matter how much you spend. In fact, airports and foreign travel are often quite stressful for young children. If you go somewhere where you both feel really relaxed, sleep well and spend lots of time together laughing, that is worth more than any amount of money. My DCs are 22 and 27 now and I pulled all the stops out for 'holidays of a lifetime' but all children want is for you to really present with them and enjoy the moment even if it's a paddling pool in the garden. Boring but true.

OublietteBravo · 12/04/2020 17:46

Lalandia and Legoland Billund. Thoroughly recommended for that age group. Go in the second half of August (it’s quiet - the Danish kids are back at school).

Original poster

Ash19 · 12/04/2020 17:49

Thanks for advise. I have taken her on loads of holidays already and prob the one she enjoyed most was the layed back one a Campsite in cambrils. Thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

Ash19 · 12/04/2020 17:53

Haven't heard of those will check it out

Just asked her her favourite things about holiday
. Splashing in pools. Shops and Icecream

OP posts:

Flip

1 2