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Original poster

Holiday with 5 year old, 6 month old and a husband who is terrified of flying

32 replies

Shinebright21 · 04/03/2022 08:36

So it has been three years since we’ve been away and in that time it’s been incredibly stressful with life and COVID.

My husband and I have always been adventurous travellers - we’ve done many many amazing holidays. Now with two kids I just want an all inclusive place to stay, with kids entertainment, pools, beach and guaranteed weather. We are looking to go second week of July.

My first port of call was Turkey, Antalya but my husband is terrified of flying. He developed this fear after the Malaysian air crashes. He said to me he doesn’t mind France or Spain or somewhere in Europe that is accessible by train/ferry.

Can anyone recommend a good all inclusive resort that is family friendly - that we wouldn’t need to go on a plane?

I said to my husband it’s our ten year anniversary next year, and I want us to go as a family to Mexico with the kids. He’s got one year to get over his fear, and get help or I’m going with the kids and a photograph of him 😂

So far I really like the look Canary Islands but it’s like a 2 day boat trip from mainland Spain. My husband likes the french riveria but I haven’t seen any all inclusive resorts. I am absolutely shattered, and need a break - so as much as my husband keeps tempting me with amazing YouTube videos from Croatia and Rome and France I am insistent that with two young kids I need all inclusive!

Any suggestions or help would be very much appreciated!

OP posts:
daisychainsandrainbows · 04/03/2022 08:40

What about a cruise? You can sail from the UK and could go around the Med and many of the ships are very child friendly.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 04/03/2022 08:41

Can you fly and your husband join you by other method of transport?

MiddleParking · 04/03/2022 08:43

Could he go on one of those courses that airlines run so you could fly? We were looking for AI in Croatia for this year too but it just doesn’t seem to be a thing they really do. We went with Greece in the end.

ChocolateMassacre · 04/03/2022 09:16

Have a look at Portugal. There's some nice family AI resorts there. Ferry to Spain and you can drive from Spain.

Personally, given you're exhausted, I'd fly with the baby and let your DH endure the ferry with the 5yo Grin. Spending hours/days at sea with small children on a choppy ferry in a tiny cabin would not be my idea of relaxing!

user1471484795 · 04/03/2022 09:19

Check out centreparcs in Holland. We went there and it's amazing. There is even one with an indoor ski slope!

RandomQuest · 04/03/2022 09:23

Club Med Opio in the south of France?

Original poster
Shinebright21 · 04/03/2022 09:28

@daisychainsandrainbows that sounds like a good idea! Any companies or cruise lines you’d recommend?

@Duracellbunnywannabe this is what I said to him. I said I’ll even take both kids, and you arrive by train if you’d like or ship. He doesn’t want to do that, he wants to go together, and perhaps I’m being a little fool hardy thinking I could manage a young baby as well as a five year old talking at a 100 miles an hour!

@MiddleParking yes I plan on doing whatever I can this year, to help us fly next year for our anniversary.

We have also travelled by train from London to Paris, then to Barcelona, then driven to south of Spain and we actually enjoyed it. This is when our son was 3 and he loved it too. We stopped off at different locations etc. I just think it’s going to be so stressful with a him being 5 now, and whinging about the time it takes to go to the big Tesco’s and a baby in tow. That’s not a holiday for me, I want everything to be easy. My husband said maybe I should just get a hotel with a pool in the south of France, or a villa. But I said it’s not fun for me thinking, oh where are we going to eat, or isolating ourselves in a villa. I’d like for somewhere with kids entertainment, because I need someone else to take over so I can get a break! Ie water parks, evening shows etc

I said to my husband I’d rather not go and just plan a few days out over the summer for beaches, strawberry picking etc but he said I’m making it too complicated. I don’t think he understands the practicalities of managing two kids on holiday.

I know this is a first world problem - but we’ve been financially debilitated over the past three years and it hasn’t even been possible to go to the beach due to petrol costs. Finally things are going back on an even keel, and I want to give my son experiences he will remember and memories for us as a family. All the while being stress free - that’s key!! Wink

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 04/03/2022 09:30

Have you done all inclusive before? I've done it once and it was disappointing. I'd rather do half board and eat out. I agree that you should fly and he can spend half his holiday traveling. He will soon change his mind on flying!

CaramelWaferAndTea · 04/03/2022 09:32

Club med. Lots in France!

H1Drangea · 04/03/2022 09:35

We did a Celebrity cruise , from Southampton down to Spain and Portugal , was brilliant and the DC had a ball in the kids / teens club
I’m not sure how old the babies have to be , but there were some very small children in the nursery club

Clymene · 04/03/2022 09:36

Yep, I'd do club med south of France. You can get the Eurostar direct to Marseille and hire a car from the station

Duracellbunnywannabe · 04/03/2022 09:37

You need to think about what you are happy to do and tell him your holiday boundaries. Of course he wants you to join him on the long boring journey but it’s not suitable for young children and you don’t need to allow his fears to limit yours and your children’s life.

FiftyStoriesHigh · 04/03/2022 09:38

Someone who’s terrified of dying in a plane crash probably doesn’t feel great about their kids on plane without them, I wouldn’t have thought. Some of the courses on fear of flying are brilliant OP.

Original poster
Shinebright21 · 04/03/2022 09:41

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate the suggestions. I’m currently exploring the club meds in the South of France, and also looking at some cruise options!

I do know in the back of mind, wherever we go it will be amazing because we haven’t been for so long, and my 5 year old especially will love it. He’s enthusiastic about the smallest things, so he will appreciate this even more!

OP posts:
ChocolateMassacre · 04/03/2022 09:44

We looked at Iberostar Lagos Algarve but decided on Greece in the end. You'd need to fly to Greece though so no good for you.

I totally get you on just wanting the kids to be entertained and not having to worry about food. The place we're going to has all day entertainment for kids and you can book them into the kids club from 4 upwards (though I'm not sure we'll do that with our 4yo DS unless we're happy about the level of supervision). They also have a children's pool with slides and a lovely shady playground right next to the cafe. Kids disco every evening which might be hell for some but our DS will love it Grin.

It's not the holiday I would have picked pre-DC, but then those holidays involved long-haul travel, getting up late and eating out a lot in nice restaurants, none of which my DS would really enjoy.

Original poster
Shinebright21 · 04/03/2022 09:54

@FiftyStoriesHigh that’s exactly it! He doesn’t feel comfortable with us going on a plane either, he’s the worrier and I’m the more laid back one. I will book him onto that course.

@ChocolateMassacre that sounds perfect, exactly the kind of thing I’m looking for! Once kids are old enough, I would love to go back into adventurous holidays and let the kids experience it too. But whilst they are young we need to make it as stress free as possible and al takes majority of the stress out - where to eat, travelling to different places to visit. I’m looking forward to sticking my five year old on a large inflatable and letting him have the time of his life whilst I relax!

OP posts:
Wexone · 04/03/2022 09:56

i would also recommend a cruise, we have done two med and Caribbean. One with NCL ( Loved them0 and other with MSC( not as good) Bothe ships had half a floor dedicated to kids play inside aswell as loads on deck for them. Loads to do. Plenty of restaurants, plus as its inclusive, kids can go get drinks etc no issues plenty of choice for food. The fact you wake up in a different location every day is what i love

FiftyStoriesHigh · 04/03/2022 10:35

My brother did a course at a local airport where they all ended up on a flight together (to nowhere) at the end. They’re very good.

Original poster
Shinebright21 · 04/03/2022 11:05

So I think I quite like Portugal

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/portugal/algarve/articles/best-all-inclusive-algarve-hotels/

For anyone who maybe in a similar position as me! These places look great!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 04/03/2022 11:08

@Duracellbunnywannabe this is what I said to him. I said I’ll even take both kids, and you arrive by train if you’d like or ship. He doesn’t want to do that, he wants to go together, and perhaps I’m being a little fool hardy thinking I could manage a young baby as well as a five year old talking at a 100 miles an hour!

Why does he get to call all the shots? I don't like flying either, I cry on takeoff and feel sick to my stomach all the time in the air and usually puke once back on the ground, but I take something to help me cope and just focus on getting through it.

We're taking kid with ASD on a short flight within the UK to see how he will cope. Maybe that's an option.

BirdOnTheWire · 04/03/2022 11:09

To drive or go by train to Portugal oer even Spain is going to take a long time. All that travelling with two small children sounds exhausting.

I second the cruise.
Total relaxation and all inclusive from the moment you step on board.

LentilNameChange · 04/03/2022 11:10

I'm not sure if this is the sort of area you're after but there are loads of Kinderhotels in Germany and Austria and a few in Italy - family hotels AI with childcare and activities, usually swimming and outdoorsy stuff as well.

RandomQuest · 04/03/2022 11:12

Getting to Portugal, not via plane, is going to be a hell of a journey and not one I’d undertake willingly with kids that young and I’m really not usually the travel shy type- I’ve done long haul on my own with the kids for example.

I’d do a cruise or Club Med in France hands downs.

zafferana · 04/03/2022 11:29

@BirdOnTheWire

To drive or go by train to Portugal oer even Spain is going to take a long time. All that travelling with two small children sounds exhausting.

I second the cruise.
Total relaxation and all inclusive from the moment you step on board.

I agree - Spain or Portugal would be too far IMO with such young DC. South of France though you can do in a day, you can all sit together around a table, take a picnic with you and games and books and toys, etc. So if I were you I'd say that you need to be able to get wherever you're going in one day.
DoucheCanoe · 04/03/2022 12:04

"He’s got one year to get over his fear, and get help or I’m going with the kids and a photograph of him 😂"

I'm terrified of flying and it's a fear I cannot shake no matter how hard I try - I'd happily allow DH to take the kids abroad and use the time to relax on my own! 🤣