Where to go?

[Wallowingwendy]

Where can we go (dh, dc(8 and 3)) for a week or two in the school summer holidays that is self catering but relaxing and lots of things for both DC to do?

Don't like sitting around on the beach or round the pool for more than an hour a day, like warmth but not too hot. DC who is 3 is a whirlwind so anything like museums and cultural niceties arent possible and always end up with dh or I carrying them out in a screaming fit.

UK or abroad.

Budget under £2k

When mine were younger we went to a place in Cornwall. Farm with self catering on site.

Feed run every morning. Some play areas on site plus a tiny train going round. River running through it.

You could use the pool at a nearby holiday park.

We found that by the time you had done feed run you could just do small daily outings no need for big days out all the time.

What is 'feed run'?

We are quite restless. Not sure we'd go a bit crazy with only a few things to do.

Problem is whenever we start thinking we end up with 'might as well stay at home and save the money' but realise the DC need different experiences.

Have a look at Eurocamp or Yelloh. We went to one in Brittany called Le Mané Guernehué, which had a spa, archery, crazy golf, splash park, waterslides, high ropes, kids clubs, pony rides etc…

Where are you in the Uk? We have managed holidays in the Netherlands on a small budget. Quit school 2 days early (we are lucky our school anyway plonks 3 inset days at the end of summer term). Use Tesco vouchers to get 2/3 off the price of a Le Shuttle crossing or the Stena ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland. Couple of nights in a stopover location - we stayed near Ghent when we travelled via Calais and stayed a few nights nearby. Ghent tourist office has a free scavenger hunt for different buildings round town my dd aged 8 loved. Or if you go by ferry don’t miss Rotterdam - Plaswijkpark cannot be missed, it’s a full day out with all the fun value of a theme park without the queues and expense.

Then say 5 nights glamping at a Eurocamp. If your kids are good travellers, de Schaatberg looks good value (less than £700 and free access to pools and Mattel play area which is your activities sorted!).

Self cater and drive off the Eurocamp site to find a supermarket.

Do laundry at Eurocamping so you can minimise your luggage. The kids will probably love the launderette. Don’t forget to take string to make a washing line in your accommodation.

It would be tight for £2k but you might manage if there’s a bit of flex in your budget and you plan the heck out of it.

We are going back to the Netherlands this year with my dc 4 and 12, this time 12 nights, via Shuttle, staying in Bergues, Bruges and Eurocamping for 7 nights near Efteling theme park. We have budget this year so the travel accom and petrol alone will be £1800 but Bruges is a luxury. Eurcamping will be cheap - except a day out at Efteling theme park. For the stops on Bergues we will visit the town and local parks - you can often find a gem. I have found one that does a 1 hour pirate horseback stunt show for <10 Eur per head, for example and the res of the day will be a picnic and playing in the park.

if you plan something like this, research is your friend. And note city stops where you have to budget parking or public transport costs to visit city centres. Easily overlooked.

Also assuming your 3 yo is out of a buggy now I strongly recommend taking your kids scooters (teach the 3 yo if they can’t, and take a piece of rope to pull it along). I left clothes at home to fit these in last time and was very pleased I did!

I came to say Netherlands but PP has written it far better than me! Brittany is a good shout too. Eurocamp or similar.

Bit of local knowledge, I have an idea that would come in budget and be good for active/restless kids.

stay:
brand new Premier Inn in Wokingham. Family rooms <£100 room for around £100 a night in summer. Budget £800 for hotel, petrol etc. Hotel is next to an Aldi, a great park the kids would love, a soft play in case it rains, and opposite brand new leisure centre (book and pay to swim).

food:
within 5 mins walk nice local cafes and the usual town centre restaurants Nando’s, Burger King. Use the Aldi to sort picnics.

big days out:

1. Legoland (about 30min)
2. The Lookout/forest playgrounds in Bracknell.
3. Coral Reef waterslide pool in Bracknell (the kids section is good for the 3 yo)
4. Beale Park - great day out esp if sunny. Animals and splash area
5. Wellington country park - loads for kids but £££
6. beaconsfield model village (a bit of a drive tbh)

cheaper activities or days out:

1. Dinton Pastures (take a picnic) -fabulous play area with sandpit. Cost is just parking. Peddle karts and pedalos on the lake for extra fee.
2. California park - amazing value. New kids play area next to a gorgeous cafe. In summer for a few quid book ahead for the splash pool.
3. split the day swimming at the leisure centre and playing in Elms field park - no driving needed!

You could bring this in under £2k and you won’t have a single day without entertainment.

I'd do a bit of research into camping in France. We did it with our girls when there were little. Look in the Loire region. Very pretty, lots to do. There is a fantastic zoo, a mushroom museum (I know, but quite a good morning trip out) lots of places to explore. Plenty of the sites have little farms attached, grow there own veg etc, have pools and tons of activities.

I had a quick look and the first site I priced up for the last week in July, 2 adults and 2 children in a mobile was under £1000. Obviously need for travel to be added on but still in budget.

I was also going to say the Netherlands! Eurocamp at Beekse Bergen would be ideal for you.

I meant to add that used to find the campsite we wanted via eurocamp or whichever and then would direct with the site as it would be cheaper.

*book direct

If you don’t mind hiring a car then I priced up Eurocamp type places in Italy with flights into Naples for under £1500 for family of 4 for last week of summer holidays. There were some really good deals to be had.

I almost booked but decided as my kids are mid and late teens that they might be too old for euro camp 😂 and it would probably be too hot for the sight seeing we wanted to do in august. We booked kefalonia instead.

@Wallowingwendy

Basically tractor ride you can feed and pet all the animals. Eggs are collected and shared out. Everyone saves food scraps for the pigs. We went spring so couple of day old lambs and goats jumping about.

That said I just looked at their website as it's a long time since we went and although there is now more stuff on site prices have gone up! They now just seem to have the fancier accommodation not the basic stuff we stayed in.

Within UK stayed at Watermouth Castle on North Devon coast which has self catering apartments for around £1k a week in summer and includes access to a swimming pool 1 to 2 hours each day you have sole use of. It also includes unlimited access to their theme park which is aimed at that age group and includes rides, big gardens, mini golf etc. Quite a few tourist attractions in that area, boat trips to see dolphins etc / Lundy from Ilfracombe.

Or Isles of Scilly is lovely, weeks self catering would be £1k and helicopter over probably about £500ish. Lots of beaches, gardens, boat trips, wildlife etc but gets booked up early.

Going abroad found you could get better deals very last week of school holidays.

Look at Normandy or Brittany, not too far to drive, loads of holiday park options, not too hot, plenty to see as well. My advice is just to take the kids you want to see, they will learn how to behave that way

Pierre et vacances is my go to for research initially

Thanks for the suggestions, we will definitely look at eurocamp, there is no way I'll get dh in a tent but will look at caravans.

We really try to do this but DC2 is uncontrollable, it's so stressful, we've tried to take him places that he would enjoy and he just ends up running off, climbing, shouting, hiding behind things until we physically haul him out kicking and screaming. So we now approach anything feeling very tense and the whole experience is ruined for everyone, or dh and dc1 do everything and I sit outside trying to entertain DC2.