Holiday with 84 yo Dad, Alternatives to Warner Hotels?

[MamaBobo]

I’m looking for ideas for a holiday with my widowed 84 y/o Dad. We’ve visited Alvaston Hall (Warners) a couple of times…first time was actually surprisingly good but the second time wasn’t so great. We live within driving distance of Alvaston and their other hotel at Harrogate but their other locations are really a bit far to drive for a Monday to Friday break.

Dad likes plenty to do, loves a show at night, music or comedy and still enjoys getting up to dance. Ideally I’m looking for half board with decent quality entertainment. We’d consider going for up to a week. Open to all suggestions really!

Have you thought of a cruise with twin beds in a cabin? There are some lovely week ones on Fred Olsen around the UK, Ireland and Scotland if you prefer to not go too far.

There's certainly food, entertainment and dancing.

Just to add Fred Olsen cruise from Liverpool and Newcastle which appear to be in your area, from your description.

My PIL are partial to a Warners, they also cruise quite a lot. They have, in the last couple of years, enjoyed a coach holiday……

Dm and I went on a coach holiday to Bournemouth, trips out every day, Salisbury cathedral, Weymouth, isle of wight, I have no idea how they did it for the price, half board and entertainment every night, total bargain £230pp all in. Real comradery too, Dm loved it!

Forgot we went to Dorchester markets too!!

was your trip through an independent company? I think that migHt be key, I know the company my PIL use is a local guy and it’s often the same people that go on the trips. They all get a bit of a say as to where they stop on the way. Obviously hotels etc are pre booked though. They sell cheap drinks on the coach too!

@MamaBobo
I'm in the same position. My dad is 83, likes the things you mentioned but he's used to coach holiday prices that @Hohofortherobbers mentions so Warner are out. He has the money but he's stubborn.
what about Saga, my young at heart neighbour loves them?
Maybe we should send them off together :-)

Would Butlins be way off the mark? None of these are my cup of tea so it’s hard to say. I think some Butlins have hotels that are nicer than the chalets but you could presumably still access the entertainment?

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions!

@Ohmylovejune The cruise idea sounded perfect and I have suggested it to Dad thinking that would be ideal but he’s not keen. He says he always sick on boats….I don’t actually remember that ever but he’s not up for it so one down. I’m going to look at the coach trip idea and at Saga. One of the main attractions of Warners is the Adults only aspect so I’m not sure that Butlins is going to work but I’ll have a look at that too!

@netto Indeed….one of Dad’s problems is he doesn’t have anyone to go with. Warners charge double for a single occupancy so it gets expensive really quickly. We haven’t shared a room so far…..I’m not big on sharing with anyone except DH!

My parents did coach trips before my Mum died and they found a local (to them) company and would book a few each year from their brochure.

They had local pickups so a taxi to the stop was reasonable.

I noticed they charged more for singles once a certain number of single bookings had been made (presumably once that hotels single rooms had been sold out) which made it more reasonable for a singleton to travel.

They also used a more national company a few times but I don't know what their single.policy or entertainment was like. Or if they still exist - it was a good decade ago they used them. They were called Lochs and Glens and they owned a few hotels in Scotland and ran trips from all over the country.

My 84 year old Auntie Pat enjoys an annual holiday (with her girlfriends ☺️) on a UK coach holiday with Daish’s Holidays. They won £400 on the bingo at their hotel last Summer!

If you look at their website they have a section called “Pensioner’s Holidays”

www.daishs.com

@MamaBobo - you’ve inspired me to invite my elderly widow on a (coach) holiday. Her passport has expired and she doesn’t want to go abroad anymore. She might enjoy a Mum and daughter getaway ☺️

Thanks @Roaminginthegloaming ….I’ll take a look at that.

We lost my Mum last year. Dad hadn’t had a holiday for 3 years because of Covid and Mum’s health and he really needed a break. Although these sort of holidays aren’t really my thing per se we had a really great holiday and it was a chance to spend time with him. I’d highly recommend it!

Have a look at Potters. They have 2 sites. I have taken mum to both and they are fabulous. Can’t say enough good words about all the staff there. And the food and entertainment are first class

I know a number of widows who do coach holidays on their own - I assume they meet other solo travellers for company and socialising. There is often entertainment in the hotels at nights and pre scheduled trips in the daytime. The one lady is 80 and has been going on these trips for years. The 2nd lady is in her mid 60's and recently widowed. She took her daughter on her 1st coach trip then booked another for herself almost immediately after she got back.

Potters, it's like grown up Butlins especially if you go during school time.

Potters do adult only weeks or weekends only the school hols young people can go

Butlins have adults only weekends but might be too lively. It's a shame he won't consider a cruise, it ticks all the boxes and some lines have solo cabins, there's a great solo cruise Facebook group too so he could make friends ahead of going. I don't get sick at all (choose a low down cabin ideally) despite having issues on ferries

Would he consider a river cruise initially? He sounds just like my dad. He loved Warners and Potters and and coach tours and always said he got sick on boats but once he went on a river cruise he was happy to go on a sea-going boat and loved it.

I think there is maybe a wee bit more going on here than he is letting on. He’s always been a bit of a worrier and he used to get quite stressed when he and Mum went abroad even when they were a lot younger. He has said many times that he feels he can’t go abroad any more and he would really like to. I’ve suggested that we book a week abroad, flying from a local airport, at a hotel with entertainment laid on and he ummed and ahhed and said he didn’t fancy it. Same with the cruise.

I think a bit of him misses what he thinks of as a “proper” holiday, but that he’s a bit scared now of actually going abroad or doing something like a cruise even with me supporting him. I recall that he tried to persuade Mum to go on a cruise some years back so I really do think that subconsciously he’s a bit nervous of actually doing something more adventurous.

I have thought about Potters as it looks right up his alley but as we are up north it’s a very long drive. Last time I considered going by train but there were lots of strikes on and once there we’d have been on the resort the whole time, with no option for trips out. It all got very expensive (for a short UK break), a bit complicated and felt a bit risky if the trains were a problem. In the end we went back to Warners.

I definitely don’t think he’d do a trip on his own….I’m happy going with him….it’s just finding the right things to do! I really appreciate all the suggestions!

There's a lot going on with my Dad too. Sometimes it's simply that Mum.was against something. I'm struggling with him with Wiltshire Farm Foods because he thinks they are expensive, when it's really the case that Mum thought they were when she was capable of cooking for two. Now it's only buying one meal and he cannot cook for himself it's a very different situation and I'm sure Mum would see it differently- I know she would - but she's not here to say. I do think resistance when widowed can be a mix of allsorts of thoughts and emotions. It's fab he is open to some ideas. I do hope you can find something suitable for him.

My parents have been several time to warners on the Isle oh Wight and really enjoy it, is that too far? My dad is same age.

Another vote here for Potters. It’s perfect for your Dad though you’ll need a room in the hotel as the bungalows are a walk. All inclusive, 4 meals, snacks and drinks included with entertainment every night. Loads of activities for all kinds of mobility/ability all day long and something for everyone.
Adults only best as otherwise stuff is aimed at kids. The staff are a real strong point and will do anything they can to accommodate.

@MamaBobo - do you think your dad may be willing to fly to Jersey or Guernsey? It would be almost like going abroad but no need for a passport.

Some of the hotels do have evening entertainment (shows/singers/bingo/dancing etc)but you would need to do a Google search. I’ve never been to the Channel Islands but it’s on my to-do list, although I’m reasonable distance from the ferries from Poole or to fly there. However, getting to the Channel Islands can be pricey at times.

Unfortunately there are no flights to the Isle of Wight as it only has an airfield for small (private?) planes.

You could do a self drive to a Shearings hotel they have entertainment in the evening and plenty of single rooms.