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Holidays

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

Original poster

Finding a family holiday has become a stupidly epic mission of nightly Internet research

61 replies

Indecisivelurcher · 22/09/2023 21:11

We've not even narrowed it down!

One evening we're looking at ferry and drive to Brittany to do a eurocamp type hol, of which there are many. Pros - cheaper, more natural beaches, nice towns to explore, great pools for kids, kids can play, we can sit out in the evening. Cons - apparently France is expensive and can be difficult to eat out with kids, weather unpredictable, don't know if the campsites are crammed in or spacious, trip adviser reviews all seem to be dire, i would have to do all the driving...

So next evening we're like, oh how about Eurocamp in Spain then - cheaper to eat out, sunny, but lots of cabarat shows which scare dh, need to fly, they all seem to be 2hr+ from the airport so need to hire a car...

So then, oh if we're flying anyway, what about jet2 or tui so they sort your transfer, but they look to be more than we can afford, high rise hotels, can't sit out while the kids play, less local experience.

Now somehow I've been looking at Croatia, which wasn't even on my list, no idea about anything.

I used to love looking all this up, and even thought about doing it as a job, in another life. But this just seems really impossible to sort and a bit stressful!

Wonder if it's too much pressure as we've not been abroad for quite a few years. The kids are see slide, want slide. Dh shudders at entertainment. I want space. Maybe it can't be done.

OP posts:
Charlingspont · 22/09/2023 21:20

I say Eurocamp in France. You can do Spain next year, and a Tui hotel another year when kids are older. And then suddenly your kids will be older and definitely won't see slide want slide anymore, and might even refuse to come on holiday with you at all!

Original poster
Indecisivelurcher · 22/09/2023 21:27

Arrrhh @Charlingspont you're probably right, in principle! Thanks for the sense check.

OP posts:
sep135 · 22/09/2023 21:31

I'm the queen of holiday analysis paralysis, fuelled by a slight addiction to Trip Advisor. I feel your pain,

Charlingspont · 22/09/2023 21:31

Thing is, I've been where you are (what they call 'paralysis through analysis') and ended up not doing anything at all, so don't be me! 😆

cherryassam · 22/09/2023 21:31

How old are your kids?

I think it’s feeling more stressful for lots of people with holidays as they get more and more expensive and the amount of disposable income people have is getting tighter - it is a bigger deal because it’s costing more money and is likely to be the only holiday of the year, so if it were to go wrong it would be even more disappointing if that makes sense?

I also think it’s easy to talk yourself out of places now that there are so many different review sites and it’s easy to get into reading all the negative reviews and thinking everywhere sounds horrible. But, often people only review if it’s really dire or the best time of their lives. There is a largely silent majority of people who have a pretty good to sort of good time, where maybe it’s not been perfect but they’ve enjoyed it and had a nice enough holiday.

Charlingspont · 22/09/2023 21:32

@sep135 we cross-posted!

cherryassam · 22/09/2023 21:35

I think there are things that can be done to spread the risks of a trip going really wrong though - E.g.

going self-catering or B&B means that even if the food at the hotel is grim then there are lots of choices elsewhere

going somewhere near other things to do / the beach / shops means even if the facilities aren’t the best where you’re staying, there are plenty of things to do still

going somewhere with good transport links, either because you’ve got a car (your own or hired) or because there is decent public transport means you have even more options if what’s right on the doorstep isn’t great

sep135 · 22/09/2023 21:35

Charlingspont · 22/09/2023 21:32

@sep135 we cross-posted!

And indeed I'm also with you by not going on holiday as I couldn't find the perfect option..!

The pressure of it all. Some have been great but I put too much importance on holidays and my family are no help (or normal, depending on your point of view)?

CheersToMe · 22/09/2023 21:36

French mobile homes were our staple summer holiday for years with young DC.

Look at the western channel crossings for a shorter drive in France, maybe even take the overnight crossing in a cabin.

You don't have to eat out. Lunch is easier than dinner with young DC, then easy barbecue or rotisserie chicken for supper.

La Grande Métairie was one of our favourites, great pool, or somewhere in Benodet, but if you ask on here you'll get plenty of recommendations.

Original poster
Indecisivelurcher · 22/09/2023 21:37

Analysis paralysis is exactly it!
Trip advisor defo not helping.
Kids will be 9 & 7.
After this hol we won't do anything like it again for a few years. So defo pressure to make a good choice.

OP posts:
cherryassam · 22/09/2023 21:42

I’m not a Eurocamp person really but lots and lots of people on here have great experiences and will be able to advise on specific sites - in a way that is meaningful for you.

I would focus on making some high level decisions to narrow down options

  1. What is your budget?
  2. When can you / do you want to go? How many nights?
  3. How warm do you want to be?
  4. What activities do you want to do?
BlueIgIoo · 22/09/2023 21:42

Just book Eurocamp. Book the ferry or plane through them and then if anything goes wrong you're covered for the whole holiday. Most Eurocamp campsites are fine and if things like the quality of accommodation matters to you then go for a more expensive caravan as they tend to be newer.

Edit:typo

Original poster
Indecisivelurcher · 22/09/2023 21:42

@CheersToMe ha@ that's one I've looked at! But then I think they all are...!

OP posts:
kitchenhelprequired · 22/09/2023 21:43

The problem with internet research is that you never get to the end, it just keeps going with a myriad of options and possibilities which take you off at tangents. I haven't booked a holiday through a travel agent for many years but at least with a travel brochure there was a structure and end point which can be good on the one hand. I often start researching, end up so tied in knots and overwhelmed that it gets put aside for a while but then all starts again when I look at things again. I'm not sure what the answer is really other than once you find something for a price you are able & willing to pay just go for it and stop looking.

SageRosemary · 22/09/2023 21:50

This is why we have developed a good relationship with a travel agency in our town and one of the staff in particular. She's great at suggesting things we enjoy. She's been to visit many of the resorts, has viewed lots of accomodation and will ask her colleagues if she doesn't have first hand knowledge herself. She knows what we like, not a typical sun holiday, and knows we will give her useful feedback too.

BurntOrange · 22/09/2023 22:06

You could do a eurocamp near an airport - we did one near Barcelona and didn't need to hire a car

CrapBucket · 22/09/2023 22:12

I have sent you a DM of the holiday my family did about 4 times, it was perfect. We tried camping in France but the swimming pool rules were too annoying for what was meant to be a perfect holiday. They were all fenced quite restrictively and had very strict rules about what you could wear.

namechanged221 · 22/09/2023 23:37

We did Eurocamp in Croatia!

Fly to split, hire car, we stayed at Solaris which is pretty incredible for kids. Also within striking distance of lots of other places.

Ohwhatadag · 23/09/2023 04:55

Yes, i agree. It took me over a week of hours of nightly research to get our summer holiday. Painful.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/09/2023 06:24

Eurocamp in Spain by ferry? Eg;Plymouth to Santander.

Do a Google search on the names of the Eurocamp sites you like the look of, and see if you can book direct with the site . They are not always owned by Eurocamp.- we just came back from a Eurocamp holiday in the Netherlands where our site was privately owned and 4 or 5 holiday companies had caravans/cabins on the park. But it would have been cheaper to book direct.

MadamWhiteleigh · 23/09/2023 06:30

Use an independent travel agent. Absolute game changer. Tell them your criteria and they’ll come back with some options, and you pick one. They’re paid commission by the companies you book with so it costs you nothing.

Goldencup · 23/09/2023 08:01

I would say at those ages you can hardly go wrong. Although camping in Spain will be very hot in British school summer holidays, better in May. I have so many happy memories of eurocamp with my parents in France. I don't think it can be beaten really. Yes food is expensive, but eating out is cheaper than UK. The Loire Valley is beautiful and about 1.5 hours drive from Caen

Mamma13568 · 23/09/2023 08:10

OP, I get around analysis paralysis by getting personal recommendations, often on Facebook groups. Sometimes the same places are recommended over and over, and you get the feeling that everyone from the community is going there and it sort of feeds itself. But at least you know that these places are well tested and reliable. So important when you have kids. If they're highly recommended on trip advisor as well then it's enough to seal the deal for me.

Lookatmytoes · 23/09/2023 08:14

With little kids I just reckon France wins. Drive there - it’s a treat as their roads and services are much better.

Plenty in northern France but I love the Westcoast. Off the top of my head RCN sites have few pool rules, slides, little evening entertainment but most people are Dutch rather than French. The mix of self catering where you mainly live in good bread and scrumptious things from bakeries having trips to the hyperU as a morning out with supplementation from the on-site pizza and chips is a big winner for us.

Isle de Re is busier but lovely - can’t remember who we stayed with. Dh didn’t like it so much as it was more French - nosier and livelier while the RCN sites were pretty tranquil as the Dutch family groups seem to head to bed early.

StillWantingADog · 23/09/2023 08:23

sep135 · 22/09/2023 21:31

I'm the queen of holiday analysis paralysis, fuelled by a slight addiction to Trip Advisor. I feel your pain,

Oh God me too. I HATE it. And spend more time researching and arguing with DH than we do spend on the actual hol.

we’ve had genera success with France camping holidays. South Brittany (round Carnac) is lovely.

also had great time in the Netherlands last year if that’s an option.