Where is “worth it” with small children.

[Downbadatthegym]

We are looking where to go at the end of April/beginning of May with a nearly two year old and three year old. What are people’s opinions on Dubai, or a cruise? Or any other suggestions, I’m not feeling an all inclusive resort without much else to do. Probably a week to ten days holiday.

Centre parcs

Don't even think about Dubai. That's crazy.

Thanks @overmydeadbody i suggested this my husband, we live in France and our closest one (five hours drive) has awful reviews so I’m not keen.

just remember wherever you go, all you're doing is relocating your current parenting regime. it isn't going to be like any holiday you had pre-children.

Make sure where you go has access to things they're used to, foods they'll eat..etc, or you'll end up quickly with 2 very miserable, hungry and tired toddlers.

Centerparcs in Europe are fab ….a 5 hr drive is more than comparable to a flight to Dubai isn’t it?!if not there are other similar chains/ holiday parks in Europe …where are you based in France as I’m sure others will have more suggestions. Canaries are generally pretty good for kids that age if you want sun and beach /pool splashing time.

Where abouts in France are you? Lac d'Ailette is good, or Villages Nature. But if not Center Parcs, how about a campsite like Eurocamp, Yelloh, Sandaya? There's a Facebook group called Camping with Kids in France, lots of good recommendations on there for specific sites. Spain or Italy could also be an option depending on where you are.

At that age, it isn't really worth the expense of flying to Dubai or similar. Toddlers don't care where they are as long as there's a pool and toys, they often don't sleep as well as at home, they get hot and grumpy, it can become a bit of a logistical nightmare trying to do day trips with hire cars/taxis/car seats etc. If you do want to fly somewhere rather than driving from home, I'd just keep it simple and maybe look at package holidays/hotels in the south of Spain, Balearics, or Greek islands, they'll all be a nice temperature at that time of year. Ours just spent the week in the pool or on the beach, or playing in the kids club (you'll need to stay with them at that age). Save the bigger trips until they're a bit older.

Disneyland Paris or similar you need to be somewhere set up for little ones at that age, not just adding heat and crankiness to normal parenting. If you want a more relaxing holiday they have those kinder ones in Germany and Scandi countries.

Keep hot holidays for 10+ when they'll really get something out of it.

We've always had holidays as close to pre-DC as we have. So somewhere near a nice town with lots of museums, sites etc to go to. But with more snack stops built in and also finding playgrounds and things. Sometimes beach but we live near the beach so that isn't a big deal.

Anywhere with a pool they can also go in every day. We did AI for first time ever last year when they were 8 and 6 and it wasn't amazing for us and not something I'd choose too often but it did work brilliantly for them and made it really easy.

I was also going to say CP, assuming you were in the UK. I've never been to Eurocamp but I imagine it would work too.

Read @WinterBones 's post over and over again if this is your first holiday with DC. You won't be coming home feeling refreshed, it's just moving your normal life to a different place.

We have been all over the place with toddlers.

April/May is getting into the warm weather, so anywhere with a beach they can dig and paddle!

Leisurely hotel breakfast, out early to the beach for playing, home for a nap (sunbathing and reading alone time for me), back out for lunch, later afternoon beach time, home for chill time, out for an early dinner.

No AI, low expectations, easy distances, limited managing toddlers in adult spaces etc.

I have had multiple successful toddler trips doing the above - find somewhere with a big shallow sandy beach and you’re golden.

People are really negative about holidays with toddlers, I don’t think it’s so bad really, just set your expectations and enjoy a beer in the sun when you get the chance!

We went to Dubai when my daughter was 15 months and it was amazing! IKOS and sani were great as well and closer

Well, as someone said, a holiday with small children is just childcare in a different place.

I agree that you need to take things that your children are used to but I'd also add to take your nanny or some childcare (a relative if you've got someone willing to help out) if you've got any so that you and your husband actually get a break.

We did this on our first holiday with our baby and it was fantastic, we actually got some lie ins and time with each other and the rest of the time we had the baby, while the nanny did some sightseeing. An expensive option but worth it IME!

Also I wouldn't travel for hours and hours, it'll be misery with kids that age. And I'd factor in meals - if you don't want to be cooking then go for a hotel with child friendly options.

You said you don't fancy an AI resort but I personally think they're ideal for young children. We have DS 2.5 yrs old and have done a couple and got more booked this year. We've picked ones with good reviews, food is nice, plenty of pools, beach access, nice kids playground, kids club/crèche facilities, spa, local town area walkable from the hotel, hotel has transfers to nearby attractions for a couple of trips out. I wouldn't want to go to one isolated with a lack of facilities.

I agree with the comments around parenting abroad however in the right environment you can still have a good time. A couple of hours in a crèche you and DH can have a meal on your own or a spa treatment or something and i enjoyed being in the pool with DS playing whereas pre children I'd have been lying on a sunbed.

Yes we went on our first ever AI holiday when ours were 4 and 2 to Menorca. It's not our preferred type of holiday but it worked really well with the kids and we're going back again this year.

We loved Billund in Denmark when our kids were that age. We always stayed at Lalandia (which is very similar to Center Parcs, with a huge aqua dome etc). It's across the road from the original Legoland which is fab, and there's also the Lego House now which wasn't there back then but I understand it's brilliant. There's other things to do in the area like a safari park etc, and it's all just really family friendly and easy. We sometimes did it as a two centre trip with a few days at the beach, which wasn't warm but the kids loved it.

You need to completley rethink your idea of a holiday. We liked eurocamp / Siblu etc when they were young as we had the decking to sit out on them they were asleep. My kids were not the nap in the buggy or stay up late type kids unfortunately.

Don’t agree with people saying you just have same shit somewhere else

there’s no laundry and cleaning up and general house stuff to do - you get to eat out and swim and beach or something whatever - you can go out for drinks in the evening while the kids sleep in the buggy ! I love holidays

we took the kids to Thailand for a month and it was absolute bliss

You can go anywhere you want while they small they don’t care where

I would say a cruise would be fun. Your kids are maybe slightly young for it (need to be potty trained to use the pools, a bit young for making friends at kids club) but it would be relaxing, loads of choice of food. Do as much or as little as you like. Different place every day. The crew will be really welcoming. We took an 18 month old and had a good time. We did use the nursery a bit for her in the evenings - if you want to do that check the ship has one.

Personally I wouldn’t consider Dubai for human rights reasons but don’t know anything about it.

Center Parcs De Vossemeren was our go-to holiday when the DC were small. They loved it and we went with the evening catering option to keep life easy. The buffet is excellent. We took the overnight ferry from Harwich or did an overnight stop en route from Calais. All part of the adventure.

Another very easy holiday was this holiday park south of Toulon. Gorgeous sandy beaches, a pool and easy ferry trips into Toulon and to Les Porquerolles. We went for the last week of August so French schools were already back. The weather was lovely and it was quiet but not dead. We flew into Montpellier and got a hire car from there.

DBro and SIL go to IKOS every year with the DNs. Term time only though!

Thanks all, we live near Geneva and close to lake Annecy. The children are used to being active and outdoors and hot summers!
we tried Eurocamp last year but we didn’t love it to be honest. The pool with the slides was great but just pool and beach was a bit boring after a few days.
We did all inclusive with just my eldest twice and loved it but just looking for something different this time.
I agree with @Fupoffyagrasshole it’s different on holiday, I don’t have to cook and clean every meal- this is a part I didn’t enjoy about Eurocamp, it did feel like same thing in a different location.

I think the ‘Same shit different location’ stuff is driven almost entirely by self-catering.

Disneyland cruise! Your dcs will be too young to appreciate it but you’ll have a blast and obvs everything is very kiddy orientated. Cruises are so easy IMO.

Also don’t underestimate a good old bucket and spade holiday. My dcs have been all over but some of the best holidays have been in Cornwall - there are lots of places to visit like wildlife parks etc and so many beautiful beaches.

Personally I hated centre parcs and found the overcrowded pool gross - also hated how the sunlight never got through the canopy of the forest and everything felt dark and dingy despite it being good weather when we were there. the kids clubs were good though.

Holidays with toddlers are lovely.
I've taken mine all sorts of places.
Everything is exciting to them, even just the accommodation so they are generally less whingey!

Go somewhere with a big beach, with lots of playgrounds on it. Eurocamp and similar are great because you and your husband won't be stuck in a hotel room when kids are sleeping, you can sit out on the terrace with a drink/evening meal... socialise with nearby by campers etc

My youngest never sleeps haha. I have to accept wherever we go the little one will refuse naps and want to go to bed late. One the things I didn’t like about Eurocamp last year was their was so many steps and she was 10 months and trying to toddle everywhere 24/7 this year at least she can handle the steps but she is extra fast 🤣

Dubai is brilliant for kids lots of things to do ! But not on those times anything after February is crazy too hot

I dunno, we've never done self catering, even when we do CP we still eat out every night. It was the routines for us with little ones, ours weren't the kids who could just stay up late and sleep in the next day or nap in the buggy so we were just working around that on holidays. Nice to get away from work and cooking but you still have all the childcare/sleepless nights/tantrum stuff to deal with.