40th holiday ideas - which would you do

[GSmith86]

I turn 40 in February and would like to plan a special trip away but have three young kids.

Ideas so far are:

1. Higher end hotel or villa stay in canaries
2. Norwegian fjord cruise (maybe a couple of months later)
3. Disneyland Paris

Which would you choose?

Any other ideas?

Disney cruise lines do a Norwegian fjord cruise.
I’d probably do Disneyland but not in February!

I think if you have 3 young children, then planning anything 'adult' and expecting them to conform just doesn't work (not saying that you are!) so it's best that you plan something that they would enjoy that you would also like, then they're having a good time and not moaning/playing up = everybody's happy?

Therefore Disneyland Paris would be my choice - have a lovely time!

2 because Norwegian cruise is a bucket list item for me. Canaries is a bit blah. Disneyland Paris would be miserable

Woukd you have the budget for universal and Disney in florida?

I always wanted to go to St Lucia for my 40th. Caribbean cruise sounded amazing.

How about Mauritius? Nice weather in Feb I think and not too pricey longhaul.

I love a city break without my dc so went to Brussels and Bruges for my 40th.

Recently had an amazing time in Milan for 4 days. Could do milan and lake Como be nice enough in February or March / April was good. Check out the QC Termemilano Spa in Milan was amazing or the one in san pellegrino or in turin. I really want to go to Turin now. If youd like milan depends if you like seeing lovely cathedral (the duomo) plus art and good food and drinking aperitivo.

Thanks. I think ideally we would keep the flight time to no more than 5hrs ish as with three young ones the time passes slow! 😂

Following. 40 next year with 3 young kids 😁

Not many ideas yet...a villa or cottage with wider family has been suggested but not sure I can cope with family politics...

Same!

For my 40th we stayed at Baobab Suites in Tenerife in one of the apartments with a pool. Kids were 3 and 9 at the time. Worked really well to have the benefits of self catering with the facilities of a hotel.

This sounds great

Was thinking of staying maybe in a hotel like one of these in Gran Canaria. Not sure if it would be hot enough to swim though which feels like it would be an essential activity for the kids

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/canary-islands/gran-canaria/hotels/

Like the idea of Disney land but I think not in Feb and I think it's nice to celebrate at the actual time.

Worried we might get bored on Norwegian fijord cruise. Anyone been?

I've not been on a Norwegian fjord cruise, but I know two people who have, both said it was beautiful, but a bit boring... depends on what you like though!

My friend did a Norwegian Ffjord cruise and she did admit to getting a bit bored, plus the demographic tended to be older people although that could just happen to be the cruise she was on but I'm not sure if it would be a good fit with 3 young kids?

Disney cruise to the Fjords.

children will be entertained - excellent kids clubs. Therefore adult only time possible and spa etc depending on the ship and you will get to see the fjords.

Kids will only be under 1, 2 and 4 so not sure I get full relief from a kids club yet!

You can see why it's a bit difficult 😂

Honestly I don't think any holiday is going to be very "special" with three under-5s in tow. Can you maybe park the DC with grandparents and have a cheeky five-star weekend in Paris for the two of you? Otherwise if I had to choose I'd say whichever has the best baby/childcare facilities.

I went snowboarding. My 4yr old had ski lessons and my 2yr stayed in the village nursery club. It was a good holiday but the youngest was ill so we ended up tagging teaming her looking after my birthday is also Feb. Had my 50th skiing in Norway and the kids now faster than me. We go camping in the summer as our winter hols are our main break.

If you want a proper holiday I’d sort a nights childcare off family and have a night away in UK with your partner.

Some friends did Finland. Skiing, sledging, igloos, snowman making and reindeer petting. All inclusive with northern lights and kids clubs/on site sitters so you could have a nice adult meal.

Skiing at Easter, fully catered chalet and kids club for the mornings so you can have some time to yourself. If you've never skied that would be expensive and possibly great fun or a real pain to learn with three children in tow. But steer clear of the big expensive resorts and you could have a lovely time.

South Africa. Longer flight but same timezone and flights are almost always overnight.

Cyprus or Turkey might give more choice than the Canaries but be weather sure by Easter.

Multi centre fly drive in Andalucia - Seville, Granada, Cordoba, few days by the beach on Spanish south coast or over the border into Spain. Easter is glorious in Seville and Cordoba. Sweltering by summer. Depends on how young your kids are though. It's not a trip for toddlers but between 5-10 lots of interesting things to do.

Honestly, ditch the kids and go to Marrakech for a few nights! No way would I take 3 young kids on a Fjords cruise, very older clientelle unless you have Disney budget, but im not sure they sail in Feb. Have a look at the Fantasia hotel in tenerife. DO NOT do a villa, you will end up cooking and washing up

I think February is a great time for Disney Paris. Won’t be too busy, the children will be entertained and it will be more relaxing as they won’t be moaning all the time!

I would definitely try and do something separate for you though, even if you just manage to go away to nice hotel for the night child free!!

I’d do canaries.

Disneyland Paris will be stressful with kids that tiny and will be freezing in feb. I wouldn’t. They won’t get anything out of it at that age.

id probably go for a nice villa in the canaries with kids the age yours are. You can please yourselves and will have enough space that you can put the little ones down for a nap and enjoy some time around the pool yourselves. Or enjoy a drink on the terrace when the kids are in bed. Hotel or cruises where you’re all sharing one room/cabin doesn’t sound much fun with little ones who go to bed at 7 and then you need to sit in silence with them in the same room. Or take them out at night and end up with over tired screaming kids.

you could always do centre parks. Tbh with kids that small it’s probably what I’d do.