May half term holiday debate

[ImALittlePea]

We've not had a 'proper' holiday for a couple of years, most recent trips have been to France, Belgium and Spain, and UK caravan or Airbnb. We've taken kids out of school before to go, but eldest is in their final year and I'm conscious they'll have things going on - transition days activities week, leavers plays, parties etc - that we don't have the dates for yet and they won't want to miss, so I'm not comfortable in doing that for a potential break this year.

I'm looking at a May half term break. Myself, DH, 2 children (will be 11 and 5). We don't have a huge budget, and I'm reluctant to have long days of travel for a plane holiday, when we're planning only going for 5-6 nights (for financial reasons and to work around other commitments). We are just over an hour from Folkestone so have started to focus in on France again. We do love a beach holiday, but I'm now looking at either the Eurocamp or Centre Parc near Paris, with the idea being a day or two at the Disney parks.

So my question is - has anyone been to either (or both)? Is either better than the other, in terms of facilities, entertainment, lodges, proximity to Disney?

Also if anyone has any suggestions of other destinations that would be worth a longer journey for a shorter holiday break, within a reasonable budget, I'd love to hear those too. The kids don't travel well in the car so we'd be looking at a max of a 3 hours drive or a 2-3 hour flight if the destination was worth it.

Thanks!

Have you looked at the Netherlands? beautiful beaches, some great holiday parks (Center Parcs, Landal, and many independents), and if you want a theme park Efteling is amazing.

Where you travelling from?

we have little kids and we have stopped driving or flying where possible and take the Eurostar!! Either France or on to Amsterdam and do holiday parks there ! Kids love it and train travel is relaxing (ish) with the kids

last year we went Eurostar to Lille then you can swap over to a train to Disneyland

and there’s a shuttle there to go to loads of holiday parks - I’ve been to the center parcs (village nature)

or there are some euro camps as well pretty reasonable and easy to go Disney

Thanks both!

I had looked at both Efteling and Duinrell, and had ruled out as I thought the drive was too far. But have just checked again and it's actually not much further than Paris, so I'll look again.

We're about an hour-ish from Folkestone, but it's a PITA to get to St Pancras for the Eurostar from where we are. I really like going in the car, I find the packing just so much easier than being limited by suitcases (if that makes sense).. and the roads over there are lovely to drive on.

I was quite firm on Paris (I've never been to Disney, not have the DC), but I can't decide between the centre parcs and Eurocamp. Which is nicer for accommodation and facilities etc.

(But my head is also being turned by other options at the moment and I've hit choice paralysis. Hence after suggestions and recommendations!)

@InsolentAnnie I've fallen down a Netherlands rabbit hole!! Now toying up whether to go somewhere close to Disney, or Efteling or Duinrell!? We definitely want to hit a theme park, we did Plopsaland last summer and loved it. Might need to push it back to the summer hols or even the October half term to give more time to save at this rate (but then I start to dream of a week in the Canaries.... I'm a bloody nightmare!)

I think our May half term is not a holiday in the Netherlands so rates are good. Recommend Duinrell or a Dutch Center Parcs. Owned by a different company to the UK ones too.

How is France, Belgium and Spain ‘not a proper holiday’??

I’ve been to villages natures (CP near Disney) and we had a good time however we had a better time in the Netherlands. Staying in Landal holiday parks and visiting Efteling.

unless you are Disney aficionados Efteling is so much better. Been twice and might well go again.

Look at Capfun, like eurocamp, but cheaper.

6 of us going, and We're staying ina 4 bed holiday home in North France for a week for around £600, even with the shuttle at £300... Still far cheaper than UK caravan parks/Butlins/CP

Look at PhantasiaLand in Cologne if you want a good theme park.

Duinrell is good, pricey though to stay, but looks awesome

Look carefully at the prices for different weeks. May half term is often particularly expensive as the entire country are off school on exactly the same days because the bank holiday fixes it.

We found that where we live was often a bit out of sync with the rest of the country for the summer holidays so if we went at the end of the holidays then it suddenly got a lot cheaper.

Hah! Fair comment. Spain was about 3.5 years ago, and I was thinking about where we've been in the last couple of years, so not sure why I mentioned it... And France/Belgium were day trips or overnight stays... Both amazing but I'd probably class those as a 'break' rather than a 'holiday'. Probably should have been clearer in my OP but I absolutely would count a few nights in any of those countries as a proper holiday.

Ahh that's good to know!

I'm drawn to Disney just as I've never been, and DC would both love to. One of them has a complex medical history and Disney kind of got them through some of it, so there's a sentimental attachment to going. But ultimately they both love rides and we'd like to prioritise the holiday overall, so a decent holiday park with a variety of things to do, with a theme park day (or 2) thrown in the mix.

Think that's a stretch too far to drive, but I'll take a look and maybe bank that for another time. Thanks!

Jersey.

We did Dutch center parcs and Efteling last summer. We stayed for 5 nights at De Kempervennen center parcs, followed by 2 nights at Efteling in the Bosrijk hotel. We had the most amazing time! For various reasons, we flew and had a hire car, but if we did it again, we’d happily drive it. We had 11 year old daughter with us, she enjoyed both center parcs and Efteling equally!

Hoping for a bit more advice, please.. we've decided we're definitely going to do Holland, but in summer instead of May.

We're trying to decide between the De Schatberg or the Beekse Bergen holiday parks (both Eurocamp). Has anyone been to either/both and can you give any feedback, recommendations and so on?

Also re. Efteling - is this a good day trip theme park? Are there decent rides for a thrill seeking 11yo (and a slightly less thrill seeking mum 👀) and a more timid 6yo? I think there's a theme park near de Schatberg too, if anyone has any experience?

Thanks!

We’ve done centre parcs eu 3 times. De Haan is closet in drive. 1.5hrs roughly from Calais. The beaches nearby are stunning!! As a center parvs resort it’s ok but smaller than most and the most ‘run down’ we’ve been to. The accommodation is basic and pool smaller but it didn’t bother us.

weve also done erperhiede from Calais but longer drive around three hours. Less to do offsite but the site was great.

also done het Meerdal in Netherlands and will be returning this year at may half term. Ferry from hull to Rotterdam overnight. It’s a good resort with thee park nearby.

my kids are 3 and 6. And we are in the north so ferry from hull is better for us but more costly

Thank you! Yes I've heard v mixed things about the de Haan site. I'm more keen on Eurocamp over CP, and we're set on Holland now over Belgium (or France/further afield). We can only sail or tunnel to Calais and the ones I've asked about are about a 3 hour drive which isn't too terrible!

Be interested to know what Eurocamp you go for as I’m keen to try not too far from Calais

The ones I'm looking at are about 3-3.5 hours from Calais. We don't want to go further as the kids can get travel sick. It's between the two I mentioned upthread, but we're torn so may just toss a coin?!

Efteling is a fabulous theme park - we and our DC much preferred it to Disney. The rides are just as fun, but the park is nicer, it’s a lot cheaper and the food is really good (and again much cheaper than the overpriced crap you get at Disney). We stayed on site in one of the apartments and ate in Katsheuvel in the evenings.

TerSpegelt is also a great option, you can get to Efteling easily and it's a beautiful parc with tonnes of facilities. The lake beaches are beautiful and it has an amazing indoor beach playground too. We loved it - also very reasonable if you book direct and chalets are excellent.

We loved Efteling! Loads of good rides for both your children, and the theming is amazing. All just seems far more relaxed than Disney or Alton Towers, for example! We stayed for two nights, and felt we potentially could have stayed another night, but I’m sure you would get lots done as a day trip. You won’t manage to see/do everything, but I’d recommend you go even just for the day if that’s all you can spare.

Amazing, thank you all so much. The holiday park near there also seems great so maybe we'll just go for that 😬🙏