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Holidays

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

Vote please! Which holiday would you choose???

28 replies

fucksticks · 19/06/2009 17:46

Background info -
Holiday will be 1 week mid September.
Will be me, DH and 2 DS's ages 3 years and 18 months

We could have a week self catering at a 3 star place in Portugal (Algarve) with pretty much guaranteed weather, a pool, beach, kids club etc
Also would be flight with no seat for 18 month old and pricey when we get there in terms of spending money as Euro v expensive.

OR

A week at a farm in Cornwall which only takes families with children under 5. Does daily activities with the children, toys everywhere, special early dinners, babysitting on demand etc
Would be cheaper in terms of spending money as breakfast and dinner included.
Downside here would be mammoth car journey there and back, which would cost money plus be stressful with the kids!
Weather could be shit.
this is the farm.

POLL please - what should we choose???

OP posts:
timmette · 19/06/2009 17:54

cornwall

giddykipper · 19/06/2009 17:57

Cornwall

HeadFairy · 19/06/2009 17:59

I'd go for the Algarve... the pound is starting to strengthen again so it may not be as expensive as you thought.

But I'm a lover of all things hot and sunny so I'm biased!

LilianGish · 19/06/2009 18:00

Cornwall.

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 19/06/2009 18:03

another vote for cornwall - holidays abroad fro pre-schoolers completely overrated.

TrillianAstra · 19/06/2009 18:05

How long is the car journey door-to-door?

And how long is it to Portugal door-to-door (driving to airport, parking, checking in, waiting about, flight, baggage, getting car, driving to where you're going, etc)?

Personally I am a sucker for a bit of sunshine, like HeadFairy.

pointydog · 19/06/2009 18:06

hmm, tricky. How hot is Portugal in mid Sept? I think it might be too hot for us.

Hoiw far from Cornwall do you live? The long journey has always put me right off Cornwall.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 19/06/2009 18:08

Well I was thinking camping in Cornwall so deffo go for Algarve in mid September. But that's proper accommodation isn't it, so I'd be tempted to say Cornwall. So much stuff at that place for tiny ones. Could actually be easier.

fucksticks · 19/06/2009 18:12

Car journey about 7 hours , so will be quite a bit longer once breaks are added in

Portugal would be 1.5 hrs to airport
1.5 hours checking in/waiting
2.5 hour flight
2 hour collecting bags and transfer

so very similar time wise, except one will be sitting in car the whole time and one will be in fits and starts

I'm very tempted by Cornwall but am very put off by the car journey

OP posts:
fucksticks · 19/06/2009 18:14

mid 20's I think in Portugal temp wise

OP posts:
timmette · 19/06/2009 18:19

would you have to pay to park car at airport

VeraChuckandDave · 19/06/2009 18:22

Cornwall

loobylolly · 19/06/2009 18:46

Algarve, no question

MissSunny · 19/06/2009 19:06

Message withdrawn

fucksticks · 19/06/2009 19:09

No, cant go earlier. Mad year for weddings of close friends and family!

I am still wavering from one to the other in an indecisive manner!
I think I would go for Cornwall if it wasnt for the massive journey, but am wondering if thats maybe enough to tip me over into thinking Algarve...

ooooh decisions decisions

OP posts:
moshie · 19/06/2009 19:23

Cornwall. At least in the car you can stop and start wherever and whenever you like on the way to break the journey up a bit. And you can take everything but the kitchen sink in a car, unlike trying to take everything you need and stay within your baggage allowance for the plane.

feedthegoat · 19/06/2009 19:28

Cornwall. It is a similar time for us if not abit longer (it has taken us 10 hours in past) but it is fine if you stop enough. I prefer car to planes with small children anyway as it is easier to take your entire house contents .

hf128219 · 19/06/2009 19:29

Get the train?

raspberrytart · 19/06/2009 19:47

Cornwall-could you drive through the night? You could share driving,kids will sleep and arrive bright and breezy -only prob is driver will need to catch up zzzzzzzzzs on first day
IME overseas travel with littlies is awfull-you may have angels tho'!They'll be bored at the airport/on the plane /ears popping/no seat for smallest.

fucksticks · 19/06/2009 19:52

I definitely do NOT have angels

DH just got home. I have been sole holiday researcher so far and am going to propose my 2 plans to him over dinner and see what he says.
I think he will prefer Cornwall tbh, so if he does then I think it might just swing it for that choice!

OP posts:
raspberrytart · 19/06/2009 20:05

Enjoy your holiday,it takes us about 7 hours to get to cornwall too,we went pre ds tho'.

Kiwinyc · 19/06/2009 21:34

Algarve, definitely.

The 7hr drive to Cornwall would ruin it for us and enduring the drive there and back would undo any good memories we might have had about the holiday. Flights to Portugal are a doddle, even if child has no seat.

We have done Greece, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Madeira, Switzerland by air and its never been as miserable as the 3hr drive (which ends up being closer to 5 expensive hours stopping at motorway services when you have to stop with kids) to Wales from London to visit rellies.

Claire2301 · 19/06/2009 21:39

Just had 5 days in Portugal and found it really good value. We stayed in Praia da Rocha and had a 3 course meal for two people for 22 euro including drinks (1 lemonade, 1 malibu and lemonade, 1 glass wine, 3 shots free porto!)
Went in October last year as well and temp was 23-28 the whole time. We hired a car which cost a lot less than the £30 per person transfers.

Hulababy · 19/06/2009 21:41

Algarve - the weather sways it for me

aristocat · 19/06/2009 21:49

def portugal, just came back from ibiza and it was lovely
great weather and euro not as bad as i expected