A cheap family holiday?

[imaginaryfriend]

My dd is 4.5 and has never been on holiday. Partly because we've never had any spare cash and partly because of other things coming up and preventing it happening.

This year I really want her to have a holiday ... Does anybody have any cheap but lovely suggestions? Because she's so young still I'd love it to be somewhere specially good for her.

Pontins?

Sorry imaginaryfriend - I forgot about the car situation. In that case try here . Its near Newquay and the beach is only a 15 minute walk. Theres no animals there but the beach is lovely - it has a freshwater stream that travels up the side of the bay and into the sea which is nice and shallow for little ones to play in. The surfing is pretty good too.

Thanks such a lot for these replies.

I'll check out both of those links. Dp and I are quite familiar with Cornwall so that's definitely an option. And I know Newquay is lovely too.

As to locations, we really are open to be honest. We're central London so I guess somewhere sort of South East was our immediate thought. But basically if it's affordable, reachable and would make dd happy we'll go there!

sorry to sound dopey, but what's 'yurts'?

The Cornwall cottage looks lovely by the way overthehill, do you think it would be ok to reach by public transport?

I'm off to check out Newquay now. And work out what yurts are ...

thanks, i'll google now.

You know, fio, I had never heard of a yurt. They look fantastic though. I'll be googling all evening now. Thanks!

OTH, the Cornish cottage you stayed at has been closed down. It looked lovely actually and now I can't find anything quite as suitable.

Just thought I'd readvertise myself in case there's any other pieces of holiday advice going this lunchtime ...

Whereabouts ish do you live? Haven have got holiday parks all over near coasts & accessible by train etc with all your entertainment (except drinks & food etc)

Central London.

I would second the sun holidays scheme. I'm off to Butlins for 4 nights in Sept. I booked it through sun holidays and the whole thing only cost me £150 - and that includes the upgrade to silver accommodation. Best thing about Butlins it that practically everything you need do with a 4 year old is free once you get there!

Oh dear, I'm sorry the cottage has closed down - hope it wasn't connected with our stay there...! The other thing was they had a bodyboard in the garden & we took that on the bus to Sennen Cove & the children had a great time - they'd never done it before. We got the train to Penzance - from Yorks but one also goes direct from Paddington to Penzance, & if it's not peak season you might get a cheap deal on the train. Also check if it's worth getting a railcard even if your dc doesn't officially need a ticket as you might actually save more in the long run. We used to do this - tho' in those days it only cost £1 for children, so it might not work out cheaper now. Try the Cornish Tourist Board site if you haven't already (www.cornwalltouristboard.co.uk) - or maybe try phoning them - & see what they offer. Penzance itself is by the sea & there's lots of bus routes, including to West Penwith, which is the name of the area we were staying, & St Ives, tho' accommodation might be a bit more expensive there as it's quaint - but a wonderful place with three beaches, a harbour & great places like the Barbara Hepworth Garden & the Tate Gallery - & we got amazing strawberry milkshakes made from fresh strawberries last summer: heavenly!! Hayle is just a short bus ride up the coast from there & I think that might be a bit cheaper. St Ives & Newquay both have train stations as well.