I need your advice on our holiday situation - I want to know what you think of DH's thoughts - Don't want to discuss the McCann's situation although it does bear relevance

[FoghornLeghorn]

Ok ..............

We are going on hols in just over 2 weeks to Praia Da Luz (Algarve). This is the villa
We are staying in a 3 bed villa which we have stayed in before (2 years ago). We will be with my parents & our 2 DD's.

Now my take on arrangements would be that DD1 (3) will have her own room - doors out onto patio will be continually looked (for her safety around pool more than anything else) and DD2 (8 months) will be in with us. DD1's room would be the one with the balcony around the doors (If she is in with us, the room is around other side of villa, but from inside door to door is about 6-7 footsteps)
DH wasn't happy with this from the beginning, he wanted DD1 to be in with us too and for the 4 of us to squeeze into one room and just leave the 3rd bedroom empty. In light of the McCanns experience, DH is now instistant that this is definitely happenning.

I'm in 2 minds - I have no problem with DD1 being in with us but am unsure as to whether it is really necessary.

The Villa has a long drive way with a big iron gate - there are no surrounding walls which seem easy to get over (iirc). If someone were to gain access onto the property it would be very easy to get into the villa, they aren't particularly hot on security and everything is on one level.

What would you do ?

I would be more worried too about the pool.

We were on holiday recently and stayed on the 7th floor, we were worried about DS opening the front door and going down the lift on his own, or opening up the doors to the balcony, but we told him the rule was that only mummy and daddy could open the front door, and we kept the balcony door shut.

He was in his own room, and we had no dramas.

Have a lovely holiday, the villa looks great!

didn't mean anything by odd - just more that it wasn't a good idea!

Although I am obviously concerned about the poolI think I have covered most angles - that bedroom door will be perminantly shut and locked with shutters closed at all times. There is also a door from dinning room that leads directly onto pool which will be kept the same. The door from lounge will be open but DD has a fair walk to get to the pool without anyone noticing - not saying it is impossible because it is isn't, I got out of a hotel room when I was 2 and launched myself into the pool while my mum thought I was sleeping.
I will have an extra set of eyes placed firmly in the back of my head

LRH- I think that Foghorn was trying to give us an idea of exactly why she was concerned about her daughter sleeping alone. Its difficult to explain sometimes unless you see it.

I highly doubt she was trying to 'advertise' the fact that her daughter would be alone in a room.

Give her a break- she is obviously worried about this.

sorry lrh- x-posts!!

Im not bothering even taking a book because there wont be a chance to read one

beofre the mccann case friends of ours had the dad with the son and the mum with the daughter.
we have never resorted to that but only been really worried about having windows and doors locked.

no no , sorry, Foghorn - really didn't mean you were trying to avertise fact she'd be alone - just was trying to say it was not a good idea given that anyone anywhere can read this! sorry, didn't mean to cause offence!

That's exactly it TE - I knew if I didn't post pic etc people wouldn't get the layout.

So general conscensus is to let DD1 have own room - there is no way DH will let DD1 go in other room too and I wouldn't be too comfortable with that - I caught DD1 in DD2's travel cot with her the other day

That's exactly it TE - I knew if I didn't post pic etc people wouldn't get the layout.

So general conscensus is to let DD1 have own room - there is no way DH will let DD1 go in other room too and I wouldn't be too comfortable with that - I caught DD1 in DD2's travel cot with her the other day

Sorry, no way he will let DD2 go in other room too

could you put dd2 in the bathroom?

she will probalby end up wanting to share herself with you or the lo

There isn't a main bathroom beety - only en-suite which aren't big enough to accommodate cot.

Got to broach this with DH now - think it will take some persuading

The bedrooms are very close together. Would you not just be happy to leave both doors wide open. If you're taking your parents too, then hopefully they will be able to look after DDs for an hour or so each day so that you and DH can have a well deserved "nap" alone.

there is no way "he" would let dd2 in her own room

waht do you think

i think all in the same room
its more fun
you ARE on holidy after all

dd1 would maybe feel left out if she was on her own and the rest of her family wre all together on holiday

I'd put her in a separate room, with the patio doors and all doors to the outside locked and shuttered. I know I'd do this, because that's eactly what we did with dd (2)on holiday in Majorca (villa with pool) last month. There was no way she could get the key (on top of the fridge every night), unlock the doors to the garden, open the shutters and go out. Ds (5) had another separate rooms. Neither of my children can sleep with anyone else in the room, which helped our decision!

the doors would defo be wide open yes.

I had wondered about that NP - I don't want her to feel left out
There is room for the 4 of us and I will take single matress and put it on floor for DD1 next to DD2's cot - can use wardrobe space in other room so there is literally nothing else in our room

Message withdrawn

fl, the last place we stayed in we had crcodile clips to put on the ropes for the shutters, to stop them being pulled open - would that work for you?

well when we went last time DD1 was 14 months and was in with us because there were more of us and there wasn't the option for her to have her own room.
Now thinking about it - the beds tend to be quite high - although it's a double i hadn't though about her maybe falling out onto the marble floor.

I would have her bedroom door closed and use the stick on alarm that will sound if the door is opened. We bought them for my grans bungalow to make her feel safer, they are loud and will wake you if anyone opens the door/windows.

Also, I presume you wont all be going to bed at the same time so the kids will still be in the rooms on there own so if the doors are closed and alarmed/with monitors too then you've done everything you can to be secure.

I really like lemonaid's idea of getting one of those portable alarms for the door so that if they are opened it goes off.

Door Alarms

Have found some door alarms - will show them to DH tonight and see what his thoughts are.

Thanks for your views

gosh, I think the LAST thing I would want to do on holiday would be to sleep in the same room as my children...I go to almost extreme lengths to avoid this! can't really get my head around some people thinking this would be FUN! find the idea of not sleeping with dh a bit odd too - no sleep and no sex - not my idea of a holiday!
I'd do exactly what I'd normally do on holiday - which would involve kids being in another room.
But then, if you're one of those people who can actually sleep (and have sex) in close proximity to your kids, then my opinions are irrelevant really!