Newly single mum of two preschoolers needs advice on holiday ideas

[Anomonda]

Hi, I’m a mum to a 4.5yo and 3yo and have just about pulled myself out of the tornado I’ve been spinning around in after their dad walked out on us midway through the first lockdown, completely out of the blue. I want to look forward now we might start to have a few less Covid restrictions...plan a little memorable trip away for my kids and I at half term but I’m really struggling for ideas that we’ll all enjoy. We haven’t been away since centerparcs in 2019, clearly not an option this year as totally booked up until sept, plus we went a few times so there’d be a very obvious person missing. There’s no one to go away with us, it’ll just be me and the children. They’re full on, it’s exhausting at the best of times, so I thought about going somewhere there could never be a shortage of stuff to do...like to a theme park with a hotel but then I suddenly thought...what if the rides are one child per adult only, or my 4.5yo can’t go on what they want to because 3yo is too short and 4.5yo can’t go on their own! Help!! Every idea I have just ends up making me feel like I’m setting myself up to fail and reminds me I’m so on my own.

How about going with a friend and her children?
Im a single parent to one DD and the best holiday we've had has been with my friend and her daughter.
Sounds like you're doing great and even considering a holiday with two young children shows you have the patience of a saint.

How about somewhere like a haven park? Kids love the entertainment and activities and there’s never a shortage of things to do. Or if you’re thinking a theme park maybe legoland would suit your children’s ages? If you have the budget Disneyland Paris is also a great single parent holiday as there’s so much to do.

What about somewhere like Haven or Parkdean? There’s usually a beach and a playground.
And a shop for the glass of wine you will absolutely deserve at the end of the day.

You don't have to go away. The kids are young and it will be hard work.
and still a bit too young to appreciate it.

If you're set on going away I'd say UK seaside and a nice self catering aparthotel/ air BnB (that's a guess have never done it!) so you can eat where you're staying relaxed, have a separate room for them, a bit more space etc. You can eat out when you fancy but otherwise not having to do it at certain times and with an audience. Also, washing machine!

It's worked well for us :)

And also, just wanted to say hang in there. I’ve been there, it’s so hard but it does get better

Or similar with warmth if going overseas is an option!

I preferred train/ ferry to plane as again more space and you can roam about etc

Yes you have a lot on your plate :)

Don't go for too much and the idea you have to have xyz experiences etc.

Get somewhere with nice age appropriate things to do nearby so you can zoom back if there's tiredness etc.

While they’re so young I’d do a stay-cation. Plan a day out every day for 7-10 days or so. You’ve got their things at home and they feel safe. You get to do fun stuff every day - interactive museum, zoo, petting farm, woodland trail walk, picnic, lunch in cafe etc without the problems that come with self-catering (fewer cooking utensils etc), a strange bed, meal times in a hotel etc etc.
Lots of kids this age just want to be at home when they’re away on holiday - they don’t realise the strange new place with none of their toys is supposed to be fun!

Honestly, I found the easiest holidays when my son was a pre schooler were butlins 😬 get the best accommodation you can afford, then go through the time table at the start of the break and book every activity going so the time is really structured. They are happy, which means you are happy...... don’t get me wrong, it isn’t luxury, but it is perfect for kids of that age when you are on your own with them

Looking back at those years I think the best holidays involved day trips rather than long stays away unless we were going with friends or family who provided company or some respite from dealing with a toddler all day long.

Personally, I would stay at home and use the money you would use in the hotel to do something nice everyday. With DS we used to do that, we would spend one day at the aquarium, one in the zoo, one in a play area, one in the museum, one at the pool, another walking/cycling in nature, another one at the coast, etc.

It worked wonderfully for him and me. Having the comfort of going back to a familiar environment (inc kitchen and food) at the end of the day made the holidays more pleasurable than challenging.

We also had a tent that we used to put up in the living room to make the experience more convincing.

But honestly, forget about making the memories... DS had been in more than 10 countries by the time he was three, he has seen whales a meter away, swam with dolphins, swam in underground rivers, visited ancient ruins, had train and boat holidays, etc but his favourite holiday was a weekend we spent in Scarborough when I had no funds for anything else

Thank you so much everyone, I really appreciate you taking the time to help me and such great ideas. It’s funny how sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees and you’ve all really helped me! X