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Help please lovely MNetters - 5 live are interested to know your thoughts on family holidaying in the UK?

119 replies

JustineMumsnet · 21/01/2009 22:55

Has the credit crunch and collapsing pound made the UK a preferable option for your holidays this year? Are you planning to stay put for a change and risk the UK weather? Is the UK up to scratch in what it can offer families? Or will you be scraping together as many anaemic pounds as you can and translating them into a pathetically small pile of Euros in search of warm sea and sunshine?

Essentially do you think the UK stacks up now as a family holiday destination now we're the poor men of Europe?

(It's for Victoria Derbyshire show - this friday am)

Thanks!

OP posts:
Washersaurus · 22/01/2009 06:33

We always tend to holiday in the UK too (mostly camping). Overseas holidays really are a rare treat for us, although we are planning on camping in France this year as well as our usually UK breaks.

Washersaurus · 22/01/2009 06:33

*usual

cornsilk · 22/01/2009 07:02

Yes we'll be holidaying in the UK. We very often holiday in Ireland, but will probably stay in the UK this year as the exchange rate will be terrible. We stay in cottages usually. Will go to Scotland and try to spot a whale!

Peabody · 22/01/2009 07:08

I can't imagine how old my kids will have to be before I take them abroad, but I expect they'll be in secondary school.

As well as the money side of things, I am trying hard to avoid all flying. So until they can cope with long long car journeys we'll be staying in Britain.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 22/01/2009 07:15

Always holidayed in the UK whilst children little but now restricted to school holidays have found it cheaper to go to Europe despite fall in the Euro.

If I have to pay in euros I buy them on my fairfx card at the time I book then I know exactly how much I am paying. We take the car as it is very cheap to go by ferry from Dover plus the car gets loaded with food so we don't have to buy too much on holiday.

ShannaraTiger · 22/01/2009 07:17

We're going to Haven. I know the dc's will love all the facility's and we are all looking forward to the evening entertainment. Couldn't face doing airports and translating "I can't eat anything with wheat or dairy in it" into french / spanish.
Even if the weather is rubbish you can always find something to do, our 2 are very easy to entertain, when away from our flat!

herbietea · 22/01/2009 07:36

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RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 22/01/2009 07:39

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SpookyMadMummy · 22/01/2009 07:43

We only holiday in the UK.
We usually go to a little caravan site in Wales, run independently, cheap and cheerful and it offers us the peace and quiet we want while being a good base for looking around the North Wales coast.
We would not change it, PIL have a holiday home in Ireland but we don't even want to go that far!
Looking at the Lake District for our next holiday.

nickschick · 22/01/2009 07:49

We always holiday in the U.K weve travelled all over Scotland,East Anglia,Cornwall,Wales and Brighton.

We like the Haven sites,not cheap by any means but we always thoroughly enjoy our hols!!.

Our favourite place which is even a hit with our 2 teenage sons is Great Yarmouth.

I think we all enjoy that week or 2 of 'family' without the pressures.

llareggub · 22/01/2009 07:55

We holiday in the UK because I'm not a great fan of the sun, DH won't fly more than 4 hours due to some sort of issue with his ears and we can't really be bothered to go to the bother with young children. We'll probably go to Cornwall again, the Lakes and south Wales.

We usually do a fair bit of National Trusting, track down a decent restaurant or two and build lots of castles on the beach.

We probably will venture outside the UK next year when DS is 3 and yet-to-born no 2 arrives. We fancy exploring Austria and Switzerland and probably won't be put off unless we're out of jobs.

Pollyanna · 22/01/2009 08:14

until 2007 we generally had 2 foreign holidays - a week skiing and a couple of weeks abroad.

Now I have had another baby, and the thought of taking 5 children under 10 on a plane fills me with dread. Also, we find it very difficult to find accomodation to fit us all.

Last year dh took the older children skiing for a week on a last minute deal and we went to Cornwall for our family holiday. It was our first holiday in this country. It rained the whole time, but the children had a fantastic holiday.

This year our family finances (I have just gone back after maternity leave) and the Euro mean that we won't be skiing, and we have already booked to go back to Cornwall for the summer.

For us, Cornwall isn't really a cheaper option - we don't camp! But it is easier than all the palava of an airport, and the children love it. Having said that, if it rains constantly this summer I won't be happy and may be budgeting for a holiday abroad next year!

ToAMountainDAISYcal · 22/01/2009 08:15

We usually holiday in the UK due to several factors......

the hassle and expense of taking the DCs abroad; we are a family of five and most of the cheap deals are for families if four.

keeping our journey time as short as possible to avoid the stress of bored and whingy children

the fact that there are so many bits of this country that we would love to visit

the fact that the UK is beautiful when the sun shines so who needs foreign climes

We have always had really enjoyable holidays and tend to the outdoorsy type stuff, but there is usually something on offer to suit all needs. Like everything, it's what you make of it, and the kids would be just as happy camping in an empty field for a week as they would be at Centerparcs. This year we are having a weekend at the aforementioned CP, and then two weeks in the Norfolk Broads in the summer as our main holiday. the state of the pound vs the euro didn't factor at all in our decision. We usually go away last week in July/first week in August and so far we have had the best of the weather the summer had to offer for the last few years.

Pollyanna · 22/01/2009 08:17

I should also add that we had a week in a cottage in the UK after Christmas this year and had a fantastic time. Very cold, but trips to castles, museums and lots of games at home - it was lovely

SaltireOShanter · 22/01/2009 08:21

We haven't been overseas since the Dses were born. This is due in part to my fear of plane and water.
We ahve done holiday cottages in teh UK, Scotland, Yorkshire and Devon. Although the weather hasn't always been great, there has been a lot to do. The last 2 years we ahve holidayed in Devon in a cottage. The site had facilities such as a poll included. However, we do find that a lot of the tourist attractions are very expensive,and sometimes not worth the money. The only exception to this was Paignton Zoo.Some of them offer family tickets for 2 adults and 2 children, which is great for us, but must be very expensive for single parent families or those with more than 2.
I do think the UK has a lot to offer, there is so much heritage to be seen - but again when you add up teh cost of trips to this museum, and that house then it can cost quite a bit.
Still, we are holidaying in the UK this year again!

fishie · 22/01/2009 08:22

we don't fly so if abroad it has to be either drivable or a nice train journey.

but cannot afford even camping in france due to euro this year. luckily fil lives in a very nice part of dorset and my parents are muttering about renting a cottage for us all too.

BONKERZ · 22/01/2009 08:31

well and im risking a flaming.........

we have found the joys of butlins half board! We always holiday in UK and for £500 a year we can get 4 nights half board at butlins in may for 2adults and 2 kids and 7 nights in a caravan in wales in July for 2 adults and 3 kids.

We have never considered a holiday abroad mainly because the cost of us all getting passports would be more than the cost of the above 2 holidays!!!!!! we concentrate on finding good holiday camps that have lots of activities and nightly shows, we are happy to be away and the kids love it!

Tortington · 22/01/2009 08:51

i am a fussy holidayer, i can't justify thousands of pounds on a holiday even with both dh and i earning good wages, with teenagers and no free child places and a family of 5 meaning a suppliment for 6, it works out at thousands for a week. and higher unless i take them out of school.

i would rather pay it of the mortgage and quite frankly don't understand anyone who does it.

We have always holidayed abroad in france eurocamp type holidays. only with Venue or keycamp. i pay for the tent and the car - not the person. on average we pay 600 pounds for a family of five for a week ( i would say cheaper sometimes)

to get the same type of holiday in the uk - is more expensive....its bizarre!

i live by the sea, and this year we are going to take a week off and make a concerted effort to holiday at home.

Tillyscoutsmum · 22/01/2009 08:52

We usually have a holiday abroad and then one in the UK but we have ditched the abroad holiday this year and will be having three separate weeks in the UK - one in Cornwall, one in Devon and one in North Wales

We've gone for cottage accommodation on "complexes" that have something to do when if the whether is bad (indoor pool. indoor play area etc.) but we're taking all manner of clothing so that we can make it to the beach with the dc's - even if they're in raincoats and jumpers

As a child, I never left the UK and had some fantastic holidays. I think we'll miss the holiday abroad much more than the dc's will

CaptainCaveman · 22/01/2009 09:02

We will definately be going abroad - as sun lovers you just can't rely on British weather (really?!). However, the UK has the most beautiful destinations and we always go away for a few days in the UK too, to explore the gorgeous surroundings. Best of both worlds.

whomovedmychocolate · 22/01/2009 09:09

We always holiday in the UK mostly the south coast or Wales. Yes I think the UK does stand up on pretty much everything except attitude. Restaurants etc. aren't exactly set up for little ones in this country. Often you get shit food, shit service and are waiting so long for food the kids get cross and muck around, annoying other people.

More restaurants should work on the 'feed kids first, or give them bread/crayons/distractions' principle. Or at the very least not get cross when I take them a box of raisins (was actually told off by a restauranter because I gave DD a box of raisins in a Cornish restaurant after we waited forty minutes without even getting a starter .

bagsforlife · 22/01/2009 09:10

We have done both over the years. Holidaying in UK is fine BUT we have had so many hols with terrible weather. The only way to guarantee warmth and sunshine is to go abroad.

Having said that if the weather's bad abroad, its much worse to find things to do, once spent three weeks in Perth, Austrailia with two small children
where it 'never' rains and it rained solidly. We exhausted the things you could do indoors by day 1.

At least in the UK you can either go to the cinema, NT houses, or go home!

Also we have holidayed abroad for the same, or less, for the rentals they charge in Cornwall in the school hols.

If we could guarantee the weather here, either warm OR sunny for at least two days in a row, we would never go abroad in the summer.

Nemoandthefishes · 22/01/2009 09:14

Since we have had children we have only been on holiday within the uk. The main reason being financial but also ease as the prospect of travelling abroad with 3 very young children soon to be 4 very young children is unthinkable at the moment. We also like knowing we can purchase necessities with ease. The children love exploring our country and all it has to offer and we are on 'home turf' should DD1s asthma require care[which is quite often].
We have done a mix of 'resort' type holidays like butlins and centre parcs and also hiring cottages and camping. All of which have been fantastic and offered different experiences most of which have been positive.

However having said that I am currently looking to try and save for a holiday abroad next year but it will be the only one for a long time .

Laugs · 22/01/2009 09:15

We haven't been abroad for 4 years, except to Ireland. We are going to Italy this summer due to a family wedding and I can't wait. I do feel like I've been a bit starved of other cultures staying in the UK. And sun!

Having said that, we live in the North East and last summer enjoyed some really lovely days out on Northumberland beaches, which are never crowded and absolutely beautiful. We also had city-fix weekends in Edinburgh, Birmingham and London.

Otherwise we generally stay with family or friends. UK prices for accommodation/ eating out would make it quite pricey to have a full week's or fortnight's holiday here.

georgimama · 22/01/2009 09:15

We will be holidaying in the UK this year, hopefully Devon and Cornwall.

We have taken DS abroad twice in his short life (22 months) once to Spain and once to Perth, Australia. Both were fine but the older he gets I think the worse flying would be - he would be a nightmare on that Perth flight now!

Driving down to Devon on the other hand can be taken slowly, stops along the way and whilst the traffic can be a nightmare we know a fair few diversions and country roads to avoid the pack. And we will just try to view it as part of the holiday and try not to stress.

Whilst accomodation can be just (or even more) expensive as abroad, there are hidden extra costs to going abroad that we won't face if we stay here - dogs into kennels, parking at the airport, hiring a car etc.

Whilst the weather can't be guaranteed, as another poster said, here in the UK there is plenty to do if the weather lets you down or as a last resort you can easily go home and have a few relaxing days at home instead!