Share your favourite holiday memories with Haven: you could win £100. NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We've been asked by the team at Haven Holidays to find out MNers favourite memories of holidays!

Please share on this thread your memories of the first time you took your own children away (if you have been lucky enough to have been on holiday with your LOs): where was it, what was it like for you and for them?!

And what was the equivalent one with your parents? How do you think they compare?

What did you do on your holiday when you were a child compared to what your children do on holiday these days?

What's the strangest holiday souvenir you've ever seen or treated yourself too? Maybe a model donkey from Spain? Or some weird drink that tasted good when you were away!?

Add your thoughts and memories on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher Love2Shop voucher (an excellent chance to stock up on the pre-holiday essentials as the vouchers are accepted at 20,000 stores including Boots, W H Smith, Debenhams, Halfords and Matalan). Prize draw: Monday 31st March 9am.

Please note comments made on this thread may be used by Haven on their pages on Mumsnet, in social media or possibly elsewhere.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

PS for everything you need to know to make the most of your Haven holiday. From outdoor experiences for the whole family to on-site restaurants for the fussiest of eaters do check out the NEW Haven pages on Mumsnet

first hol with LO's where was it, what was it like for you and for them?!

Very first holiday was with 6 week old baby camping! We had to bath him is a washing up bowl.

Although it was a bit tricky camping - it was actually good to get away and have a bit of a break from the routine of things.

First holiday abroad was when LOs were 2 and 4 and then they coped ok with a short flight to spain. That was great too. I think the trick is just to plan a little better and make sure you've got all the bits and bobs you need for them.

And what was the equivalent one with your parents? How do you think they compare?

We didn't really often have family holidays - i can't really remember the first one. I think it was Butlins.

What did you do on your holiday when you were a child compared to what your children do on holiday these days?

I think as a child it was more just sitting on the beach type of fun, now more 'culture' involved - we like sightseeing with our kids and visiting museums and having days out when we are away.

What's the strangest holiday souvenir you've ever seen or treated yourself too? Maybe a model donkey from Spain? Or some weird drink that tasted good when you were away!?

A naff turtle ceramic type figure.

Our first holiday away as a family was back in 2011 when DS1 was 10 months old, we went on a mediteranean cruise. We were dreading the flight with a baby but he was an absolute star! Not a murmur and the passengers even commented on how quiet he'd been. The best memories for that holiday were taking a picture of our little family in front of the leaning tower of Pisa, DS learning to crawl on the cruise ship and seeing him having SO much fun in the baby pool.

Our first holiday as a family of 4 was last year to Disneyland Paris. Seeing DS2's face as he met all the characters was great, we thought he'd be scared as he was only 6 months old but he laughed so much at them, the same for DS1, seeing his face was a picture and the excitement when he saw the real mickey mouse was amazing.

I don't know what my first holiday was but when I was small we went to Pontins twice a year, I loved it! The kids club was the best and as we went so often we knew the staff so I made friends with their kids/grandkids too.

My holidays as a child weren't very active, we went on day trips but nothing spectacular, our holidays are a bit more active. Our next trip is to centre parks in May and then we've booked Malta for May next year where me and DF will get married!

I don't remember any strange souvenirs as such, I've had lots of tack though!

Mine is taking my grandchildren to WDW Florida last year, it was my granddaughters 7th birthday while we were there, we booked her into the bibbiddi bobbidi boutique and had her make up as Cinderella, we had our grandson made up as jack Sparrow, he acted as her escort. then we booked a special birthday meal in the castle with the princesses. Everyone had a fab time, but it was not just that event but the whole holiday seeing their faces in the parks, doing the rides and meeting the characters, going to Kennedy Space Centre, and seeing the rockets, SeaWorld and Universal Studios, was something I will remember forever

I have had some fab holidays in various places but the ones that stick in the mind the most are those as a kid at a caravan park on the Isle of Wight. The whole family used to go, my nan/grandad, aunties/uncles and cousins, we used to go looking for crabs in the rockpools on the beach right in front the site, play on the penny machines at night and then eat crisps and drink proper bottled coke at the clubhouse each night while they laid on the entertainment.. proper british holidays!! Can't be beaten.

Cheap summer holidays at St Ives Bay Holiday Park - family, water bombs, sunshine, sand, sea - it was the best!

We were so fortunate to be taken on holiday to California with my husbands new company a few years ago. We managed to have a week for just us so set off camping down Highway 1. My hubby, a 5 year old, a 9 month old & me. One night in particular, we pulled into a small campsite late afternoon(with an honesty box for payment!!!!). My hubby set up the tent while I got dinner ready. We managed to snuggled the kids down before it got too dark & then sat back to enjoy the most amazing shooting star exhibition I'd ever seen or imagined. I cried, it was so awesome & is still completely embedded in my memory.

My best memory is our first holiday abroad with the children, their little faces when we saw the water park, they was so excited. They loved the pool and spent the whole week in it.

First holiday with DD was when she was 7 months old and went to Paris. We stayed out near Disneyland so bought her a super cute Thumper outfit for Halloween.

Walking along the Champs Élysées a immaculately dressed older Parisian lady stopped me and said "beau bebe!" which made my day :)

Everyone was so helpful - including an Irish pub where daughter had her first pub drink! Granted, it was from Mummy as she was screaming blue murder and it was the closest open place. The barmaid was brilliant and gave her a glow stick to make her laugh afterwards. Magical.

My 1st holiday memory is standing in the outdoor paddling pool at Skegness Butlins, whilst my dad took a polaroid picture of me. I think I was about 5 years old.
I didn't go abroad till I was 13 years old when we started going to Majorca.

In contrast, my son went abroad aged 1 & has been abroad 2-3 times a year since then, to a huge array of countries.

We used to always take him all inclusive, he loved being able to ask for whatever he wanted, however one day (aged 5) he went to the bar & asked for some Euro's for the toy grabbing machine. He thought that's what he could do all inclusive! We were mortified, but it really was funny. I think this incident had a bearing in us trying different holidays from that point on. We have become avid sightseers in Austria, USA, Amsterdam, Iceland & this year we are trying Rome

I will always love my holidays abroad but have recently rediscovered short breaks in the UK too!

My favourite holiday was the first one after my divorce. I took my mum and my children to a farm in Devon. It is precious memory firstly as mum died just before Christmas. I remember arriving at the farm which had an outdoor pool, it as a very hot day in July so we got straight in the water. Then with a cup of tea, I was reflecting on a very stressful divorce when I realised the cow I was watching over the fence was giving birth. It was a wonderful holiday filled with sunshine, beautiful countryside and lovely memories of relaxing with my family.

The best holiday I had with my parents and brothers and sisters was the last one I took with them at the age of 18. I had started working full time after finishing college and had lots of money coming and I'm one of 12 kids and so I was able to help my parents out on our 2 week holiday to Devon/Cornwall. We went to a Park Resorts (Sorry Haven!) site we'd been to many times and have stayed in a big apartment over the shop, a converted barn, 2 chalets etc. This time, we were in 2 chalets (One for the older ones, and one for my parents and the younger ones) and whilst my parents had all of the days out covered, we loved a place called The Milky Way Adventure Park and I surprised everyone by paying for us all to go for a second day of our holiday.

I loved it because I was the oldest child on that holiday and it was nice to be in that role for once and be more on my parents level and being responsible in the older ones chalet. Us older ones went on a night time trek across the beach to a little village called Clovelly. It always has to be well timed as, if the tide is on its way in, there are 3 cut off points on the beach!!! But we made it, took some pictures and sang songs on the way back through the forest path so we weren't scared - it was late and dark at this point!

The outdoor pool was working this time around and that was so much fun and we went to all of our favourite beaches and had breakfast on the beach a few times and just stayed there all day!

It was the best holiday I went on and I think what made it so enjoyable was that I could contribute financially and was happy to do so. It was my choice, I wasn't asked to. It made me feel happy making my family happy. We had a fun, loooong drive down there and always piled into one chalet for dinner and to play games which was nice. We did things as a family that we don't usually do at home (all playing games together etc) so that was what made it so special. I still remember that holiday now, 4 years later!

Now I am a parent, I haven't been away with my little boy just yet but we are hoping to go later on this year just before he turns 2. We have been looking at staying at places like Haven, Park Resorts, Butlins etc as I feel they are brilliant for families. I look forward to my son being older and being able to take him away abroad too, and seeing the world, as I wasn't able to growing up. I can't wait to watch him discover the sea for the first time and one day, when I have learned to drive, I want to take my family to the places I holidayed as a child. I think the UK has some brilliant beaches and holiday spots and don't feel I missed out as a child, not going abroad with my family on holiday.

one year in Greece our daughter was taken into the kitchen to show her to the granny & we had to go & collect her as she was in ther for ages to find her stuffng her face with treats

Walking from under the arches into the Colosseum in Rome, and feeling overwhelmed to the point of tears! Felt like stepping back in time.
:-)

My first holiday with my daughter was when she was 18 months old we went abroad to Canary Islands. the worst was the waiting around to board the plane. Once there she loved the beach we couldnt let her in the pool as she was allergic to the Chlorine .. What i remember most was she still to this day tells everyone that she broke her arm on that holiday...she has never broken anything so we are not sure where that come from. My holidays when i was young was spent camping with my parents and i loved it, the freedom and fresh air. Dad would pack the car up and the trailer with everything he possibly could..cooker fridge...sink..lights gas bottles tent..beds everything for a home form home. We would spends days at the beach or going round castles in the evening we would eat out then come back to the camp and have a bonfire and music from mums portable record player. We would also swim in the river. dad would take me hiking up into the mountains to watch Salmon jumping. Loved the holidays with mum and dad

Donkey rides on the beach

We took the children to Cornwall and it rained all week, but we still had a lovely time in full rain gear wandering around the moors. They loved Tintagel, especially the cave - but then I had read them stories of King Arthur and Merlin as I loved them as well.

Too many lovely holiday memories to mention but two of the best:
playing frisbee outside our holiday chalet in north Wales age 8, with not a care in the world and the sun on our faces
and
Taking dd on her first holiday aged 8 months, to a small complex in Majorca. Everyone adored her and we were as proud as punch. It was my only ever holiday out of term time (still on mat leave) and I appreciated every second.

Camping! I absolutely love crawling into our tent and snuggling up together in our sleeping bags and spending a few days having some good old fashioned simple fun - hiring a row boat, hunting for shells on the beach, playing with a ball by the tent while our sausages cook on the little portable grill, hunting crabs in rock pools... holidays don't always have to cost a fortune. We've had some lovely overseas holidays too, but the camping ones have the best memories for me.

My favourite holiday memories are sailing across to the Isle of Man with my parents and brothers.

My mum loved it when the Irish Sea was choppy and was always out on deck. I remember the Mona's Isle and Lady of Mann, and all the other packet steamers.

We would dock at Douglas and traipse along the promenade looking for our bed & breakfast, all heavily laden with suitcases.

We loved the sea and sand and playing at making sandcastles, and taking the trams all over the island.

Happy days!

Last year i was really lucky enough to take my mum and 3 year old niece to florida - the memories are ones i will keep forever but 1 that stands out most of all is when me and my niece were in the pool - she was so clingy !! anyway after an hour or so and much coaxing she managed to be on her own with being strapped to my neck or anywhere else she could hold on for dear life ! then came the words .... auntie alison auntie alison ..... im not frightend anymore - still brings tears to my eyes now - from then on it was a battle to get her out of the water!!

Our first holiday with the kids was last year (they were 7 and 4) and we went to Scotland for a week and rented a cottage. They loved it so much and have spent the last year asking when we're going back! We've booked the same place this year.

When I was a kid we always went to Blackpool self catering for a week every other year, the other years we stayed in my grandparents caravan a few miles from home. My parents couldn't afford to go away every year so it meant we got to go away for free. We never ever went abroad but I never minded.

We used to holiday every year, mostly in this country. I still do this with my own children but we sometimes manage a trip abroad too, where we hire a car and do lots of exploring!

Due to the fact that my mum was a teacher, and my dad worked at British Leyland whose factory fortnight did not coincide with school holidays, ever, we didn't go on family holidays. We did have a childrens guide to days out in Britain, and my brother and I would get to choose 5 places each, 2 of which we'd get to go to over the summer. Days started early though as we had to drop dad at work at 7am (in order to have the car) and be back to pick him up.

Our first family holiday was in a lovely farm in Cornwall which specialised in holidays for those with under 5's. Absolutely gorgeous and so relaxed

Please share on this thread your memories of the first time you took your own children away (if you have been lucky enough to have been on holiday with your LOs): where was it, what was it like for you and for them?!

Cornwall. It was a bit of a grind actually, DD was 4 months old and she didn't sleep...

And what was the equivalent one with your parents? How do you think they compare?

I don't think my parents had holidays for a few years after we were born. After that it was very low tech camping.

What did you do on your holiday when you were a child compared to what your children do on holiday these days?

The same sort of stuff - mainly being outdoors on beaches, walks, in the hills etc.

What's the strangest holiday souvenir you've ever seen or treated yourself too? Maybe a model donkey from Spain? Or some weird drink that tasted good when you were away!?

Erm, a cheap unofficial Gordon the gopher puppet (this will out me if anyone I know reads this!). It was a fairly good imitation when dry, but if it got damp it smelled revolting! I was only about 6 at the time.

We used to go to a caravan and i remember that my parents bought my brother and me bikes, we spent most of the holiday out on our bikes