Tell Asda about how your holidays have changed now you have children - £300 voucher to be won!NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Holidays can be a great way to recharge your batteries. However, holidaying with children in tow may be a far cry from the relaxing breaks you were used to before they came along.

Asda would like to hear about your holidays have changed since having children.

Are journeys that were once the exciting beginning of your trip now a time where you have to juggle loads of luggage and the dreaded “are we there yet” chorus from your DC? Maybe you’ve swapped your previous adventurous treks with more relaxing destinations or now consider the holidays you used to enjoy overrated? Perhaps your priorities when choosing a destination or accommodation have completely changed to encompass your children’s needs and entertainment?

Tell Asda about the ways your holidays have changed since you’ve had children by posting on the thread below. All who post will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Asda voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[nicky41]

Holidays with kids are involve....
Less sunbathing and more sandcastles.
Less pre-holiday pampering, more pre-holiday organisation.
Less lie-ins, more early mornings spent desperately searching something on the foreign language tv that will keep them quiet.
Less lazy meals and extra bottles of wine, more sticky icecreams and fizzy drinks.

BUT, nothing beats exploring the world with someone who is brand new to it. I wouldn't change it for the world and am looking forward to some more adventurous holidays as my kids get older and I am less inclined to kill them on the journey.

[Lisapaige24]

Holidays have always revolved around kids as myself and my husband have been married since we was 18 and we had a child at 17 so the last 20 years that we have gone on holiday we have had to have a lot of extra luggage and not much relaxation and since my oldest is 19 and my youngest is two with three kids in between I won't get to have the holiday I truly want to for another 16 years but at least we have fun when we do go away even if we do have a lot of heavy luggage and have to be organised with military precision

[angiehoggett]

I enjoy them but it's a completely different type of holiday, instead of leisurely going out for drinks and nice meals as a couple it becomes a completely timed event around making sure the kids are occupied and don't get too tired or dehydrated!

[kaycm25]

The time of year has changed as we're tied to the school holidays. We also used to be up and out early to see the different sights of wherever we are. Now I'm sure well be taking it easier playing around the pool and doing kids activities.

[marylegs23]

They have basically become non existant! Although hoping to get out more in the uk later this year when the in laws narrow boat has been built.

[Smellophant87]

There is much more planning now, and we tend to pick single destination holidays when we used to visit several areas in one trip before having kids.

[kateandme]

you have to entertain more instead of aving lounging all day holiday.
more thought has to go into it.
trying to calm yourself into not panicking or making it a chore is the most vital thing.it shouldn't have to be a stress yet more often than not is. because we think we have to entertain or make every hour with something to do in it. when actually the kids love nothing more than chilled times and this comes with letting them no from the very off that what you say gos and holidays don't have to be all do do do and can be nice just taking your time and fiding what to do as you go.
the more you promise to do the more the tantrums if something comes in the way of it.
but I think with like most things with kids in tow its not about you anymore.its about the children and making memories from now on with them in it and with them in mind.

[YourMateMima]

they were fun, now they're not we don't travel as far now and look for child friendly resorts

[clareycat]

We're about to find out! Just booked our first holiday abroad since having our LG, who's now 2 years 8 months. Currently trying to decipher the gobbledygook that comprises the passport application guidelines booklet, OMG, I hope the holiday is worth it as i'm gonna need it after this.

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

No more 12 hour car journeys to Scotland for starters.

All my holidays are holiday park based now I'm a single parent, as it means DC always have something to do.

I always research local parks and attractions now as opposed to local restaurants.

[manfalou]

We use to have cheap and cheerful holidays, book hotels where it was a case of 'its just somewhere to lay your head at night'. We'd get by on whatever was close by and pack the night before we left.

Now we research like crazy. Book much nicer hotels and holidays as we spend a little more time in the room (naps!)

But actually... what we do on holiday hasn't changed all that much. The kids along to the things we like to do, the things we've always done (why should we give it up??) and we factor in the things they want to do. We've been on cruises which are AMAZING for that compromise.

[ohlittlepea]

We used to use phrases like 'switching off' and 'down time' when we talked about holiday. These phrases no longer apply now we have a three year old! Now it's all about 'adventure' and 'trying something new'. She's at a lovely stage where everything is exciting, she's just as enthralled by a rock pool on a beach, a picture in a museum or an ice cream. Everything is fun for her which in turn makes it fun for us! Apart from the time when she had a night terror in a holiday cottage and the police arrived. That wasn't fun at all!

[ElizaW922]

Has really restricted what we do, and it's very difficult to find something to suit all the children as they get older and want to do different things.

[lolamia91]

So much more detailed planning!

[PussCatTheGoldfish]

Previous holidays included spontaneity, foreign lands, going on archaeological digs, camping, hotels, B&Bs.

Now we look for a two bed holiday cottage, with off road parking and a dishwasher. In walking distance of a pub. Preferably with a beer garden with play equipment. Or camp.

It's about knowing where the nearest loos are, the nearest beach, the nearest a&e and the nearest playground. It's about cashing in your supermarket vouchers, remembering to cut out cereal packet offers and pre-booking tickets. And still keeping spare clothes in the car. Even though the kids are 6&7.

It's also about keeping the small people happy, and making the grown up things you want to do fun for them, because let's face it that's the only way you'll get to do it. And if they are happy, everyone is happy!

All is not lost though, we still camp, and we still dig. And so do the kids. And it's their favourite holiday each year. They go a bit feral. And we all relax.

[emmamed123]

I still like to choose a hotel on the beach and close to the centre of the shops. the only thing which has changed since the children have come along, is the need for a nice sized swimming pool and having water slides at the hotel too.

[MaccaPaccaismyNemesis]

Holidays used to involve hanging round pubs drinking beer and having long lie ins, hanging round a pool, never eating and buying tourist tat.

Holidays now involve being up at 6.30 in the morning, cheap b&bs or camping, playgrounds, early nights, family restaurants and taking it in turns to take DS to the toilet.

I went on holiday with a friend and actually missed family holidays so I'm ruined forever!

[chezvic]

I used to love every moment of going away from the packing, the airport and everything else. Now it's like a military operation - weighing cases to make sure we're not overweight with all the toys we take, struggling with a toddler, three cases, two hand luggage, trunkie, pram etc! Then to top it off my little girl is travel sick so I now don't go anywhere without a change of clothes, sick bags and wet wipes. I breath a sigh of relief once we get to the resort. Our top priority is always now to look at the children's entertainment - something I never thought I would do.

[cluckyhen]

Holidays used to be beer fuelled, sun streaming, hung over days. Now they are staycations in tents and caravans exploring hidden hide outs and generally learning whilst having fun - although there is no more relaxing for mum

[GiraffesAndButterflies]

Holidays have changed out of all recognition! We used to try and cram in as much as we could, sightseeing all day every day, eating out and not really minding the expense. Now we are a lot less ambitious and the best holiday days are ones where we've been out and done something, but not worn out the DC to the point of overtiredness and tantrums!

Similarly we now like nicer accommodation- we now spend a lot more time at our "base" so it's nice to have somewhere spacious and comfortable.

[CryingShame]

Holidays used to be a mix of meandering through historical places, using public transport and relaxing - so reading by the pool, swimming and eating local food.

Now it's trying to do a yoga class with a 6 year old sitting next to you crying because it's the one thing you wanted to do all holiday and "but I want you to sit over here mummy" shouldn't be a reason not to do it. And watching him eat chips whilst remembering all the ideas we had about having a baby who ate anything.

Oh, and pets. With kids you get pets - we never had animals before. We now have to cost overnight care for 3 rodents eveytime we go away even for a weekend.

It is lovely seeing DS experience things for the first time though - going on a plane, trying out thank you in a foreign language to the shop assistant which mostly makes up for the other changes in holidays.

[alrey88]

Have to be a shorter journey now we have a toddler and a 7yr old usually in the UK and be somewhere with everything nearby

[Belmo]

There's a fair bit less drinking!
Our holidays used to be city break type things, now it's more camping - both lovely, just different.

[MiddleagedManic]

We worry more about the safety of countries than before for sure.
The cost is a big factor now as we are paying for 2 adults and 1 child from one main salary instead of two.
School holidays are a nightmare due to cost rises during that time and that we are too pale and pasty for southern Europe (where the cheap package holidays usually are) in August.
DS has severe food allergies, so being in a country where we can communicate to medical professionals and where there is a hospital within easy reach is a priority.
With one child (perhaps, as we have nothing to compare it to) we have been able to scoot through the early years quickly and are now at a point where we can find good compromises so that we don't have to spend a week in a holiday park with a pool getting bored. To a certain extent, a beach holiday is a pain for us as one of us will always need to be on duty to help build a sandcastle or dig a tunnel. Now as a family we are starting to concentrate more on exploring places and doing activities that we can all join in with.

[chrisstreet]

We have never been the type to go and sit in a beach - always opting for active city breaks with lots of walking around, coffee and alcohol stops in various cafes and sore feet. We have since discovered the simple pleasures of a beach based holiday and spent an amazing week in whitstable where we were on the beach every day