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MNHQ

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

302 replies

JustineBMumsnet · 27/04/2017 11:02

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

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Tell Asda about how your holidays have changed now you have children - £300 voucher to be won!NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
Teabagtits · 27/04/2017 21:02

I can't afford to go on holiday now I have kids. That's a big change.

twinklenicci · 27/04/2017 21:09

Ive only been on one holiday without my kids , and that was my honeymoon ! we did lots of adventurous outings and enjoyed spending time snorkling.
We have had 2 holidays with out children and really didnt change much , except i obviously didnt do as much activities as i had a young child to mind, so when everyone went snorkling , me and our youngest played sand castles!
To be honest i actually prefer our holidays now as we get to spend lots of quality time we the kids doing nice things with them, we just dont get to go often as its so expensive with 5 of us

Dormouse1940 · 27/04/2017 21:10

I've found unexpected joy in revisiting some of the places that my own parents took me to when I was a kid. I loved our family holidays- mainly in the UK, in a shabby ancient caravan- and going back to those beaches with my own little one is nothing short of magical.

From jetting off for long weekends in European cities (and beyond) I now find the greatest happiness in peering in rockpools and building sandcastles or camping and building dens with my son.
It's true that the best things in life are free and these moments we share with our kids are so so special.

And who knows, hopefully he'll grow up to have a wealth of wonderful happy memories from his childhood holidays and will want to share similar experiences with his own family one day...

purplehonesty · 27/04/2017 21:33

Well we have to factor in school
Holidays now which costs a fortune, having said that we've taken them out of school twice.

We don't book last minute and we plan a lot more than we used to. Need a more healthy budget and wouldn't consider going anywhere slightly dodgy with the dc!

We don't really do different things in holiday though, apart from visiting parks. We still spend time at the pool, beach, zoos, water parks, it's just all a little more stressful than it was before making sure we don't lose one!

We've only been on three foreign holidays since the dc came along (7yrs) when previously we went away twice a year.
We've done a lot more UK breaks but now we are thinking of saving up for a place of our own in the sun so I can spend summers out there with the kids.

Falconhoof1 · 27/04/2017 21:34

No more relaxing by the pool- the pool is pretty stressful with kids! Also no more staying up late partying into the night. But I wouldn't change it for the world!

Falconhoof1 · 27/04/2017 21:34

No more relaxing by the pool- the pool is pretty stressful with kids! Also no more staying up late partying into the night. But I wouldn't change it for the world!

Theimpossiblegirl · 27/04/2017 21:34

We used to book last minute flights and find accommodation on arrival or take allocated on arrival deals. We'd alternate between a nice evening meal and hitting the bars until the early hours. We've stayed in some interesting places, had real adventures and met some great (and not so great) people.

Now we travel with the kids, we are very organised (for us) and have higher standards when it comes to accommodation, facilities and location. We still like to explore and have adventures, they are just better planned.

Minnibix · 27/04/2017 21:37

We have changed from having relaxing holidays by the pool to fun adventure time holidays so the kids have a great time. I tend to find if the kids are happy I'm happy

thesockgap · 27/04/2017 21:40

Everything has to be meticulously planned when holidaying with children, from what to pack, to how the time is going to be spent once we are there, and everything in between. There is no such thing as winging it, or spontaneity!

I think the main difference we find to pre-children holidays is the lack of relaxation. When it was just the two of us, it was perfectly fine for me to laze by the pool all day with a book while my sun-hating husband would go off for walks; these days we are constantly watching the kids and barely get a moment to ourselves!!

emmav6 · 27/04/2017 21:54

before children i hadn't stayed in a caravan since i was little, now we stay in one every year :) we also go with my parents which i never did before x

hmariez · 27/04/2017 21:54

No last minute giveaways or city breaks, generally family friendly package holidays near the beach in a central location, minimal travel times/transfer times.

rookiemere · 27/04/2017 21:59

I book flights a year in advance as soon as they come out so we can afford to go in school holidays.
We go on holiday a lot with friends and family, even though DH and I are introverts who'd be happier on our own. This is because DS is an only so ejoys company of other DCs.
He has recently turned 11 and suddenly the old stables - mini golf, pool, playing in the sea have become unappealing to him so we'll need to find new things to do.

Catmadroo · 27/04/2017 22:01

I've only had one holiday since I had my son, who's now 6, but things that have changed is the no late nights partying or visting places of interest. instead of relaxing on the beach sunbathing its now playing which is better in a lot of ways, a childrens club is essential so he can mix with other children and I can get sometime just relaxing in the sun or swimming, packing for the journey consisting of toys, activity books, cuddly toys and snacks and more snacks!! I would love to have more opportunities to have family holidays as I have fond memories of them when I was a kid

GriseldaChop · 27/04/2017 22:04

We're going on our first family holiday in June with our 3 year old. I can't imagine it will be like previous holidays where I read 8 books, barely moved from my sun lounger and sipped cocktails by evening. I'm still really excited to go though, and can't wait to be in the pool playing and exploring together as a family.

LeeR1985 · 27/04/2017 22:14

Mine have changed because I barely go on them anymore! Haha. I can only really afford small weekends away to blackpool or somewhere like that right now. In the past i'd been to new york, france and a few other places but not now

foxessocks · 27/04/2017 22:14

Holidays aren't relaxing anymore they are just parenting somewhere else with more worry and stress! That said, the joy of seeing your children excited and having a great time is totally worth it.

CopperPan · 27/04/2017 22:22

I had DS1 young and never went on many holidays before that, so family holidays with dc in tow are all I've known. We do lots of touristy and adventure things because I'm curious about all of that and I think it's good for the dc's to experience it. Sticking to school holidays is a pain though. We don't do many traditional family holidays like all inclusive resorts, I prefer to organise things myself and we've done backpacking type trips even with all the dc with us.

Headfullofdreams · 27/04/2017 22:33

Our holidays destinations became more shorthaul but we still went to places we would have gone pre-kids, just made sure there were plenty of child friendly things to do!

stefalfie11 · 27/04/2017 22:49

We choose our holidays differently now for example pre-kids we went to secluded islands just for the beaches and the quiet. We often went to adult only hotels which obviously we can't do anymore. Now we also look out for things like kids clubs before booking a hotel.

scarlettlylah · 27/04/2017 23:00

Holidays are something to be planned these days,not only to afford one but due to work commitments,kids holidays,their clubs and commitments but most of all to plan a place that you are going to enjoy and have fun.

beckyinman · 27/04/2017 23:17

Short haul trips and lots less suitcase space!

liz1970 · 27/04/2017 23:22

Think it takes a lot more planning once you have children and you look for more child friendly hotels :)

mbb1 · 27/04/2017 23:32

Camping & cottages rather than sun, pools & hotels

voyager50 · 28/04/2017 00:05

Holidays are now all about finding places that have family friendly activities.

Self-catering is also good so that we don't have to fit in with set times for breakfast where as before we would often stay at B & B's in the UK.

SaladDressing · 28/04/2017 01:06

I loved holidays pre-kids and love our holidays now but they are very different.

A lot more planning and a lot more stuff. Less reading, less relaxing.

However, we have taken DC away since they were babies and had some great holidays. Once we established that we couldn't all sleep in one room for a fortnight, that sometimes we have to 'tag team' to get a bit of a break, that there are no rules around 'screen time' whilst travelling and that lunchtime meals can be a lot less stressful than evening meals (and therefore self-catering was a good option for us) it all went well.