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

holidays are much the same as before we had children, always out and about and good fun.

In 2011, pre-children, we went on a fabulous tour of Japan, staying in ryokans, eating local food and exploring the countryside. This year, we're going to a caravan in Wales. I think that about sums it up.

Holidays are in the UK because of all the stuff they all need to take with them, and the dislike of hot weather

Hotels are out because of everyone being cooped up together and having to sit in the room, bored and quiet once the DC are asleep

Learn not to expect some magical change, DC are still going to argue and whine, adults will still get stressed - the higher you build the expectations, the more likely this is of happening, be realistic and anything better is a bonus

Overall though it's worth it, you forget the bad moments and cherish the good ones, and we are closer as a family afterwards

No more lazing on sun beds with a cocktail in hand or last minute cheap getaways it's all about keeping the kids happy and entertained and going during school holidays when it costs

Our holidays are very different. No reading in the sun, now we dig sand in the shade and spend our day playing in the baby pool. We used to eat out in local tavernas and enjoy exploring the Greek islands. We still travel to Greece but tend to stay in All Inclusive hotels so that we don't have to worry about cooking and washing up .... and there is so much choice that there is always something that everyone likes.

Our holidays didn't have to change much as we had our son when we were 17/18 so totally missed out on the partying/relaxing couple holidays although we wouldn't change it - have always been action packed but generally just around Scotland/U.K so don't really know any different. Saying that we finally had our first all inclusive abroad holiday together with him aged 8 last year and all loved it, the first time it was a bit more chilled, around the pool etc. Glad we did it as back to square one with expecting our 2nd in september. Will look forward to some sort of holiday next year!

Preparation was the main thing to change following children as far as any type of holiday was concerned! Preparation in everything! And .... the sheer, copious amount of things to take!

I think I prefer holidays since having DD! We go to the Haven and Parkdean parks we used to go to when I was little and I can show her the things I used to do, we can experience them together and see how things have changed! She's also made me more adventurous - I didn't have much interest in going abroad before having her, now I'd like to take her to see the Northern Lights and Lapland, and to go camping in Croatia, and to visit different countries to experience their cultures with her :)

Holidays haven't just changed since having children, they''ve changed since I WAS one! When I was little I just went along with family holidays. My daughter is 13 and is now at that really awkward in-between age. She's too old (in her eyes) for the clubs or the swimming pool games but she's no longer interested in going and exploring nature or going into local places like we used to. Holidays now are filled with hours of compromise.

Holidays for us have changed as the children get older, for several reasons. Fortunately, we are now better off financially as we earn more money, so we aren't just limited to a week in a static caravan by the sea in the UK. Also, my son has embraced the concept of "all inclusive"! On a practical side, he is autistic, and all inclusive is great for fussy eaters, as they can try things and not go hungry if they don't like it. There is always something to eat! Them being older means we can explore our destinations more, as leaving the hotel is no longer a military planned operation! No more buggies, wipes, spare clothes, nappies etc etc etc. Hiring a car is a doddle, and no more car seats!
Definitely holidays get is a much more positive experience as they have aged!

Then - used to plan nothing - book flights and a hotel and go
Now - I research to the nth degree - how hot/cold/wet will it be, what's the accommodation set up, how far away from everything is it, what children's activities are nearby, how close is the nearest hospital

Then - packing involved throwing some clean knickers and my passport in my handbag
Now - I look like I'm emigrating - do we have clothes and shoes for every eventuality, do we have snacks, do we have cuddly toys, do we have medication

Then - cheeky glass of fizz in the airport
Now - bucket of black coffee in a service station

Then - oooh look nice restaurant, let's eat there
Now - better find a fucking macdonalds

eating out on holiday or staying somewhere where the restaurant is child friendly has become important. Much more likely to need somewhere with a swimming pool because that is guaranteed entertainment even if weather bad! If there's a baby listening service - that is a massive bonus! Having to plan ahead what activities we are doing so they don't get bored.

Less relaxing definitely but still more relaxing that being at home.

The actual travel part is the most stressful and that includes car or plane.

Now need to be super careful about sunburn and heat rash etc.

More cautious about areas that could have terrorist attacks (i know anywhere could in theory but still.

Need more stuff - less stuff for ourselves.

No more clubbing and getting drunk.

Still fun, but different. Loved seeing her enjoy the pool, the kids club and she slept really well when we were in both Italy and Ireland last year. Now we have two and are attempting another holiday. Hope it's still fun.

The biggest changes we've noticed about family holidays with DCs are how they involve a lot more sitting/standing around and they cost so much more (especially as DCs get a bit older and playing at the park no longer keeps them entertained!)

As a couple, our breaks were weekends away in different EU cities (Paris, Rome, etc.) & fortnights in different European countries, but always in school holidays since I was a teacher.

Now, with two children, one of whom is disabled, doesn't cope well with new experiences & is scared stiff at the thought of flying, our weekends away are visiting our UK relatives & our holidays are self-catering holidays to the same three destinations, so that my DD can relax quickly, without the stress of dealing with a new environment.

BUT we have made some wonderful memories (although I do miss the foreign travel...). 😉

We have just come back from our third family holiday with our 21mnth old. The whole thing is planned around eating! How much can we fit in between snack time and lunch time.

Also, because we holiday in the U.K. at caravan parks, where we used to go to he evening entertainment ironically now it is because he genuinely enjoys the dance floor nonsense.

Another thing: holidays pre-children, coming back worried you might have gotten pregnant. With children, no sodding chance of catching so much as a cold sore because too busy fending off requests for random objects.

the budget that used to mean long haul to stay in a fancy luxurious hotel somewhere tropical and hot, now just covers the 4 of us going in school holidays somewhere on the med to a place with 'activities' and generally being a bit shit.

I used to read a book at the airport/the flight, now I run round after small people saying "I'm terrible sorry." and bribing them with phone/tablet games.

And obviously, 'family room' holidays now means we have to have sex in the bathroom on holiday rather than in the actual bed.

That said, holidays are amazing family time, the DCs love having that time together with us both. Its just about being together as a family, not relaxing as a couple.

Before my children my wages were spent on wildlife holidays abroad. Seeing orangutans in Borneo, safaris in South Africa. Now I have children my passport is unused and dusty and only animals I see are Butlins red coats dressed up as bears !!

1. Definitely a focus on shorter journeys and more local trips - in the past me and DH enjoyed going long-haul on extremely long flights to Australia, Singapore, Brazil, etc. This is completely unrealistic with DS and DD - instead we've gone on shorter trips to Paris and Spain, and stayed in the UK, going to Scotland and the Lake District.

2. The actual holidays themselves are also shorter - after a while the kids start missing their friends and routines, and we have to fit holidays around school holidays too which makes dates more restrictive.

3. They're a lot more planned! In the past holidays were focused on exploring and spontaneous adventures, but now with the kids we have to have everything planned down to the last thing! Avoids any stresses and allows us to make the most of it.

We now only holiday in the U.K. Which is fine for us.

We always have at least one day to ourselves so we get a restful day. The first couple of holidays were stressful as our expectations were too high. Whereas now we don't try and do too much.

I never did all inclusive, compound type holidays until I had children. What wouldn't have worked for me before is now just perfect.

I used to be all about last minute bookings, flying off to wherever seemed fun but now I plan in advance to avoid disappointment.

No more late nights drinking at a French bistro for me, now it's in bed early so I can go swimming first thing.

There is so much more to pack now that I have children, my vacations now involve checklists :-D

My parents live abroad so almost all of our holidays are to visit them. Free childcare in a beautiful location. It still doesn't make the holiday relaxing, we still have night waking and early starts, tantrums, etc. But a change is as good as a rest, right?

Do not discuss the holiday. Ever. Certainly not in front of the DC unless you want months of earache (or maybe it's just my kids!)

We booked DLP months ago, and it's still months away, but we have learned from prior experience to not tell the DC we are going anywhere until we are actually on our way.

This will save us months of "are we going tomorrow?", "is it our holiday yet?", "why can't we go now?" etc. By the time we are going on holiday I'm usually sick to death of hearing about it!

We've come up with a series of code words to discuss the holiday now, and family members under strict instructions to say nothing to the DC in pain of death, or they will have the DC living with them until we go!

They are going to be so excited about DLP, and I can't wait to actually go, but I really can't be dealing with months of them banging on about it. You'd think we never took them anywhere!

We could nip off at short notice, and packing was far easier, that's for sure ! We decided to have a "quick" break when DS was 8 weeks old but fitting and packing a pushchair, steriliser, bottles, changes of clothes, nappies, wipes, carrier, travel cot etc was hell. It's far easier now he is almost four but we still haven't been abroad with him. Children and sun don't mix too well and it certainly wouldn't be my idea of a relaxing holiday. Cheap and cheerful in the UK for now but we all have fun