Mumsnetters share what makes a family holiday special with Isles of Scilly Travel

[LucyBMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share.

From picking the perfect place for your family getaway to planning what to do and how to keep everyone entertained, family holidays are full of emotions and stories to tell. Whether you travel abroad to a sunny destination or stay locally and explore what the UK has to offer, Isle of Scilly Travel would like to hear the ways you make your family holiday special.

Here’s what Isles of Scilly Travel has to say:
“Discover why the Isles of Scilly, a group of sand-fringed islands found just 28 miles off the Cornish coast, is the perfect family holiday destination and enjoy a return to a gentler way of life. One visit to Scilly and you’ll understand why the islands are famous for enticing people to return year after year; families often holiday on Scilly for generations and visit the same camp sites, holiday homes or hotels every summer.

Isles of Scilly Travel makes the journey as memorable as the destination. Short Skybus flights from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter airports reach Scilly in under an hour, or you can sail on the Scillonian III passenger ferry, which departs daily from Penzance Harbour between March and November.”

So we are asking you what part of the holiday does your family love the most? What is your preferred family holiday - active one with lots to do, or lazy one relaxing on the beach? How do you choose between staycation in the UK or overseas travel and why? What transport do you and your family use to get to the holiday? What would you change about you travelling together, if you could?

Share how you make you r family holiday special on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where 1 x MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice AND family day trip on our passenger ferry the Scillonian (2 adults 2 children) – value depending on the day chosen is between £144.00 - £171.00.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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We live abroad so our main holiday every year is back to the U.K. the last few years we’ve tried to incorporate seeing family while visiting parts of the U.K. we haven’t seen before - last year was the new forest, this year will be the Kent coast and getting the Eurostar over to Europe for 10days.

Travel is pretty important to us and we try to see a lot of the States (where we live) too - but I def agree with a PP that incorporating child friendly days - be that a beach or a playground - makes the holiday go a lot smoother! Probably we’d all say getting to say different foods is one of our favourite parts

A family holiday for me involves ALL the family where possible, no mean fest with 4 adult children, their partners and my 9 grandchildren, and their widespread geographical location ! But we do arrange this every other year, either hiring a big house or visiting centre parcs. Location needs to be within reasonable distance of an airport for the family who live abroad, so east Anglia is a favourite using stansted. A big house on the Norfolk coast, beach and local attractions for the children and lovely scenery and the occasional pub visit for adults.

1. What's a family holiday? I don't have a family and when I did have one growing up, we never went on holiday.

2. What's the point in offering a day trip to the Scillies? Unless you already live in or near Cornwall, the vast majority of MN users probably can't use the prize.

I don't like to plan too many activities, but seeing the children discover new things is the best bit for me, whether that's new foods, new places or just different cultures. The family time we spend together is really valuable and we leave lots of time for playing, but watching them learn and discover is definitely my highlight.

Best thing: spending time together away from the daily routine.

We've visited the Scillies twice as a family - both wonderful holidays. I've been lucky enough to travel quite a lot and for me the Scillies are one of my 'magic' places (others: the island of Elba, Kaikoura in NZ, Zanzibar). I would love to go back now the children are a bit older and we could explore a bit more.

We love going in holiday to Cornwall and go at least once a year. Our holiday’s always involve the water we adore sailing particularly and love finding new places to sail with our 7 year old son to explore and enjoy beautiful scenery. After sailing we love to find a nice restaurant and enjoy beautiful food and relax with a glass of wine.

Without a doubt it's the time to sit and enjoy each other's company. It's the only time in the year we just relax and really talk. No tv, no work, it's just wonderful and I love the quiet moments as much as the loud ones! Family board games are another favourite

Dc are 5 and 3, and holidays have changed a lot since they came along. We went abroad last year, but to be honest, best holidays have been to a farm cottage in cornwall. Trips on the tractor to feed the animals, pyo strawberries, small playground on site, and farm shop/ restaurant nearby. Short drive to beautiful beaches and we've generally had great weather. There's lots of easy free things to do which dc like, but easy and relaxed for me and dp. I just love being all together, no alarm, no work grind. Self catering means some chores, but happy to cook as there's no other 'jobs ' to think about. It felt so relaxing! Sadly prices sky rocket now we're restricted to school hols, and not sure if we can afford it so may have to look elsewhere. Really hope dc remember it though!

Holidays with 3 children under 5 are not exactly relaxing. We're lucky to live in the south west, so travel an hour or so to St Ives and just enjoy the beaches there. The best bits are being able to sit down and watch people play without being constantly hastled or climbed all over.
And (shamefully) I do love doing laundry in a different place.

Our best family holiday was to Hadrians Wall. Although it was a long journey to get there we made the most of it by choosing a route which had things to see and do so each time we stopped it was already part of the holiday! Once in beautiful Northumberland the scenery and history were the highlights, and the kids enjoyed immersing themselves in history (and dressing up!). What made this a perfect family holiday was spending time together doing things that we love, in beautiful and inspiring scenery. We’ve not been to the Isles of Scilly as a family yet, but I have fond memories of visiting in my youth - Bryher was my favourite island: rugged beauty and great hospitality.

A holiday for us recently has been a UK based one due to funds. We've done mostly caravan stays in various locations. My 2 favourites were eype and woolacombe, fantastic beaches nearby , ice cream and great coastal walks for our dog. This year I'm looking at going abroad on a relaxing beach Holiday in July and Devon in October .

DS is nearly 3. A playpark, a beach, some vehicles to spot or a construction site nearby makes a great holiday for him. And a separate bedroom for him so DH and I dont have to have lights out at 7pm! We went to a caravan park in the UK last year and have booked for another one in spring.

Seeing the children experience new things, having relaxed mornings, an ice cream in the sun. My favourite memory from our last holiday to Devon was my children being absolutely absorbed by playing with a stream which was at the end of the garden of the hluse where we stayed. They loved it and it was so much better than screen time or the boring suburban landscape the usually experience!

So we are asking you what part of the holiday does your family love the most? What is your preferred family holiday - active one with lots to do, or lazy one relaxing on the beach? How do you choose between staycation in the UK or overseas travel and why? What transport do you and your family use to get to the holiday? What would you change about you travelling together, if you could?

It’s definitely staycations that make the best family holidays for us, the stress of travel and fears that come with it mean everyone is so much more relaxed without a crazy airport rush with nightmares of home alone “KEVIN!!!” moments for weeks before!
The most loved part of our holidays aside from all the swimming and exploring and walking for miles is the bit when we get back Gunther caravan/ tent/room all knackered and agree that a fancy night out is off the cards, much more welcome is a snack, snooze, shower and casual stroll out to find some hot, filling food to stuff our faces with!
I love that my husband is happy to do most of the driving but he’s also amazing at making the best playlists ever so the drives invariably turn into a rock ballad concert followed by amazing songs we forgot existed and loved! You can’t recreate that atmosphere in a plane full of strangers!! :)
The only thing I’d change is that sad moment in the many local gift shops when you realise as much as you love that tea towel and matching apron with the artsy hare on it, you probably shouldn’t spend half the weeks spending money on them!! At least rock isn’t so extortionate!!

A holiday is what you make it: doesn’t have to be at the most expensive resort or at the poshest hotel it’s valuable time together making memories on whatever your budget is

I have always loved to travel and now I enjoy travelling with my children. With two small kids it can be stressful at times but it is so so worth it. My kids make me notice the smaller things which I probably would've overlooked. They find joy in the smallest things. I love how everything is an adventure and exciting.

Preferred family holiday is camping. We always go somewhere different... Lake District, Scotland, Wales, Denmark. Our children our happiest outside, and live the freedom on campsites. They live it even more when Grandparents and their cousin are there. Even the washing up is fun while camping.

Can get a bit stressful in bad weather, but DDs don't see that bit. Or the behaviour of other campers having an impact on other families (who thinks bringing a karaoke machine to a campsite is a good idea, or using it at midnight?)

When will this prize be drawn @LucyBMumsnet

We visit family who live in Cornwall every summer holidays and absolutely love it, it’s the making memories with family and the lazy morning walks to the bakery, surfing in the afternoon. I have not been to Scilly but would love to.

Going out for meals together, and no one having to cook or clean up¬!

As long as there are lots of activities to keep the kids entertained and tire them out. That makes for a special holiday.

The best bit of our family holidays is the space to do very little alongside each other, without the pressure of other chores, schedules or people. Ideally, it would involve wider family and grandparents, sandy knees, games on the beach, flasks of tea, hot chips from paper, some brave bodyboarding in the surf, and lots of memory building. It is what we do every year. It doesn't sound glamorous perhaps but it is really, genuinely relaxing, a proper 'check-out' from life. Honestly, I so want to be there now rather than about to head to the office!

To me, it's that everything works as it should - seamlessly, and that the staff are welcoming, friendly and helpful.

That on top of some beautiful scenery to sink into...that's the ideal holiday. All of those elements enable you to truly relax and that's at the core of a successful holiday.

The time spent with our kids and close family bonding and new memories. First times like at the beach are memories that stick for me.

For me it is getting to do activities together, something we never seem to do at home, that makes a family holiday special