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

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Having the time and energy to spend on the kids makes a holiday special. Not having to cram all the fun stuff into a few tired hours.

Everyone has to ditch the technology - and enjoy the present company!

Simply spending time together in a relaxed manner, forgetting day to day issues, no hard plan, rushing around etc... Having fun and relaxing!

The most special times I have had is when i have kept things simple because i have been more relaxed so the kids can be relaxed to luxury is fine but can be stressful with kids. We love nature and wild life so I always choose holidays which embrace nature. making sure holidays are fun relaxed and full of new experiences and make memories is the key to special.

We like to leave a couple of days of our holidays spontaneous. We just drive or walk somewhere, and wait and see where we end up. We've had such great fun doing this, as we've ended up at awesome places we never would have chosen had we planned in advance

We never have a plan of action when we go on holiday, but we like to let the children lead the way for most parts the best thing ever is seeing the kids happy while us as parents sit back and watch the enjoyment light up in there faces!

We go on holidays that have lots of activities football and fishing for the boys and spas and shopping for us girls also a kids club is essential to make a good family holiday

The thing that makes our holidays special is a rule that we impose - amy discussions about school or work are banned! (including work mobiles!)

We've got young children so we haven't been on a family holiday abroad and have mainly stuck to UK hols within a few hours of home by car.
The things we love about our holidays are:

• no work or school or rushing to get anywhere at a particular time
• doing lots of different activities together
• spending quality family time together!

Time off together, making new memories with no real world commitments or distractions

Actual time together, without the stresses, strains and distractions of everyday life!

we like to holiday in the UK and usually travel by car. Our family holidays are all special as we do not have so many together now some of our DCs are older and moved out. Coastal walks, pub lunches and relaxing is typical.

All of us together, away from our daily distractions and without any worries or anything to get back for. Just time to remember how great we are together.

Simply being together and having that time which isn’t broken by work commitments or household tasks x

A family holiday is one to totally relax on, no stress of there being wifi or good phone coverage. Where we have lots of laughs and enjoy spending time together doing really simple things like sightseeing, visiting parks, beach, doing picnics.
For us holidays are an essential part of family life.

Mostly spending time together is just so precious!! We try spend as much time outdoors on our holidays.

Simple pleasures, throw stones in the sea, build a sandcastles (on a different beach perhaps...) paddle, swim, play on the park, relax!

We went on the ferry to the Netherlands this summer. We had some amazing family time, we played, ate and relaxed with each other. It was such a lovely holiday as the weather was fabulous, the campsite we went to couldn't have been any better for the kids. I'm looking forward to a similar or better holiday this year.

I love spending time with the wider family - I love to go away with my sister and her children I also enjoy going away with my parents and in-laws! It’s the perfect time to re connect and for my children to play with their cousins. So many special memories are made.

Having the time with each other, no work or school, no house jobs to do, no cooking...
Sun & sea are added bonus

I think time spent away as a family is extremely important, there isn’t many years you can do this before they get older and don’t want to! My husband works long hours and lots of weekends so it’s really important for him and my children to have that quality time to enjoy each other.

As single parent living alone with my DD, who is 3, I like my holidays to feel different to my life. Life is good but generally quiet, we live in a quiet place and it’s often just us at home. So being with more people can be great! We went in a yoga retreat in Ibiza together which was fab as we were part of a group. Also loved a city break staying in Nice old town with my sister. Amazing city centre park with water play and climbing frames. We had an excellent time at a festival last year too. All great holidays but very different to each other.

I love the Isles of Scilly. Although as I married my exh at the register office on Porthcressa beach I need to go back and make new positive associations with it. It such a gorgeous place!!

My favourite holiday was our first holiday with our son to bude in Cornwall. It was freezing cold, wet and windy but I have so many precious memories from our holiday. We stayed in a caravan- complete opposite of luxury but we had so much fun and many ‘firsts’ were conquered in that week.

Wow, reading these replies I really want to go to IOS now! Not been before but holidayed in Cornwall all my life. Not been since having kids (2 & 4) but recently booked camping near Padstow for this Summer. Can't wait to return. For us - mainly - as long as the kids are happy, we're happy. Though we're still figuring things out! We do camping in the UK mainly due to budget constraints, but also it's great driving and not having a deadline to meet as you would flying somewhere. I've got a pinterest board of camping and travelling tips, so hoping our next holiday is smoother and more relaxed.

For me it’s kids getting to see how their parents navigate new situations - seeing that it’s okay not always to be super-confident but that you can work it out and have a good time anyway. I think that’s good for kids’ own confidence and resilience.