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

Our favourite holidays are where there is something for everyone.
A beach holiday can be good as those that want to jump around in the sea being active can do their thing. But at the same time those that want to lounge about reading or chatting can do what they want to too.
Relaxed restaurants and a good choice of reasonably priced food is very important too.

The best holidays we've had are with central hotels with lots to do near by (meaning less travelling to get to places) and that the hotel is close enough that we can go back for a nap if needed! We're looking at taking more "staycations" in the future!

what part of the holiday does your family love the most?

Easy - being buy the swimming pool

What is your preferred family holiday - active one with lots to do, or lazy one relaxing on the beach?

Lots of activities for us.

How do you choose between staycation in the UK or overseas travel and why?

This year - Staycation in the UK, due to finances, and Brexit.

What transport do you and your family use to get to the holiday?

Minibus and airplane

What would you change about you travelling together, if you could?

Faster check-ins at the airport so you are not waiting around for hours before your flight goes.

We love camping, and choose a site with lots to do and see, we take as much as we can in our car, outdoor play, birdwatching, and seeing our British wildlife is the most amazing thing to do with children, we take lots of videos to create precious memories, we always clear up, use bamboo reusable cups and plates, and as we travel in our hybrid car it's eco friendly.

We make our family holiday special by taking a lot of time to read reviews of hotels, ratings, price, child friendly facilities, and choosing flight times which are during the afternoon, and not too long. We pick self catering so we can do what we want when we want, have our own pool. I have never thought of travelling to our holiday destination by ferry, but this sound like something our children would love ! I have to say Tresco island looks amazing.

We love to holiday in this country, and love culture and UK breaks and usually travel by train and book four seats and a table. We have been to Cornwall, Edinburgh, North Wales and Norfolk. We make it special by choosing accommodation which is child friendly, near public transport, trains, and if in London near a tube. I would love to visit the Scilly Isles, it has a lot to offer, and going by ferry would be another adventure for us.

what part of the holiday does your family love the most?

Anything by water - jumping in and out , and being on a blow up boat in the pool is just bliss for them.

What is your preferred family holiday - active one with lots to do, or lazy one relaxing on the beach?

Definitely active, taking part in hosted competitions, and us cheering them on is amazing - you can be lazy at home

How do you choose between staycation in the UK or overseas travel and why?

we chose between staycation and overseas dependent on cost, ease of getting there and back, and the weather. We would usually choose overseas because of the weather, and it can cost as much as UK holidays, although with Brexit and the exchange rates, we will probably go in the UK this year.

What transport do you and your family use to get to the holiday? What would you change about you travelling together, if you could?

Usually a train to the airport, then fly to our destination - I would change to be able to travel by train - on a sleeper train to get to our destination to take the stress out of the airport malarkey

To be honest it doesn't really matter where we go, it's just spending time together as a family away from the distractions of every day life. We've had great holidays in the UK as well as abroad. The key is not to have too high expectations though, we always assume it's going to rain then if it does we're not disappointed! We once spent a miserable week in the Italian Lakes with a toddler when it poured down every day!

We love to go abroad, mainly for the weather its so unreliable in the UK. Having the family all together with time to enjoy the company is always the highlight of my holiday. The only thin I don't enjoy is the flight and the airport experience

Our first family holiday was to the IOW because dp has fond memories of it growing up. It was the best holiday i think because we didnt have to worry about the stresses of everyday life and it gave us the chance of spending time together and doing things that are out of routine. Which the dc love, such as staying up past bedtime and eating food they do not normally have.

For me it's about the quality time together. Trips out, all meals together, carefree fun and a more lax routine. I love going abroad but also love holidays in the UK or even just day trips. It all depends on money and time.

I try to choose places where the kids can learn a bit more independence: doing basic shopping in another language, even if it’s only ordering an ice cream, or on a traffic-free complex where it’s safe for the older one to go off and explore on his own for an hour. The kids love it and it’s great to see them thriving.

We always fear the packing and the journey - they seem the most stressful part - for us parents anyhow! We ALL love good food in our family whether that is part of a holiday or somewhere with good restaurants nearby. Other than that its nice if there is something for the kids - perhaps a pool or a beach or an activity they enjoy - they don't need everything and I don't like holidays to be jam packed too busy so a balance of relaxing and something of interest to see or do. It's great to go gadget-free and enjoy each others company and the scenery.

We make family get aways special by being present. That is the most important. Its so easy to get lost in the future, even if its just '10 am the pool opens, and by 12 we will have lunch at this place' just taking it easy, looking at my son and going where the time takes us without constantly looking at the clock and trying or needing to be somewhere for something. Even taking pictures, for future use - I mean come on who doesn't take pictures, but I realised I get so lost behind the camera and I'm not really seeing these lovely moments in real life I'm looking at it through the screen making sure I get it in the frame.
Being present means I get to feel all those wonderful carefree childlike emotions with my son, we are on the same frequency and its just super visceral.

Spending time together! Its fantastic having DH there in the mornings, and knowing he doesn't have to rush off to work! It also means he can share the night shift if DD wakes!

Family time together wether it be home or away makes a good holiday. It doesn't have to be anywhere swanky or expensive, just quality family time. If the weather is good trips to beach, woods, duck pond or park all together making use of scooters and bikes or board games and some quality snuggle time with popcorn, ice cream and dvd if weather is atrocious. No need to spend heaps of money either. One treat or meal out will suffice. Needles to say we have had some
Brilliant holidays like this on the tightest of budgets. Simple things are the best and making quality memories together = perfect holiday!

We are all active so it's nice to have something to do like skiing, walking, cycling, swimming. I don't mind where we go - often the traveling is part of the fun. So like snacks on the plane, cafe breaks at stations, or driving stops at playgrounds.

The best holidays are ones where DS (aged 6) has found a friend. Because as much as I love spending time just as a family, it's always nice for DS to have someone on his level.

We holiday in the uk now we have children mainly because of the cost, and taking 4 children abroad would be hard work ( although we are planning one soon abroad).
The main thing for us is that we love a change of environment and leaving day to day stresses behind. Our kids love going to the beach/ river and throwing stones in, going for a swim, playing board games and just spending time together without other distractions.

I thought I had already answered this but just scrolled through & I haven’t! Holidays can be very challenging for us as our daughter has special needs & doesn’t always cope well with a change of routine. One of the best holidays we had was last summer when we had a staycation & did lots of day trips locally & into the next county. Lots of quality fun time together whilst still able to go home at night.

We like a mix of holiday between a city break and country/ beach. We always factor in a playground visit for DS 3 (using playground buddy app to find them) and try the local food. As we’re not tied into school holidays yet, we try and go away but usually stay at Airbnb so we can cook if needed and have our own space.

My dd loves the flight - she thinks of it as the gateway to a holiday and doesn't get quite as excited about the train, lol. I think it's because that's the official moment where I get to relax and start enjoying myself so she gets non-stressed mummy back.

I love travelling overseas but cost has been a huge factor over the last two years so we've done Staycations - it's been equally lovely to be honest. And sometimes when we just need a break we book a night or two in a local hotel and pretend to be tourists - room service, a pool and no tidying is a great break!

We like a nice mix of one day by the pool one day out and about doing 'stuff'. In recent years we've had some wonderful trips to the Greek mainland- so much history especially in Athens, which I love, combined with beautiful beaches and warm seas for the DCs and lovely food - pretty much the perfect holiday.

Leave the camera and phones behind and bring back memories rather than staged photos