Read Mumsnetters' top tips for planning a family summer holiday with TUI

[LucyBMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed. Thank you to everyone who shared their tips on this thread

School may have only just started up again after the Christmas break, but many people are already daydreaming about their family summer holiday. But before you can imagine yourself poolside with a good book in hand, you’re quickly dragged back down to earth when you remember the planning that needs doing. With this in mind, TUI would love to hear your tips for planning a summer holiday.

Here’s what TUI have to say: “At TUI, we know that your family holiday is a time to reconnect and have fun. That’s why we’ve designed hotels especially for families to make it the best week, or two, of the year. From a wide range of fun activities to all day entertainment including evening family shows, kids’ clubs and children’s menus and buffets in resort, we’ve thought of every little detail to give you a hassle free and family-friendly holiday.”

Do you aim to book family friendly accommodation? Are there certain facilities that make your holiday easier, or that you couldn’t go without? How do you keep your children entertained while you’re travelling? Do you prepare activities for them to do on the flight or take easy to carry toys along with you? What’s the one thing you always forget to pack and only realise as you arrive at your destination? What do you wish someone had told you before you went on your first summer holiday with your children?

Tell us your top tips on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where 1 lucky MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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[EnglishBreakfastTea]

Where to begin! My top tips having taken my 4&3 year old away for the first time last year are:

Choose your resort carefully! I think somewhere with a balance of lots of activities for the little ones but that gives you the chance to relax if you want to is a must. Everyone wants to come back from a holiday feeling revived & refreshed so the equal balance of kids club or play areas / quiet retreat for Mum and Dad my number 1 tip.

SNACKS!!! There is nothing worse than a hangry toddler so I'd choose a resort that was either all inclusive or that offers child friendly snacks throughout the day - having learned from experience.... I'd exclude ice cream in this!

Finally, for when you're travelling, make sure you have enough activities to do! Keeping little ones entertained means you arrive at your resort fairly relaxed (bar one small airport meltdown when our 3 year old wanted to ride on the baggage carousel, then totally lost the plot when we said no!) We took travel based colouring books, stickers, a couple of small toys and the obligatory stinky teddy. This kept them busy for the 4 hour flight but be prepared to dedicate all of your time to playing - no complimentary wine or movies here!!

Having said all of that, our first holiday together as a family was fabulous and I wouldn't change a thing!

[lolly2010]

I always look for accommodation with a pool and activities for the kids, if we are staying in the uk we tend to leave very early so the kids sleep through most of it though if we were flying I would take snacks that I know they will eat. I try to book somewhere that allows the kids freedom but they are still safe. I always look around the area to check the activities available to so that there are more options.

[poppypants]

Usually it’s a large house or cottage to rent for a week or to then the whole family can go and splitting the costs is great, the it’s just a matter of organising day trips and food

[Belmo]

Looking for tips as we’re going on our first proper one this year! We’ve gone for pool and parks on site, and I’m making lists already to try not to forget anything - travel and rainy day entertainment is going to be crucial I think (and buckets of sun cream as we’re all pale as ghosts!)

[HammeringBird]

Somewhere with a pool if possible. Kids (11 and 8) can entertain themselves for hours in a pool!

I'm separated. I don't mind a bit of a journey but, once I reach my destination, I want things to be relatively easy - e.g. activities close by. I don't want to have to do loads of schlepping around without another adult to share driving, for example. I also prefer self-catering because w can just roll out of bed and have breakfast whenever without feeling a need to be presentable.

The age that my kids are now, my top tip is to let them have a say in the planning. This year, I have narrowed it down to two destinations. We then looked at them together and made a choice. I also put together a list of activities and told my kids how many we can realistically do on our budget. They can have a think about what appeals most and we'll hopefully stick to what we decide. That helps me budget, everyone gets to choose one thing they want to do and it cuts down on squabbling once we arrive because everyone has manageable expectations.

And lists. Like lots of other people, I have a notebook with the packing lists and I make a note of what we didn't use and what else we could have taken instead.

[Angiemum24]

Plan in advance.
1.Get your self a little note book about A5 size.
2.Start planing around 6 months in advance or earlier if it more comfortable.
3.write everything down. Clothing lists, kids stuff, taxi numbers, airport numbers, hotel number

1. Research everything Trip advisor is great. meals-are you going full board, half. Do they cater for vegans, special diets etc.
   
2. The place where you are going.
   
3. Kids clubs, magazines, books, activities for the family or are you one just to sit by the pool, if you are going to be pool loungers- are your kids confident in the pool? Are you confident?
   

7.what time of year are you going? Appropriate clothing for season, laws on covering up?

1. Local laws. Brush up. It’s easy to break the law and be in trouble for doing something which is classed as normal back home.
   
2. How far are you going? Will the kids get board. Try taking activity/colouring books. Travel sick? Don’t forget meds.
   

10. All meds you need p, check with airport how much meds you are allowed and how they are to be packed.
11.TRAVEL INSURANCE. V. IMPORTANT.

[hel123]

For me it's all in the planning so that everything goes smoothly from the minute we get to the airport until the end, with no surprises where I can help it. I do a lot of research, checking on tripadvisor and other sites, and all the major travel companies to make sure i get the best holiday for my family.

I also get a lot of anxiety when booking a holiday - I tend to be the person doing the research and I am always conscious that I need to cater for the needs of the whole family - I feel very responsible for their happiness on holiday. That said, it also has to be a fine balance, I've got to enjoy it just as much as the children do!

I'm fairly fussy about where we go - I want the ease of a package holiday without the resort feeling too touristy (yes I am a nightmare!). But it has to be near a beach and also within walking distance to good restaurants. I want lots and lots of photos of the room, the hotel and the wider resort (and a map!) so I can see exactly what I'm getting.

In terms of accommodation, My boys are now getting older, one has just become a teenager, so I don't want to share a room with them, we all need our own space, but within the same apartment, we are not quite ready yet for them to have a different room in a hotel for example, unless it had a connecting door. Most sites don't give you this - might offer 2 twin rooms for example, which I dont feel comfortable with.

We need a decent amount of kgs for our luggage, jet2 were brilliant last year with 22kgs each for a week (which was actually way too much for us), so I've got to admit that this year's holiday with tui has come as a bit of a shock with only 15Kg each for a two week holiday (which will be tight). It would be brilliant if travel companies could bear in mind the duration of the holiday when allocating baggage allowance.

We've recently tried all inclusive holidays for the first time, our children love them. I prefer options where there are different restaurants you can use, otherwise the hotel food can be a bit samey.

A pool is a must for my family, as is the sea. Also hotels / resorts with other activities - tennis courts etc where the kids can entertain themselves without my input, it gives them just enough indepedence and allows me some time on a sunbed with a gin and tonic.

On flights my boys can entertain themselves these days, we take the iPad with films on it and games. They also enjoy an inflight meal, when it comes to travelling we relax all usual rules in order to make the best of it (my youngest was tucking into chicken tikka masala at 7am on our holiday in October, not my choice but it kept him happy!).

Best piece of advice for travelling for the first time with babies? They have babies in Spain / Greece / Italy too... you really don't need to pack 3 boxes of formula or enough nappies for two weeks!! (yes I did that).

[Dilbertian]

Something we learned very early on was that interconnecting rooms or a small suite were worth every penny. Sharing a room with young dc is not restful.

Bags of little toys for the car/plane/train. Toys were doled out 1 at a time (2 or 3 at a time if they were things like cars or figures), each being replaced or swapped before the next came out.

My bag would always be filled with snacks, and dh's with drinks.

Use toilets whenever the opportunity arises! If you have one that refuses, saying "I don't need a wee" but then needs one as soon as you're back on the motorway, start talking about going to the toilet 15 mins before the loo run. Tell them they will be doing a wee before you leave. By the time you're ready for the loo, so will they be.

[alwaysataldi]

Don't take to many products in your suitcase, it not only gives you less items which you NEED, you can buy nappies, sun creams, baby products where you arrive, whether it be in the UK or abroad.

[KnittingSister]

do you aim to book family friendly accommodation? in the UK we go self catering, dietary needs make it easier, less stressful. We just look for a place with enough beds.
Abroad we leave dc home, so we go b and b, we don't like the scrum which is buffet dinner in the hotel, so we eat out at local bars and restaurants

Are there certain facilities that make your holiday easier, or that you couldn’t go without? we like it quiet, and like to be independent.

How do you keep your children entertained while you’re travelling? we used audio books when dc were little, now dc entertainment themselves, or stay home!

Do you prepare activities for them to do on the flight or take easy to carry toys along with you? never flew with dc, the idea was too stressful, & too expensive.

What’s the one thing you always forget to pack and only realise as you arrive at your destination? we're getting better at packing now, we have a standard kit which we leave in the suitcase. Mugs, bottle opener, plates, knives, wash up sponge, liquid and towel. Door wedge, washing line, socket adapters,

What do you wish someone had told you before you went on your first summer holiday with your children to remember the skin cream, dc eczema always got worse when we were away, and we forgot the cream every time!

[KnittingSister]

Save up, don't put your holiday on credit,

Make sure there's no footboard on the bed, no low beams, ( dh is tall!)

I always forget my hat

[Brocklee]

Hi all, I've been toilet training my 2.5yr old for the last 5 days. The training has been going well, no1 and 2s in the toilet. There have been a few accidents but its going ok. We have been stuck in the house while training along with 2 month old sister. I've noticed he's asking to go to bed a lot.Sometimes he naps and sometimes not.Before the training he was coming to the stage where he didn't want a nap but now he's looking to nap 3 times a day. Could it be boredom or something else? I'm trying my best to keep him entertained but I'm feeling a bit frazzled and worry I'm not doing a lot. Sorry for the long post. I'm finding it all a bit tough at the minute. TIA

[Dogwalks2]

All inclusive, as the kids love the freedom of being able to get drinks, snacks and ice creams when they want.
Also a nice beach as we all love snorkelling.

[Kannet]

Mine is prepaid credit cards. Saves a lot of problems. And photocopy all passports and insurance documents

[Stuckandsadintheupsidedown]

Snacks, photocopies of everything, language apps and downloaded kiddy movies on tablet all make my life easier.

We always book somewhere with a children's pool and little slides.

What would be super helpful to me would be an arrival pack waiting at our destination hotel room/accommodation.

• A little kit with factor 50 lotion, bug repellent, crisps, mini wine, juice cartons and a yellow pages with local doctors number/taxis/takeaway

[Stuckandsadintheupsidedown]

I always forget to pack extra earphones!

[fairystars]

We have tablets for both kids, packed full of games, films and books. They usually keep them entertained for the duration of flight or car journey. We look for modern hotels to stay in, we've had some bad experiences with other hotels so now we try to stick to big name chains such as holiday Inn etc so we know what to expect. Modern hotels but we don't need many facilities as we don't stay in the hotel other than to sleep really. Eating seems to be always an issue as our picky 3 year old refuses most foods if he doesn't recognise them or they don't look exactly how they do at home. Luckily our 6 year old will eat and try new things!

[PashleyB]

We have recently gone for self catering accommodation so that we can have breakfast and sandwiches for lunch but then if we want to go out for tea. I second all the planning that goes into long journeys - snacks and extra snacks as well as letting the children watch stuff on the iplayer

[InterstellarDrifter]

My preference for holiday accommodation is having more than one bedroom. The dcs go to bed whenever and dh and I can get to chill for a bit. My dcs love all inclusive and seem to think it’s the best part of the holiday.
We love the pool, need wifi and also like to do a few excursions. We’ve done quite a bit of travelling and want to see new places and what the area is like and visit any notable places nearby.
I’m so happy if someone else is doing all the planning for us as it frees up my head space.
Top tip when travelling with family is packing cubes! Each person has a couple of their own and all their clothes are organised.
Also a large travel wallet to keep all passports and documents in for quick access.

[Penhaligon]

We like to all be in one room together and to have a balcony for the evenings when the kids are in bed. A large pool or lots of pools is a must and a splash pool/slide keeps them entertained all day. All Inclusive is a must with young children so they can have plenty to choose from and to keep them hydrated through the day. We currently will fly no further than a 3 hour perimeter- that's long enough on a plane with a 1 year old!

[goldenretriever1978]

I like to make sure that the Wi-Fi is good. The ideal is an all inclusive with a kids club. I also like to check the usual temperature so it isn't likely to be too hot.

[Ren1974]

My children are older now (12 and 8) and we don't need to do any specific planning pre-holiday other than ensuring tablets/gaming devices are charged for the flight!!

My top tip though is not to get on the plane first with young children. My son was a toddler when we first flew and as is often the case on flights, we had priority boarding as we were travelling with a child. As we got onto the plane first and had to wait for everyone else to board, he became really restless and upset and it was hard to placate him in such a small space. He then spent the whole flight fidgity and crying (yes, we were one of those annoying familes with the screaming child they couldn't placate!) which was really out of character for him but the fellow passengers wouldn't have known that.

Needless to say on the return journey, and in fact on all future flights even to this day, we have waited at the back of the queue to get on the plane to avoid overlong sitting before take off!

[Spirael]

Add my agreement to wanting a separate sleeping area for the children. Preferably with separate beds too, as asking them to share is a sure fire way to cause arguments!

[evespudding]

Sounds obvious but make sure holiday suits the personalities of the family. We prefer city breaks as fussy eaters means we can find a better variety of food options.

Lollies for sucking on the plane to prevent ear pain.

Break up the journey and extend the holiday by staying over at the airport.

[ScorpionQueen]

Research the hotel and the area. We love doing our own excursions so need to know if there is public transport, local taxis or car hire. We also like to know about places of interest before we go. The hotel is important but what's around it is too.