Holidays in term time - Boooooooo

[Twine88]

DS starts school in September, so we now find ourselves holiday planning around school holidays. We normally do Center Parcs, but, I cannot bring myself to pay the price hike...So, I was thinking Devon/Cornwall for Easter - but, is an Easter break worth it? I just worry the weather will be crap and that we may as well stay at home and just do day trips? Is it worth just holding out to go away the May/June halfterm? What do other people do? I should add we cannot plan to go away during summer holiday, due to DH work - so would really like a break booked, kids (will be) 5 and 2, and they love swimming, so was thinking holiday camp (as civilised as possible!) and/or glamping. Bring me your best ideas!

I was going to say that we often have better weather in Devon at Easter compared to summer.

Also in respect of parents who have restrictions when they can take holiday, check your school policy for authorised absence, should be on their website. I am a governor at DS's school, and as we are in an area where a number of parents either work in agriculture or tourist industry and therefore might struggle to take holidays during school holidays, we have an exception in the policy to authorise absence if parents can prove their work prohibits them from taking holidays outside term time. There is a caveat that children must have a good attendance record.

The thing that annoys me most is that any thread about school holidays someone has to come on and object about holidays taken in term time.. It is a pointless debate that has been done over and over and I am yet to hear one person change there mind either side of the fence...

OP I have done Haven holidays with my DS ..I found them great for activities and much cheaper than centre parks. I had never stayed in a caravan till I had kids but it is great fun

House swaps? We did them for the first few years with young kids as we couldn't afford to go on holiday otherwise.

cherriesandapples how did you (grownups) enjoy the holiday? I know our kids would love a caravan break. We stayed in one last year (at a festival) and it still gets talked about!

I am still undecided on Easter, I feel like locally there will be alot on and at least at home we can better pick outdoor/indoor days out...but, We have done Center Parcs for years and both kids and adults love it, I am finding it hard to let that go and imagine anything will match up. I have found a few nice looking holiday camps, but so few of them have great pools, which is a real must.

Have a look at Center Parcs in Europe (we've been to Belgium and Netherlands). It is often cheaper than the UK even after you've factored in the ferry crossing.

we always do eurocamp in france for the May half term. Its half the price of summer, maybe less

I enjoyed having wine and watching the sun go down from the caravan. Also, just being at the beach was really nice. Fish, chips & ice cream whilst looking out for Dolphins! Felt less stressful than centreparcs although at CP would get a nanny and go out for a meal. Having said that the restaurants at CP are not as good as locally do not overly bothered about going out in the evening when at CP.

I have a good short list of caravan breaks by the beach, and glamping farm stays - both of which the kids will love, but if anyone has any first hand recommendations I would love to hear them. But, I am leaning toward May Half Term or August. Thanks!

We do shorter breaks now, particularly when we get an INSET on a Monday or a Friday.

I'm sad enough to compare our school holidays to London too (as these are sometimes a bit different)

We live within an hour's drive of an airport so we also tend to pop across to Europe (having taken note of all their school holidays so that we avoid them).
The last week of August is usually a good one to try (German and Scandi kids are back at school from mid-August) for northern Europe and I'm pretty certain most of the French schools are usually back by that last week.
Whitsun week and Easter hols are usually quieter too.

DD's favourite places to visit seem to be Lalandia in Denmark and De Efteling in the Netherlands.