DH turns 40 at the end of the May half term. We're already going to the Netherlands for a week, driving. We're back via Le Shuttle on Friday afternoon and his birthday is on the Saturday.
He's said he wants to be by the beach for his birthday. We live near Manchester so it's a long drive from Folkestone. I've said I will find us a coastal cottage for the weekend and we can drive home Sunday night.
After hours of research I've decided on Broadstairs (we're originally from Blackpool so Broadstairs seems pretty nice by comparison).
We've got 3 kids, 13, 10 and 6. Oldest is autistic and needs his own room. Other 2 happy to share. We need at least 3 bedrooms.
I've found 2 fab properties but I can't pick between and I've got decision fatigue.
The first one is right by the main beach in Broadstairs. It's a flat with 3 bedrooms. Very nicely decorated but basic amenities. No parking. Sea views. £200 per night.
The second one is 10 mins walk from a smaller (very pretty) beach and 30 mins walk from Broadstairs. It's got 4 huge bedrooms and a garden, lots of toys and beach equipment to borrow, table tennis table. Parking outside. £600 per night.
If I book the first one, I suspect we'll be out at the beach/in the town except for sleeping. I'll be able to pay for a more expensive birthday tea, although nothing very fancy as the kids don't do well with fine dining. I don't know what we'd do if it was very rainy. We'd have to pay for 3 days parking, and we'd probably have to buy buckets and spades.
If I book the second, it will be fish and chips and sandwiches, but if it rains we'll have enough to space to stay in the house. It's also a walk to the beach, but we can borrow the equipment. My kids are quite good walkers but not sure if 30 mins each way to go out for tea will elicit a bit of moaning.
I feel like I've looked at 10000 cottages and these are my favourites but I just can't decide.
WWYD?