Help! Where/What/How to holiday abroad with a large family? (Ie 6 kids )

Oldernotwiser

budgetflyer wrote: »

Big families, unless you are Duncan Banantyne or Theo Pathitis, and loaded, tend to be used to living on top of each other and mucking in.

Years ago when we were skint, we got the "bus to Spain" with Siesta Holidays -from Scotland it took 30 hours EW ! but it got us a holiday in the sun for all 5 of us for just over £200 total. The caravans,then, were about the size of my shed, had a toilet but you had to use the shower blocks for washing.
These days they are massive + luxurious with aircon, etc etc.
Most of your living is outside anyway

Just my opinion of course but it's worth pointing out that there are alternatives available.

(I've been to Portugal by coach - it took 50 something hours - just as well I enjoy reading!)

Edit: More the sort of thing I was suggesting; 4 separate bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a private pool for less than £1,000 per week with ferry from about £90

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/France/holiday-farmhouse-Charente/p11401.htm

Rachie_B

mrcow wrote: »

Just checked on Canvas and for 2 adults and 6 children travelling on 1st August 2010 staying at la Crois du Vieux Pont (great site - about 1 1/2 hours from Eurodisney - has three pools and some wicked waterslides etc) starts from £1044 for 7 nights including ferry (but that would be for one car I would think and you need to double check the ferry page as there are sometimes extras to pay depending on crossing you pick).

We stay here ( family of 4 ) we go with the SUN holidays though and pay very little ! It takes us an hour to get to Disney

Worth shopping about a bit as not sure Canvas are the cheapest !

OP there are some lovely sites in France ( not sure if you want guaranteed sunshine though ?! if so would have to head South ! )

and yes as people point out,you would be "on top of each other" in a static, I am sure you are used to this :rotfl: but the kids would be out and about playing in the pools ,exploring etc anyway ,so not like you would be inside 24 hours a day !

If you collect Tesco clubcard points ? you can use them with Canvas holidays & also Siblu and also if you do decide to go to France can use points for Eurotunnel deals too :money:

oligeo

Rachie_B wrote: »

If you collect Tesco clubcard points ? you can use them with Canvas holidays & also Siblu and also if you do decide to go to France can use points for Eurotunnel deals too :money:

You can't use clubcard vouchers with Canvas.

We've also been to La Croix du Vieux Pont, and are going back at easter, its fab!

And just to point out - They do have accomodation for large parties, a wooden 4 bed lodge that sleeps up to 10. It is slightly pricier than a static van, but nothing is going to be cheap when there's that many of you!

Sarah

creased-leach

We've been away with 6 in a luxury tent before, and have just gotten back from a trip with 3 adults, and 16/15/10 year old kids in an 8 berth, 3 bedded caravan. It was a bit cramped, but in the warmer months so long as you keep a tight ship with regards to clutter building up, it's do-able.

However...should you decide on the Keycamp/Canvas et al option...let me throw this into the mix.

Rent a pup tent. A couple of your "middlers" can camp out, be all grown up- and you don't have to drag out the sofa bed.

mrcow

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Unfortunately the site you mention doesn't have accommodation for parties larger than 6.

Where does the site say that? It's for a 3 bedroom caravan that sleeps 8.

Yes it means that you're going to have to convert the sitting room at night time, but as someone from a large family myself I have to say.......it's what you have to do.

I just picked Canvas as I've found them cheaper than Siblu - but it's worth shopping about. I know you can go with the Sun, but you have to pay for your ferry on tops anyways, it's often hard to get 7 nights in a row and they won't be available in August anyway.

Plus the last two times I've tried to book this site via the Sun, it's been unavailable on all given dates (and that's with a priority code and trying 12 hours before the official opening of the booking site )

Rachie_B

oligeo wrote: »

You can't use clubcard vouchers with Canvas.

We've also been to La Croix du Vieux Pont, and are going back at easter, its fab!

And just to point out - They do have accomodation for large parties, a wooden 4 bed lodge that sleeps up to 10. It is slightly pricier than a static van, but nothing is going to be cheap when there's that many of you!

Sarah

Oh it ended in sept I think ?
Well there is still Siblu ( for now!)

and for those who aren't points collectors,check out booking direct with the site and not through one of the operators ,also direct with the owners ( private rental )

have a looksie on google

x

Rachie_B

mrcow wrote: »

Plus the last two times I've tried to book this site via the Sun, it's been unavailable on all given dates (and that's with a priority code and trying 12 hours before the official opening of the booking site )

That's a shame
We have managed to get it 3 times

We have only paid £77 all in for Oct half term Mon - Fri.Don't think I would / could ever pay fullprice now :rotfl:

mrcow

Rachie_B wrote: »

That's a shame
We have managed to get it 3 times

We have only paid £77 all in for Oct half term Mon - Fri.Don't think I would / could ever pay fullprice now :rotfl:

We'll see you there if you're going on the 26th?

I booked it direct for £208 in the end inc ferry for us five. It normally works out £140ish with the Sun once I've paid for the ferry and the damage waiver, so I didn't think it was too bad (plus we upgraded to a larger decked accomodation so I wasn't that uphappy).

I wasn't looking forward to the half term as much as usual this time round as we can't really afford to take the kids to Disneyland and I've been unable to find any good deals for tickets (last time we got the Leger £75 for 2 parks/1 day hopper for a family of 4 with the daily mail but the cheapest i can find this time is going to cost us around £140 for the day), but I got an email yesterday and apparently the caravan park are laying lots of activities for the half term including raft building (so they said?!) which the children will be excited about. So maybe there will be more going on on site that we think.

I'm just hoping that it's not too freezing! (but that's all part of the fun I guess).

mummytofour

This yr we went to spain and had 2 apartments altho we only used 1 we are a family of 7 and we go DIY where we can. We went AI for less than £800 in june using a late deal for the room and £1 flights.

Hopfully next year we will be renting a villa in Normandy with a pool which will keep everybody happy and we can relax more without having to go out everyday.

We often go away with the sun to haven but somebody sleeps in the living room. Its not great but we do it as a weekend away works out cheaper than a day out to somewhere like legoland or even drusillas.

Rachie_B

mrcow wrote: »

We'll see you there if you're going on the 26th?

I booked it direct for £208 in the end inc ferry for us five. It normally works out £140ish with the Sun once I've paid for the ferry and the damage waiver, so I didn't think it was too bad (plus we upgraded to a larger decked accomodation so I wasn't that uphappy).

I wasn't looking forward to the half term as much as usual this time round as we can't really afford to take the kids to Disneyland and I've been unable to find any good deals for tickets (last time we got the Leger £75 for 2 parks/1 day hopper for a family of 4 with the daily mail but the cheapest i can find this time is going to cost us around £140 for the day), but I got an email yesterday and apparently the caravan park are laying lots of activities for the half term including raft building (so they said?!) which the children will be excited about. So maybe there will be more going on on site that we think.

I'm just hoping that it's not too freezing! (but that's all part of the fun I guess).

You are brave getting the ferry ! lol
We went by ferry twice ,but after the last time we vowed never again :rotfl:

We use tesco deals for Eurotunnel now

ooh that sounds good then ,my boys will be chuffed.They are happy in the pool all the time though ,can never get them out ! lol

We are only going to Disney for one day I think,we don't have annual passes anymore

It will be freezing in the accom,we find the gas fire in the living area fab ,but are taking small heaters for the bedrooms this time and lots & lots of bedding !!!