Young Family holiday ideas

TwoUpTwoDown

Hi all. Second post of the morning. I have been on these boards a while but couldn't get in to my old email once the forum changed so had to setup a new address. 

We welcomed in our DD in December 2019. We also have an 18 month old DS. It has been a very tiring year with both and I'd like us all to have a break somewhere at some point this year. My partner doesn't feel comfortable with going abroad at the moment which is fine. When i think of any kind of break i wonder what is best for a family of this setup? Can anyone recommend any good holidays they took with a very young family? We do enjoy nature and camping but also enjoy a bit of pampering and my partner really enjoys swimming. I'm thinking somewhere like centre parcs or an equivalent might be good?

spadoosh

Centreparcs every day of the week!

Perfect for young families. Been every year since little one was born and its just easy. Lodges are usually nicely decorated and very comfortable for the afternoon naps and earlier nights (takeaways to lodges too). Practically every facility you can think of. 

You could probably save quite a bit of money looking at the likes of haven sites et al but, for me personally i think these are better for the slightly older kids, with fewer activities for the toddlers/babies.

Centreparcs even put on an offer perfect for young families. 3 hrs child care activity (painting plates, making cookies hat type of thing) whilst you get 3 hrs in the Spa. 

OK its not the cheapest holiday but im confident youll deserve treating yourself. 

Weve got lapland this year, whilst excited about it, im still struggling to get over that im going to bemissing out on centreparcs. 


Editted to add that we always go during the christmas wonderland. They go all out at christmas, with loads of fake snow, decs and displays. They do seasonal activities, that are largely similar, paint a bunny rabbit plate, paint a santa plate. Hunt the elf, hunt the bunny etc. Although in winter your limited more with outdoor activities, mainly an issue with older kids. 

Savvy_Sue

Centreparcs post-dates my young family, but I vividly remember the sinking feeling of our first self-catering cottage holiday: I was going to be doing exactly the same as I'd do at home, just in a different place. 

So despite never having been, I'd vote for it! 

rach_k

We really enjoy CenterParcs too and it's best to go before the kids start school so you can go during term-time for the better prices.  

Spendless

Take advantage of cheaper term time breaks whilst they're too young for school.  We did Center parcs from my youngest being a baby and later moved onto Bultins (ot being able to drive around became problematic with an older relative coming with us with the first). Your own sc accommodation will give you more room and flexibility for little ones and naps etc, but having to cook your own meals and tidy up can be the sae as being at home, so if you do go for the SC option I'd make sure some meals out were included in your holiday costs.

TwoUpTwoDown

Thanks all.
We do live about 20mins away from Longleat centre parcs so have the added ease of being able to pop home should we need anything for the baby
Spoke to my other half who didn't sound as convinced with the idea right now as we have other house expenses which makes sense, but looking at term time prices i think perhaps in the Autumn we could pay a visit  

Fireflyaway

I agree with centre parcs. If you go outside of school holidays it's much better value. You can eat out but the kitchens are well equipped so can take food and you could watch a film in your accommodation etc when the kids to go bed. The swimming pools are nice and some have spas if you fancy a beauty treatment. You can ride bikes / walk in the woods. Definitely reccomend. 

CRANKY40

My son went to the creche at centerparcs for one morning and was baby sat one night during every short break we took at centerparcs until his dad died when he was 4. He was always looked after very well. If you can go off peak the prices aren't quite as bad and it's all very family friendly. 

zagfles

Savvy_Sue said:

Centreparcs post-dates my young family, but I vividly remember the sinking feeling of our first self-catering cottage holiday: I was going to be doing exactly the same as I'd do at home, just in a different place. 

So despite never having been, I'd vote for it! 

CenterParcs is self catering! There are on site restaurants but like the accomodation itself they're overpriced. Personally I'd go Haven or similar, which really aren't that much different, and spend the money saved on eating out. But as above outside term time for a few days it might be worth trying as the prices aren't as horrendous.

Apparently Centerparcs abroad eg in Holland are far cheaper, but there's also Duinrell which is superb, like CenterParcs on steriods with much better water park and also an onsite theme park, really after going there nothing in the UK can top it.

pickledonionspaceraider

zagfles said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Centreparcs post-dates my young family, but I vividly remember the sinking feeling of our first self-catering cottage holiday: I was going to be doing exactly the same as I'd do at home, just in a different place. 

So despite never having been, I'd vote for it! 

CenterParcs is self catering! There are on site restaurants but like the accomodation itself they're overpriced. Personally I'd go Haven or similar, which really aren't that much different, and spend the money saved on eating out. But as above outside term time for a few days it might be worth trying as the prices aren't as horrendous.

Apparently Centerparcs abroad eg in Holland are far cheaper, but there's also Duinrell which is superb, like CenterParcs on steriods with much better water park and also an onsite theme park, really after going there nothing in the UK can top it.

Agree with the above.

OP  - would help if you gave an indication of how much you want to spend?

Things can vary from a £9.50 Butlins Holiday to spending well over £1000 on centre parks. 

Really all depends on what you want to spend

and in response to @savv@Savvy_Sue 's comment about self catering - I found quite astonishing TBH!  Most people I know who go self catering, will eat out at least one night, and other meals will be things like bunging a fresh pizza in the oven or whipping up a huge bowl of pasta - I would never stand there chopping up veg etc like I do at home. You don't do what you do at home if you are savvy. I used to just feel happy and proud to watch my kids reaction to seeing the beach - I wouldn't be standing there with a long face at the thought of cooking later

Savvy_Sue

pickledonionspaceraider said:

zagfles said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Centreparcs post-dates my young family, but I vividly remember the sinking feeling of our first self-catering cottage holiday: I was going to be doing exactly the same as I'd do at home, just in a different place. 

So despite never having been, I'd vote for it! 

CenterParcs is self catering! There are on site restaurants but like the accomodation itself they're overpriced. Personally I'd go Haven or similar, which really aren't that much different, and spend the money saved on eating out. But as above outside term time for a few days it might be worth trying as the prices aren't as horrendous.

Apparently Centerparcs abroad eg in Holland are far cheaper, but there's also Duinrell which is superb, like CenterParcs on steriods with much better water park and also an onsite theme park, really after going there nothing in the UK can top it.

Agree with the above.

OP  - would help if you gave an indication of how much you want to spend?

Things can vary from a £9.50 Butlins Holiday to spending well over £1000 on centre parks. 

Really all depends on what you want to spend

and in response to @savv@Savvy_Sue 's comment about self catering - I found quite astonishing TBH!  Most people I know who go self catering, will eat out at least one night, and other meals will be things like bunging a fresh pizza in the oven or whipping up a huge bowl of pasta - I would never stand there chopping up veg etc like I do at home. You don't do what you do at home if you are savvy. I used to just feel happy and proud to watch my kids reaction to seeing the beach - I wouldn't be standing there with a long face at the thought of cooking later

it was a long time ago. We were in a cottage in the middle of nowhere: somewhere like Butlins would possibly have been better, with much easier food shopping opportunities and convenient eateries. Back in those days, children weren't allowed in pubs, fewer of them served food anyway, and there just weren't the same options for eating out.

And DS1 was only about 6 weeks old. We were with friends who were probably as skint as we were. We may have eaten out, I honestly can't remember, but there was still a lot of feeding, burping, nappy changing, dressing and undressing to do, and I was EXHAUSTED. DS1 was not an easy baby ... 

Also laughing at kids reaction to seeing the beach: DS1 again, first beach we went to was shingly and he HATED it. Would not put his feet down and walk - must have been 2 or 3. Telling a friend afterwards she said "I'd have given in and bought him some jellies to wear" (those plastic sandals you can get). Me: "HE WAS WEARING JELLIES AND HE STILL WOULDN'T PUT HIS FEET DOWN!" DS1 was not an easy child ...