any winter birthday holiday ideas for 6 & 8 year old PLEASE!!!

kizatt

we've promised to take our kids away for their birthdays this year (daughter turns 6 on dec 3 & son turns 8 on dec 4 - we also have 3 year old son) & we desperately need some ideas! of course, they'd love to go to disneyland or some other extortionate place, but we were thinking of something a little less pricey!

we were considering centre parcs in the lake district, but would like some other ideas, too. we live in scotland & would prefer to go somewhere in reasonable driving distance (scotland/north england) or somewhere we could fly to cheaply. given that it'll be cold & quite likely wet, we'd prefer somewhere with lots of things to do onsite & inside. definitely a pool & reasonably-priced places to eat. we prefer self-catering, but would go to a hotel for the right activities. son loves cars & would enjoy quad-biking, mini 4x4 driving, car shows, transport museums etc. daughter would love anything fairy-inspired & probably horse-riding. we also thought of taking them to see a show like grease (a family favourite!) or going to a theme park. we would go away for 1-3 nights (we don't have to fit all these things in - one for each birthday person would do!!).

any ideas would be much appreciated - unbelievable a lot of places are already booked for that time of year. of course, any ideas of how to do a fabulous birthday weekend away on a budget would also go down well!

now beginning to panic that we're not organised, have 3 kids to keep happy & a smaller-than-we'd-like budget to stick to!

thanks!

saveapenny

Firstly DLP doesnt have to be expensive infact you could probably do it cheaper than Centre Parks.
Post your dates, airports and budget(top) and then let the search begin
Did you see the post about going to Salou for Port aventura for £44pp? it can be done

newfunk

DLP is reasonable at the end of Nov, beginning of Dec!! Post the dates etc

kizatt

thanks, guys. we'd be leaving friday 2nd dec returning mon 5th - quite happy to have kids out of school those days (delighted in fact!!). prefer to fly from edinburgh direct (of course! 3 kids + flight changes = nightmare in the making!). if you manage to find us dlp for a good price kids will be forever grateful (& me!)

budget around £500 - 2 adults, 3 kids (3,6 & 8 years), would all prefer to share room if poss.

i'll check the other post mentioned.

thanks again

kizatt

had a look at the salou post - have to admit i've never heard of port aventura (don't get out much!) - i've been checking the website, but would love to know what it's like from anyone who's been already.

think i might prefer dlp if poss, though - more of a wow factor with the kids & would definitely do away with the need for big birthday pressies!

saveapenny

I hope this is OK ...Its a slight difference in airport its from Glasgow but here goes
Going Out

RYANAIR

Fri, 02 Dec 05
Flight 62 07:15 Depart Glasgow Prestwick (PIK)
09:45 Arrive Paris Beauvais (BVA)


Mon, 05 Dec 05
Flight 63 14:10 Depart Paris Beauvais (BVA)
14:40 Arrive Glasgow Prestwick (PIK)

153.65 GBP for all 5

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Hotel is with bookings.org and its called the Akena hotel its 179 euros for 2 rooms 1 triple and 1 double and its 4.85 (pp) euros for unlimited breakfast, Its 15 minutes by shuttle bus to the park. http://www.bookings.org

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Cheapest 1 day park ticket I can find is http://www.themeparktix.co.uk/europe_themepark.html
for 137 for all

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A more expensive hotel but closer to the park and close to the train station if you didnt want to hire a car is Inter Hotel du Luzard still on same site and is 300 euros for the 3 nights for a triple and a double.
I cannot find 1 hotel thats got a room for 5 cheaply hopefully others might beable to

Only one I can find is on http://www.alpharooms.com and its called HOTEL MYTRAVEL'S EXPLORERS it is B&B but its £279 which makes a total of £569 (600 with car hire)
The site does say its a room for 4 but it allows me to put in the childrens ages and gives me 1 room
Heres what it says about the hotel.

The Explorers Hotel is located at Disneyland® Resort Paris uniquely themed around the adventures of the legendary explorer, Sir Archibald de Bacle. The hotel standard rooms can accommodate up to 4 people and equipped with bathroom, separate toilet, telephone, television, video games, internet access, tea/coffee making facilities, safety deposit box, hairdryer and ceiling fan. The Explorers Hotel also provides a currency exchange service, concierge, safety deposit box at reception, 2 bars, 3 restaurants, Disney shop, adventure play area, indoor pool and free car park. A free shuttle bus to the Disney parks and village is provided. NB Some room and hotel facilities may incur local charges

If you like that one I would call alphrooms and confirm the room will hold 5
0870 811 0044

saveapenny

use this post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=940084&highlight=avis#post940084 to get cheap car hire
Compact Renault Megane 1.6 or similar £41.66 for the 3 days
GRAND TOTAL £464 (approx) for the Akena hotel


Second hotel Inter Hotel du Luzard without carhire works out to £505 (worked on exchange rate of 1.40=£1) but you would have train tickets to find or still hire a car but for a few pounds more it seems a better hotel


the 3rd hotel MYTRAVEL'S EXPLORERS £569 (without car hire)
but very close to the park and a free shuttle + breakfast which saves about 75 euros on the cheaper hotel

kizatt

wow!!! how clever are you savapenny - hope that didn't take you all night!! if i can persuade hubby to drive to prestwick in the middle of the night, i think we're on to a winner! (doubt i'll manage to persuade him to drive in france, though, so the hotel at dlp sounds like it might be the best option). i'll go & have a look at the links you posted & try not to get too excited. now,..........when do i tell the kids...................?! (it's ok, i'll get it booked before i tell them, at the very least!)

bargainaddict

We have been to DLP and centre parcs. DLP was definitely cheaper, more fun and overall better value. It was tiring though, you little one will definitely need a buggy and maybe a buggy board if your 6yr old needs a rest from walking. I believe the illuminated parade is spectacular that time of year. We went self catering at their davy crockett ranch and the cabins are set in the woods and are of a very high quality.
My birthday is Dec 4th, and both daughters in the week before Christmas, and son in January. When they got to about 7 and upwards we used to have a party in the summer, bouncy castle, bbq etc. All their friends would be invited to an 'it's not my birthday' party. It sort of made up for the fact there wasn't really the space to have a big party indoors in the winter. Hope you have a great time wherever you go

saveapenny

If your hubby wont drive in France you would have to take either the shuttle or train and that could add on another 150+ euros so bare that in mind (talk to his wallet ..lol )