Where does everyone take their young kids on Holiday?
07 March 2010, 01:27 AM
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Where does everyone take their young kids on Holiday?
Have a 3 year old and a 9 month old
First off Budget - not on the cheap but not stupidly expensive either - excluding plane flights my limit is about £300 a night for a room plus food
I must have spent weeks looking for somewhere to take the kids and offload in a kids club.....
I have only found one Globally and that is Beaches at Turks and Caicos Islands..... and that is an over-priced concrete jungle - owned by the Sandals chain so I know it is crap.
I have started to look at the rest of the Caribbean (cant really find anything except Jamaica.. and have already been there and definately not going back)
So I then started looking at Seychelles/Mauritius and Maldives (Maldives too much of a hassle with Kids given all the changes and time spent in getting to the resort and everything can be expensive). Seychelles isnt for kids and Mauritius - I'm still looking over the hotels
I am now starting to look at places like Malaysia and Thailand - I cant really find kids clubs though.... and you finally find a great hotel on Langkawi in Malaysia and guess what the hotel is booked up for the next 100 years
Is it just me or is there just very little out there.......
Maybe the only solution is to bring either mine or the wifes parents and go on a normal holiday without Kids clubs - maybe thats how everyone does it out there?
Would welcome any recommedations for decent places out there
First off Budget - not on the cheap but not stupidly expensive either - excluding plane flights my limit is about £300 a night for a room plus food
I must have spent weeks looking for somewhere to take the kids and offload in a kids club.....
I have only found one Globally and that is Beaches at Turks and Caicos Islands..... and that is an over-priced concrete jungle - owned by the Sandals chain so I know it is crap.
I have started to look at the rest of the Caribbean (cant really find anything except Jamaica.. and have already been there and definately not going back)
So I then started looking at Seychelles/Mauritius and Maldives (Maldives too much of a hassle with Kids given all the changes and time spent in getting to the resort and everything can be expensive). Seychelles isnt for kids and Mauritius - I'm still looking over the hotels
I am now starting to look at places like Malaysia and Thailand - I cant really find kids clubs though.... and you finally find a great hotel on Langkawi in Malaysia and guess what the hotel is booked up for the next 100 years
Is it just me or is there just very little out there.......
Maybe the only solution is to bring either mine or the wifes parents and go on a normal holiday without Kids clubs - maybe thats how everyone does it out there?
Would welcome any recommedations for decent places out there
Last edited by Fangoria; 07 March 2010 at 01:28 AM.
07 March 2010, 07:20 AM
#2
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In a similar position to you on this and trying to choose a decent holiday that will be right for us and the kids is really really difficult.
We've decided not to do the Far East or Indian Ocean thing with the young kids, the flights are just too long. The only way to do it would be fly business/first class and for three tickets (2 adults, 1 child having own seat and one child sharing with adult) it becomes really expensive.
About 18 months ago we did Barbados with Virgin Upper Class. Very expensive but we decided we deserved a treat. Tbh we never got to really enjoy the flight, one child slept but the other played up so didn't really get to sleep or use the nice bar area etc.
It was our third time to Barbados but first time with kids and we realised there was not really a great deal for the kids to do! Paid extra for one to one baby sitting on some days so we could get a bit of rest, but we knew the kids didn't like it and always felt guilty.
Anyway we have decided for the next few years to stay closer to home and when the kids are a bit older we can take them on more interesting holidays ie Safari, Far East etc etc
We've now been to Turkey a few times and really like it. Short flying time, nice people, reasonably priced. The latter means we can spend money on more exotic and educational holidays for the kids when they are a little older.
This year we are thinking of this place
Gloria Hotels & Resorts
Put it into Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor and you'll see it gets good reviews and has good kids facilities. Just ignore the russians!
This website is worth a look too.
Luxury family holidays from Tots Too
We've decided not to do the Far East or Indian Ocean thing with the young kids, the flights are just too long. The only way to do it would be fly business/first class and for three tickets (2 adults, 1 child having own seat and one child sharing with adult) it becomes really expensive.
About 18 months ago we did Barbados with Virgin Upper Class. Very expensive but we decided we deserved a treat. Tbh we never got to really enjoy the flight, one child slept but the other played up so didn't really get to sleep or use the nice bar area etc.
It was our third time to Barbados but first time with kids and we realised there was not really a great deal for the kids to do! Paid extra for one to one baby sitting on some days so we could get a bit of rest, but we knew the kids didn't like it and always felt guilty.
Anyway we have decided for the next few years to stay closer to home and when the kids are a bit older we can take them on more interesting holidays ie Safari, Far East etc etc
We've now been to Turkey a few times and really like it. Short flying time, nice people, reasonably priced. The latter means we can spend money on more exotic and educational holidays for the kids when they are a little older.
This year we are thinking of this place
Gloria Hotels & Resorts
Put it into Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor and you'll see it gets good reviews and has good kids facilities. Just ignore the russians!
This website is worth a look too.
Luxury family holidays from Tots Too
Last edited by Dingdongler; 07 March 2010 at 07:21 AM.
07 March 2010, 08:05 AM
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Hi Steve,
Beaches at T&C is OK and the island is FANTASTIC. So don't cross if off your list. It is also on Grace Bay which is fabulous. Just don't go all inclusive.
Also on the island, go to another hotel and there some fantastic Filipino babysitters.
Our way of doing this - which is just as cheap - is take a nanny with you. You will have to put her in her own room but then you can get someone you can trust. It works really well for our 4 and 2 year old.
And this time we are off to Orlando. You can get a luxurious house with loads of bedrooms, games room, pool etc for around 1,200 for two weeks.
OK - so it is Orlando so it is kids oriented!
Other place we have been is Australia - everywhere you go has kids parks and stuff so they are happy - and the beaches are the best!
Beaches at T&C is OK and the island is FANTASTIC. So don't cross if off your list. It is also on Grace Bay which is fabulous. Just don't go all inclusive.
Also on the island, go to another hotel and there some fantastic Filipino babysitters.
Our way of doing this - which is just as cheap - is take a nanny with you. You will have to put her in her own room but then you can get someone you can trust. It works really well for our 4 and 2 year old.
And this time we are off to Orlando. You can get a luxurious house with loads of bedrooms, games room, pool etc for around 1,200 for two weeks.
OK - so it is Orlando so it is kids oriented!
Other place we have been is Australia - everywhere you go has kids parks and stuff so they are happy - and the beaches are the best!
07 March 2010, 08:31 AM
#5
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My wife holds down a part time job and looks after two children under the age of 3. If for a few hours in the day she/we want a break maybe just to actually have lunch, thats fine.
Your comment is judgmental, patronizing and offensive. You seek to imply something about Fangoria's parenting abilities yet you know nothing about him. For all we know you are a crap parent who abuses his children.
07 March 2010, 08:37 AM
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If you want to travel long distance with young children then I think you have to accept you may well have very stressful journeys unless your kids are exceptional travellers.
Never taken ours on more than a 4 hour flight to the Canary Islands or closer to the Balaerics. Always been early flights around 7am so have to get up very early and then kids will sleep most of the flight and have always had relatively easy journeys by doing this. At their youngest they were a 3 month old, 2 year old and 10 year old.
Never did the kids clubs though, a family holiday for me is spending the entire time playing with the kids either in the pool or at the beach.
Just because it is close doesn't mean you have to rough it, some very nice places to stay in the Balaerics and Canaries.
Never taken ours on more than a 4 hour flight to the Canary Islands or closer to the Balaerics. Always been early flights around 7am so have to get up very early and then kids will sleep most of the flight and have always had relatively easy journeys by doing this. At their youngest they were a 3 month old, 2 year old and 10 year old.
Never did the kids clubs though, a family holiday for me is spending the entire time playing with the kids either in the pool or at the beach.
Just because it is close doesn't mean you have to rough it, some very nice places to stay in the Balaerics and Canaries.
07 March 2010, 08:43 AM
#7
With kids of that age i woulnt ravel any further than Europe.
i have a 5 and 6 yr old,last went on holiday 2 yrs ago, so they were 3 and 4 then,we went to spain the 1 yr and Corfu the other,didnt like spain but not for any real reason,prefer greece/corfu
the corfu one was thru thomas cook and they had a free kids club,2 hrs in the morning and 2 in the evening,helped loads,gave us that quick tan time so it felt like we had a holiday,the rest of the time was on the beach/sites etc
we went early sept and cost for us 4 self catering was £990 plus £800 spending
i have a 5 and 6 yr old,last went on holiday 2 yrs ago, so they were 3 and 4 then,we went to spain the 1 yr and Corfu the other,didnt like spain but not for any real reason,prefer greece/corfu
the corfu one was thru thomas cook and they had a free kids club,2 hrs in the morning and 2 in the evening,helped loads,gave us that quick tan time so it felt like we had a holiday,the rest of the time was on the beach/sites etc
we went early sept and cost for us 4 self catering was £990 plus £800 spending
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07 March 2010, 09:14 AM
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Good point about the Balearics - on your budget you could get a fabulous villa, nice car and afford a nanny for two weeks. Best area is around Pollensa in Mallorca - some very good restaurants there and a great child friendly beach.
As for travel - I will counter the distance argument from our experience. Our oldest is just over four and has been to Australia three times, the US twice, the Caribbean once and the Med three times. There was only one flight that was a nightmare and that was Oz when he was five months - he didn't sleep all the way there. Awake for 23 hours in a five month old is not something you want to experience.
Last time we went when he was 3 and a half - he watched movies and slept all the way there. Good as gold.
The worst bit of air travel with kids is the airport thing - and that happens on flights of an hour or ten hours!
As for travel - I will counter the distance argument from our experience. Our oldest is just over four and has been to Australia three times, the US twice, the Caribbean once and the Med three times. There was only one flight that was a nightmare and that was Oz when he was five months - he didn't sleep all the way there. Awake for 23 hours in a five month old is not something you want to experience.
Last time we went when he was 3 and a half - he watched movies and slept all the way there. Good as gold.
The worst bit of air travel with kids is the airport thing - and that happens on flights of an hour or ten hours!
07 March 2010, 09:18 AM
#9
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Greece
nowhere in the world combines eating and the beach
greek tavernas are often "on" the beach
the sea is nearly as warm a barbados
lots for kids to do
rent a villa, job done
the travel can be a bit "trains planes and automobiles"
nowhere in the world combines eating and the beach
greek tavernas are often "on" the beach
the sea is nearly as warm a barbados
lots for kids to do
rent a villa, job done
the travel can be a bit "trains planes and automobiles"
07 March 2010, 09:25 AM
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Do you have anything constructive to add to the thread?
My wife holds down a part time job and looks after two children under the age of 3. If for a few hours in the day she/we want a break maybe just to actually have lunch, thats fine.
Your comment is judgmental, patronizing and offensive. You seek to imply something about Fangoria's parenting abilities yet you know nothing about him. For all we know you are a crap parent who abuses his children.
My wife holds down a part time job and looks after two children under the age of 3. If for a few hours in the day she/we want a break maybe just to actually have lunch, thats fine.
Your comment is judgmental, patronizing and offensive. You seek to imply something about Fangoria's parenting abilities yet you know nothing about him. For all we know you are a crap parent who abuses his children.
We have 2 kids under 2 and always manage to have lunch....
When you make the decision to have kids, you pretty much consign yourself to having very little free time. Don't like it, don't have kids.
What did everyone do before kids club?
07 March 2010, 09:28 AM
#11
It was called grandparents back then
times change,im all on my tod family wise and the missus family dont help so for 365 days we dont go out,so on holiday 2 hrs kids club is great and the kids prefer it as there are 20+ kids all playing,they prefer that than 2 hrs with me on the beach kicking a ball with them
07 March 2010, 09:29 AM
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I don't agree with you at all. Just because you have kids does not mean that you then have to consign yourself to no life.
Historically people used to be less mobile and have kids younger and the extended family would help look after the kids. Two sets of grandparents, aunties and uncles.
As this has broken down it is a relatively modern thing that childcare was the exclusive domain of the parents.
And now with both parents working, wanting time for sanity, then kids clubs have grown up.
Historically people used to be less mobile and have kids younger and the extended family would help look after the kids. Two sets of grandparents, aunties and uncles.
As this has broken down it is a relatively modern thing that childcare was the exclusive domain of the parents.
And now with both parents working, wanting time for sanity, then kids clubs have grown up.
07 March 2010, 10:51 AM
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I don't agree with you at all. Just because you have kids does not mean that you then have to consign yourself to no life.
Historically people used to be less mobile and have kids younger and the extended family would help look after the kids. Two sets of grandparents, aunties and uncles.
As this has broken down it is a relatively modern thing that childcare was the exclusive domain of the parents.
And now with both parents working, wanting time for sanity, then kids clubs have grown up.
Historically people used to be less mobile and have kids younger and the extended family would help look after the kids. Two sets of grandparents, aunties and uncles.
As this has broken down it is a relatively modern thing that childcare was the exclusive domain of the parents.
And now with both parents working, wanting time for sanity, then kids clubs have grown up.
I enjoy relaxing in the evening when the kids are in bed, but I want to spend as much time with them when I can as I don't see them most of the week due to work.
Most kids are at school or Nursery during the week, so I don't get not wanting to spend time with your own kids when you can...
07 March 2010, 10:55 AM
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Menorca and Mallorca are great for kids. Very family friendly, not too hot, only just over two hours flight times.
You can go cheap or expensive too.
I would echo the comments about the kids clubs. The kids will be grown up before you know it, spend the time with them!
If you want a break, go to London for the weekend
Geezer
You can go cheap or expensive too.
I would echo the comments about the kids clubs. The kids will be grown up before you know it, spend the time with them!
If you want a break, go to London for the weekend
Geezer
07 March 2010, 12:07 PM
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the next ten years or so mate are not about where you want to go, your responsibities have altered, the kids will have a lot more fun in cyprus or turkey, and so will you becasue of the euro,
keeping two small children occupied whilst changing flights at foreign airports is no mean feat.
if i was you i would go somewhere like this
Thomson Holidays - Susesi Deluxe Resort & Spa
keeping two small children occupied whilst changing flights at foreign airports is no mean feat.
if i was you i would go somewhere like this
Thomson Holidays - Susesi Deluxe Resort & Spa
07 March 2010, 12:18 PM
#17
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I didn't say no life, I said free time.
I enjoy relaxing in the evening when the kids are in bed, but I want to spend as much time with them when I can as I don't see them most of the week due to work.
Most kids are at school or Nursery during the week, so I don't get not wanting to spend time with your own kids when you can...
Exactly
I enjoy relaxing in the evening when the kids are in bed, but I want to spend as much time with them when I can as I don't see them most of the week due to work.
Most kids are at school or Nursery during the week, so I don't get not wanting to spend time with your own kids when you can...
Exactly
See? Its easy to be judgmental about the way other people live and be wide off the mark, its best avoided. My wife and I spend lots of time with the kids during the week (and weekends of course) as she decided to only go back to work part time. She could have doubled her salary if she returned full time but this is a conscious decision we both made so that the kids would gets lots of close attention from us.
As a result, if she wants a couple of hours a few times during the holiday to have a quiet lunch or to have a snooze I think that's the least she deserves.
Please don't be so judgmental, it assumes that you are better parents and that's a dangerous game
07 March 2010, 01:03 PM
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07 March 2010, 01:37 PM
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Thanks Dave thanks Dingdongler and everyone else
hadnt really thought of Florida that much
Turkey and Mallorca - other interesting stuff
Looks like I need to do more reading. Taking a nanny abroad - the top executives in my organistion tend to do this - we dont have a nqanny/babysitter - they both go to stupidly expensive nurseries.......
We'd seen some really scathing reviews on Beaches on T&C in the last month on TripAdvisor plus its full of Americans.. ;-)
Looks like there is something more decent closer to home
Must admit with the long-haul I only tend to travel business class as thats because I am going away on work
I have tonnes of miles on BA - though using them is incredibly restrictive and seemingly getting more so - you would only ever use them on Business class flights....
hadnt really thought of Florida that much
Turkey and Mallorca - other interesting stuff
Looks like I need to do more reading. Taking a nanny abroad - the top executives in my organistion tend to do this - we dont have a nqanny/babysitter - they both go to stupidly expensive nurseries.......
We'd seen some really scathing reviews on Beaches on T&C in the last month on TripAdvisor plus its full of Americans.. ;-)
Looks like there is something more decent closer to home
Must admit with the long-haul I only tend to travel business class as thats because I am going away on work
I have tonnes of miles on BA - though using them is incredibly restrictive and seemingly getting more so - you would only ever use them on Business class flights....
Last edited by Fangoria; 07 March 2010 at 01:40 PM.
07 March 2010, 01:55 PM
#21
Don't take kids and dump them in kids' clubs. Take them and have fun with them. They are only young like that for a short time, soon they will be teens and not wanting to be with you, or adults and going alone. I miss my two on holiday, we did loads with them, but I always wished I could have done more.
07 March 2010, 02:11 PM
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07 March 2010, 03:00 PM
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Personally never used a kids club on holliday but I am sure it is great fun for the child to have fun things to do and other kids to play with. Surely how much they enjoy it must be a factor ?
07 March 2010, 04:04 PM
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So you do nothing else when you are outside of work other than be with your kids - again I applaud you (I am also not quite sure I believe you either).
As for spending time with the kids (by the way they are crawling all over me as I type this!) I work away three days a week which means I am home four days a week so get to see a lot more of my kids than most. My wife doesn't work so again the kids get plenty of time with her.
So if we want to go out for a peaceful lunch together, or have a day or two on holiday that is kid free please don't jump to conclusions based on your life and your situation.
I would strongly recommend it as the balance is good for most relationships which can only be good for your kids!
07 March 2010, 04:17 PM
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horses for courses ,some people like to spend as much time with their children even on holiday like me but i/we like to have a bit of us time too.
we have been to florida and the med and even aruba but now settle with the cornish coast in a caravan ,i know that most people will stick their noses up at this option but like i said horses for courses ,plenty to do in the daytime for children and us to enjoy together and on an evening .
we have been to florida and the med and even aruba but now settle with the cornish coast in a caravan ,i know that most people will stick their noses up at this option but like i said horses for courses ,plenty to do in the daytime for children and us to enjoy together and on an evening .
07 March 2010, 04:20 PM
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Maybe you are concealing the fact that you don't actually want to spend anytime alone with your wife?
See? Its easy to be judgmental about the way other people live and be wide off the mark, its best avoided. My wife and I spend lots of time with the kids during the week (and weekends of course) as she decided to only go back to work part time. She could have doubled her salary if she returned full time but this is a conscious decision we both made so that the kids would gets lots of close attention from us.
As a result, if she wants a couple of hours a few times during the holiday to have a quiet lunch or to have a snooze I think that's the least she deserves.
Please don't be so judgmental, it assumes that you are better parents and that's a dangerous game
See? Its easy to be judgmental about the way other people live and be wide off the mark, its best avoided. My wife and I spend lots of time with the kids during the week (and weekends of course) as she decided to only go back to work part time. She could have doubled her salary if she returned full time but this is a conscious decision we both made so that the kids would gets lots of close attention from us.
As a result, if she wants a couple of hours a few times during the holiday to have a quiet lunch or to have a snooze I think that's the least she deserves.
Please don't be so judgmental, it assumes that you are better parents and that's a dangerous game
If we want to go out we have lots of family nearby who can babysit.
IMHO, holiday is a family thing, and dumping your kids off to strangers is weird.
Oh by the way, surely you can look after the kids while she has lunch / snooze?
07 March 2010, 04:25 PM
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Dingdongler
Very useful link on the Tots too
Actually found a luxury Shangri La place in the 'tots too website' in the Maldives and its a client of ours so I'll be asking tomorrow if I can get some holiday credits!!
Very useful link on the Tots too
Actually found a luxury Shangri La place in the 'tots too website' in the Maldives and its a client of ours so I'll be asking tomorrow if I can get some holiday credits!!
07 March 2010, 10:39 PM
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I have to admit, its a little disturbing how many folk on here look to ditch their kids in a "kids club" while on holiday. There are about 4 or 5 people on this planet outwith the Nursery who get look after our kids, and they aint in the far east.......
07 March 2010, 11:46 PM
#30
Nothing wrong with using a creche / kids club whilst on holiday. As has been said the key is that the kids must enjoy it of course. They often have facilities and also other kids to keep your little darlings entertained that you just can't take with you yourself. On our recent ski holiday we again went with friends who have kids of similar ages as ours - our youngest (almost 3) was in the creche for 5 days with his friend and afternoons were spend having a cracking time sledging and learning to ski together with the both families on the nursery slopes. Our oldest (aged 5) was in ski school and was negotiating reds by the end of the week. As a result we could ski around 25 vertical kms a day untroubled and also get some quality time together to recharge the batteries.
A brilliant time was had by all.
As has been said the key is that the kids must enjoy it of course. They often have facilities and also other kids to keep your little darlings entertained that you just can't take with you yourself. On our recent ski holiday we again went with friends who have kids of similar ages as ours - our youngest (almost 3) was in the creche for 5 days with his friend and afternoons were spend having a cracking time sledging and learning to ski together with the both families on the nursery slopes. Our oldest (aged 5) was in ski school and was negotiating reds by the end of the week. As a result we could ski around 25 vertical kms a day untroubled and also get some quality time together to recharge the batteries.A brilliant time was had by all.