Holidays with one child - any plans for this year?

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

In the past, we've chatted about holidays with one child and whether (or how) to ensure that your child gets to spend some time with other children. So, have you planned a holiday for this year? What'll you be doing?

We're still dithering, but I'm hoping to pick up some good ideas here ....

[rookiemater]

Hi we have booked to go here www.lepavillondestagnan.com in June as DS is preschool. As there is a heated outdoor pool and activities we are hoping that DS will make some little chums. Luckily we are still at the age where provided DH and I are on tap to provide entertainment, he isn't too bothered about other children.

We have also tried sharing accomodation with friends, but because it is just the three of us we found that a bit hard to adjust to. Or another alternative that works well for us when we want to spend time with DH sisters family is to stay at the same set of lodges or caravans but not actually share accomodation, that way we can spend time with them, but aren't overwhelmed by it.

[MissisBoot]

we're off camping in france - dd will head off to the kids clubs so will meet some friends there!

Am hoping we have neighbours with young children that she can play with as we're away for a few weeks this time - last year we were only away for a week and she really missed her friends.

[CMOTdibbler]

We have just been to www.broomhillmanor.co.uk which was nice as there were just enough cottages for there to be a sensible number of children for DS to hang out with others in the sandpit/pool/games room.

Booked out from now until mid September though..

[UniS]

we are doing a road trip to vist friends and family and a cycle rally in June. probably pop up see my family and do some London ish stuff in July or August, then planning a self catering, maybe camping week North devon in sept.
BOy will get to play with a selection of friends kids and his cousins in june, be adored by GPs but probably only see other kids if we make an effort to go to park in next town in august and may or may not be alone with his parents in Sept.

SO all pretty much service as usual. Fortunately he is still quite happy playing with daddy or semi making friends with random kids in parks.
We do tend to see other families most days anyway,term time and school holidays with preschool and toddlers and going to friends houses/ the park to play. Boys best mate is an only as well.

[slowreadingprogress]

We've just been on a self catering holiday in Norfolk. I must admit we give absolutely no thought to DS spending time with other children. He spends all day at school with his friends and sees his cousins at weekends and often sees his friends at parties at weekends too.

Holiday time is family time for us!

It was utter bliss, lovely house and DS loved it. Don't think he played with another child all week.

[Hulababy]

WE often chose to holiday with families and friends.

We aren't really into beach holidays and not keen on the idea of kid's clubs, so for us we prefer to holiday with friends with children - benefits for us and DD that way too.

So, we are off to New York on Satursday (6 sleeps!!!) with Katz, her DH and her 2 DDs.

In the summer we are off to Disney, Florida - just me, DH and DD. The first holiday entirely on our for a while. We went for the easy option in terms of entertainment - Disney 24/7

[daisy99divine]

wow Hula, that sounds fun, not sure I would think flying to AMerica twice was easy, but I guess it depends on age of DC!

Slowreading, I know what you mean about family time, we spend so much time working it is fun to be alone, but the ideas above sound good!

we are at the disorganised end so will go camping in France, stay where we can, and possibly crash in on family and friends for a few nights!

[squilly]

We went to Featherdown Farms during the last half term. DD, 8, loved it and made 2 new friends whilst we were away.

It met my rose tinted glasses view of camping, but had a proper bed and table, which was lovely!

[SoMuchToBits]

We are going to self-catering places in Devon and Dorset in August. Both cottages are ones which are part of a group, with indoor swimming pool and children's play area. Hopefully there will be other families with kids at that time of year, and ds (aged 8) will find some other people to play with some of the time.

In previous years we have gone to similar type places in France and Italy, which have worked out well.

[mistlethrush]

If you find a really good family beach in the UK you can also find that your child will just make friends with other similar aged children - we found one last year where there was a stream to block - so we set up quite a distance from the actual sea - but it meant that we didn't have to worry about where he was every second of the day (clearly one parent was always 'in charge' and keeping and eye out (he's just 4 now so was then 3.4ish) but he still talks about the friend he ended up playing with 4 days in a row - hoping that his parents might be holidaying the same week this year!)

And I should point out that we're not 'beach' holiday people - but in the UK its a bit different - there are other things wihtin reach of beaches, good walks and you don't have to spend the whole day sunbathing - in fact we didn't do any of this last year!

[Hulababy]

daisy99divine - DD has always been fine on planes. She has been to Florida a couple of times - aged 2 and 4. She is now 7. So not envisaging any problems. It is the first time Katz's DDs have been so far - they are almost 4, and 6y. But again I doubt they'll be any problems. We just take lots of stuff to do ont he planes, plus this time we will have seat back TVs with games, etc. Besides DD and katz's DD1 will just talk the whole way to one another

[teafortwo]

We are toying with the idea of Dubrovnik... culture, beach and countryside all in one shot...

BUT - the main reason for choosing the place is I read an article in the Obbie about cool hang outs and the cottage we are in the process of organising staying in was featured and is called 'my dds name''s cottage.

I said - This place has dds name on it - we HAVE to go there!!!!

[teafortwo]

I was so excited - the lady who owns the place has the same name and birthday (but not birth date) as my dd!!!!

My sister keeps going on about mentioning a group holiday with Featherdown farms.... it is interesting to hear your experiences of them.

Hulababy - NEW YORK!!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!! How cool are you???? I tell you something... if you can make it there you'll make it anywhere!

Madbad - So what ideas are you currently throwing around re holidays....

Somuchtobits - I love Devon - I like to think in a parallel universe I am running a little country school in Devon wearing Laura Ashley dresses and spending the weekends digging and wearing wellies. I am VERY of your holiday!!!!!

(hopes the thread will evolve into a style and beauty style thang with lots of links and madbad going "Nice but the sunset is slightly too red for me!")

• All this chat reminds me I must book my next hairdressers appointment