Holiday for exhausted parents in the UK

December 17, 2015 1:16 PM

Hi! Can anyone recommend a holiday in mid January for two exhausted parents of a four year old and a one year old? We were thinking Centreparcs until we remembered it's based on a self-catering model and really could do with being cooked for for 5 days/a week!

All the holidays we would normally love aren't applicable because our two 'little darlings' are not compatible with them.

We've worked really hard all year and are really in need of some relaxing time but can't think what to do.

Cruise? Never been on one but not really the time of year - also boring for little ones?
Quaint little cottage somewhere remote with a log burner? Sounds great but it's self catered.
Hotel? Yep...but what to 'do' in the day? Unlike a cottage you can't really just bum around in the hotel room.
Luxury Yurt thing? Nice idea again were it not for the cooking.

I'm well aware there may be no answer to this conundrum apart from the dreaded staycation.

Thanks for indulging us. Budget £1000 (NOT pp!) max.

posted by dance to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

Butlins! Like Center Parcs but cheaper and with catering. Three freezing seaside locations to choose from. We went in July with our two year old - he got most enjoyment out of the free playgrounds. Food was okay - you get what you pay for :-)
posted by altolinguistic at 1:20 PM on December 17, 2015

Or half-board at Pontins Camber Sands.
posted by holgate at 1:33 PM on December 17, 2015

The Logoland Windsor hotel maybe? You can stay for five nights in January for £400. It doesn't matter the park is closed in January, to be honest, though that is why it is so cheap. It's a great resort for kids, and is hugely fun for smallies. There are restaurants on site. There are indoor play areas for the kids. There are adult pools plus water play areas for kids. You can also strike out and go to Windsor for the day, which has other fun kid activities.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:56 PM on December 17, 2015

Cruises are fantastic with families. Disney is top of the line for this, but Royal Carribean is family friendly too. Another option is an all inclusive resort. Beaches is geared towards families.

Walt Disney World in Florida, kind of a long way to go for five days though.

Fun in the sun!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:20 PM on December 17, 2015

Personally, I've always been a bit sceptical about Center Parcs, but it's wildly popular for a reason. There's plenty of places to eat out there so you could do that quite happily and then just take stuff for sandwiches in the day.
posted by Hartster at 2:22 PM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Bluestone, in Pembrokeshire, is like a hippy-organic Centre Parcs - with indoor play areas; waterpark etc. We went there over Christmas a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Apartments are self catering, but there are restaurants on site (and some decent eats in the surrounding area - quality fish and chips in Tenby). Lovely part of the UK all round I thought.
posted by bifter at 3:09 PM on December 17, 2015 [5 favorites]

I can't recommend Kelling Heath enough. We've had two family holidays there, and they've been wonderful. It's a bit Center Parks-like, but it feels more low-key. The accommodation is self-catering, but there are restaurants (and a bar) onsite. It's within a few miles from the sea, and close to a lot of North Norfolk attractions such as the magnificent Thursford. You can wander the woods that surround the site, and even catch a steam train to Sheringham from the little station.
posted by pipeski at 4:40 PM on December 17, 2015

Personally I'd stay in a cottage somewhere like Whitstable that has lots of good food options and then just eat out most nights. The cottage will be cheap enough offseason that you'll be able to afford to have meals out. There's just enough to do during the day that you can have a few hours out of the house, but then you could absolutely just chill out and catch up on your reading or napping the rest of the time. I expect there are other similar places on the Yorkshire coast and in Devon and Wales. Isle of Wight might be ok too (I LOVED IOW when I was 4, but haven't been back in 30yrs).

Alternatively look at places like Malta or Gozo. They're warm, pretty cheap, and again lots of low key stuff to do during the day time.
posted by tinkletown at 8:55 AM on December 18, 2015