I'm wanting to go away somewhere at the beginning of August but Mrs R doesn't want to go to Spain cos she reckons it'll be too hot for the baby (he'll be 18 months old in August).

I've looked at places in this country, the likes of Butlins, and they seem git expensive- thick end of a grand for a week!

Any suggestions, either in the UK or abroad that'd be good for taking a toddler to at that time of year? I don't mind paying whatever it costs (within reason) but have absolutely no idea if there's better value out there than what I've found so far as I've never booked a holiday involving kids before!

go to the wacky warehouse

I went to Butlins with our lass and my daughter last year.
Went friday to monday (3 nights) and the cost was £230 and this included breakfast and evening meal.
This was for Skegness and believe me the food was spot on

Would that be before or after you go and fk yourself?

What about a motorhome? You can hire one for about £500 for a week and have a wander round France. It'll be warm enough and the beauty of a motorhome is that the baby (and your lass) can sleep on the way. Also, when you're there you've also always got a cot with you when the kid needs to get its head down. While thats happening you and your lass can have a chill out.

There are some fantastic camp sites in France that have facilities rivalling the likes of Butlins and you only need to stay a couple of days before moving onto somewhere new.

I've bought a Campervan which i'm doing up now.
Going up west coast of scotland in it second week of April and getting married by one of the lochs
Then off to the Maldives the week after

Where's Primrose Valley? ( )

Cheers Mr F, I'm gonna keep that link, as you rightly say I think the drive might be a bit much this year but next year or two it might not be.

We always used to go to Butlins when I was a kid and that's why I looked there first cos I used to love it. And Skeggy isn't too long in the car for the little one. I reckon the week we want to go is the most expensive of the year though, so might reconsider Butlins for another time of the year based on the prices you paid!

I know I made a piss poor attempt at a joke earlier, but have to say i would stay clear of the Haven parks (well the filey one) unless you dont mind hanging about with a load of idiots in the club house who hate their kids so give them £20 quid so they can play on the "machines" all night.

I am only speaking for the site i have experience with like.

I would go to the south of france or even croatia heard Dobrovnik is very nice like, or go to the Italian lakes.

Editted: realise you have a very small nipper then the places I mentioned are out of the question esp france if cornwall is to far a drive. Would recommend going to the lakes evertime I have been there the weather has been brilliant (so I must be lucky)

You're looking at the best part of a grand for a week at one of them too. Is that cheap as chips? I genuinely don't know as I've never booked a similar holiday before.

What's the temperatures like over there at that time of year though?

I don't mind a 2-3 hour flight (planning on taking the young 'un to Spain in May or June) it's just that the wife is worried about places being too hot in August.

I went mid june.
I can book up now with some discount for a decent chalet for about the same price.
Not sure if you could use the offer I have but give me a shout if ur interested.
You have to book by 31 January for it to be valid.

Yep.

But the nursery is closed for the first two weeks of August so I need to use a week's holiday (mother on child minding duties the other week) so want to go away somewhere while we're off.

It appears that those two weeks are the most expensive of the year everywhere in this country!

Yeah, you join the top-price-paying holiday elite, once you have children. Schools won't let you take holidays during term time.
The only exception to this is when the school takes your kid off on holiday in term time. Then you and your wife can go off on your own.

I agree with compo re the Haven sites eg primrose valley. Avoid them like the plague. They are full of 15 year old scottish kids boozing for some reason.

My youngun went abroad at about 18 months ripper, the sun and travelling didnt bother her.

She is my daughter like, so she's fuckin rock hard like me.

Ripper...

Primrose valley is Scarborough - i think,

Dont go to south croatia then as it will be hot think france will be your best bet, I remember going to Austria with the school a few times when i was about 15-16 and that was brilliant.

We went to Devon Cliffs in Devon the other year with the kids the youngest was about 3 and it was spot on much better than Majorca the year before and they have a vast array of cider's you can even take a trip to a cider farm

Try the New Forest, it is around a 5 hour drive but it is one of the most beautiful places in this country, there is loads of nice towns you could visit and the beach is only 10 minutes away as well

How do I find out if it's available that week?

send appleyapper a pm

totally agree me and my tribe went last august had great 5 days

Done.

Ta.

I have been to that one does it have rory the tiger as its mascot and is near a pub / garage close by on a round a bout, my grandad owns a brilliant caravan there so have the "owners" pass as you say, he lives it it from March to September and he loves it, the caravan is better than my house got massive kitchen in it and has about 4 bedrooms. I am in doubt that the park has had loads spent on it and has a number of bars like the sports on near the river petrol doughnut and go-kart things, the big complex were the baths are and its good crack.

The point I was making is its full of idiots and horrendous people who go in the club house get hammered and generally act like rarfs, you know the ones people who hate there kids have loads of soverign rings and wifes as rough as gas-house cinders. I only ever go into the club house on the owners night when one of the concert bars are set asside for only the owners who have a bit of sence as most of them live there for best part of the year and dont want to trash the place.

Primrose Valley gets the thumbs up from me too Mr Ripper. Spent a week there last year with our two girls (ages three and one) and they LOVED it. Plenty to keep them amused, prices (for food and drink) really not too bad.

Me and Mrs Bandage enjoyed it too, so much so that we're taking them again in July! There is an element of the ferral youth somebody mentioned earlier in the thread (scousers mainly!) but certainly not enough to make it any kind of issue.

Take a cottage holiday, when mine were very young we took them to Spain, but it's very taxing as you have to watch them all the time in and around the pool, and in the sun.

Weve been on excellent breaks with the following companies:- Sykes.com, Country-holidays, and cottages-4-you. All the gaffs are spotless, and you've a full house to relax in as opposed to being stuck in a cramped hotel room. Also they are really cheap as you only pay for the gaff not per person.

We like the fact you can take the pet dog.

Unless you're the type of person who does'nt like to cook when away.

All the grass will be strimmed then.

Bloody hell, that's a long drive .

Only 4 Hours to Lanzarote mr ripper a 2 bedroomed villa with James Villas high season would be around £800 add another £300 for flights .You have top notch self catering with shaded areas for ripper jnr and all private facilities ...Puerto del Carmen only ten minutes from the airport ....... Me and Pok will fill you in. about local Kent And Sussex beauty spots if need be

congratulations on winning the lottery
(its the only way i can imagine someone as "careful"with their money paying for the maldives.
ps tidy up after yourself as our sarah and chris go there for their honeymoon in june

Austria is where we go some years that time of year dont book yet as prices are dear wait till later and you would get about 60% off with crystal holidays