My DH and I enjoy doing “nothing”.
Our ideal holiday would be in a place where there is a lot of open space, or at a beach front. It would be at a place where there is little to no reception, it would be at a place where one does not feel “pressured” to take part in activities because of the fact that they are there and you’ve paid all this money to come to this place so therefore you MUST do the stuff on offer. We are quite happy to picnic under a tree all day and watch (and make up stories) about passersby BUT we don’t compromise on comfort. It doesn’t have to be 5-star but it needs to be clean and comfortable, there must be electricity and flush toilets, and I actually don’t want to see any form of animal unless I actually pay to go and see them.
We like quaint small towns and fishing villages, we love beaches where we can take long walks and swim, we like rural.
Depending on where we go, we will probably do some sight-seeing but it definitely won’t happen every day because there will be days when all that we do is sit on the patio or the garden or whatever and drink wine and snack and read our books. After all, the purpose of a holiday is to recharge your batteries and we don’t feel that we can recharge if we are “on the go” all the time or if there is too much external stimuli – therefore, no reception is preferable.
Having said all this, we haven’t travelled overseas so I suspect that when we do this, it would be different. Then we WOULD make an effort to explore and shop and go on adventures etc.
Well. Our kids have kind of ruined this for us.
They are definitely not the types who can just read books all day or sit on the patio and drink tea or whatever. Child2 is not so bad because he can easily entertain himself all day but Child1 is a problem.
They actually want to be “on the go”.
So we end up going to places that are child-friendly or rather child-centred. We now actually take part in the activities wherever we go. Goodness me, I’ve not played so much mini-golf and tennis in my life! I even went on a super tube at Avalon the other day and nearly DIED. All in the interests of having fun with Child1. BTW I DO NOT recommend that unless you have no issues losing control and being flung about.
We make a point of sight-seeing every single day – even if it is just one little place that we go to. There is more thought into what we do and there is obviously a bit more planning beforehand. I google and price and plan and to be honest, I wouldn’t go to a place where there is nothing for kids.
I like it and I don’t like it.
I get that going away with kids will be different as opposed to going away without them. I get that this too shall pass and eventually I will be able to have adult-type holidays with them.
But anyway. What type of holiday-maker are you? Are you the adventure type or the relaxing type? Are you the exploring type? Do you need to go shopping? Do you need the city?
I’d say that I’m a combination of exploring and relaxing. I like shopping for wine when I’m on holiday (I always buy something that is produced in the area) but I can hardly say that I’m the shopping type unless one counts buying food as shopping?
What kind of holidays do your kids enjoy? My kids seem to enjoy anything where there is something physical for them to do i.e. swim, run, golf, go-cart, hike, trampoline etc.
Where are you going to next? Are you going with or without kids?
My DH and I were going to go to an Adult ADD seminar in Jhb in August. We changed our minds (it’s going to cost a lot ito flights, accommodation, car rental etc – we may as well go to Thailand or something!) so we are making plans to go to Rocking the Daisies in October. We are going to camp. Sans kids. In fact, we are hoping to “luxury” camp over here. I think it’s going to be AWESOME and I am VERY excited!
And I’m currently looking for a place for us to go and camp at in December. I suspect we are going to be in Hermanus. Or Stilbaai. Still deciding.
We are so not the city or shopping type. Although if I am on my lonesome self I could possibly do it, but we love nature, and open spaces. We also love little adventures with or without kids and we will not say no to a bit of adrenaline on the way.
As a family camping we take it nice and easy, beach whenever we can. But we also try to get the kids to paly in and around the tent and as soon as they get to the Princess’ age they just go on their bikes every where. Make friends and play their hearts out. It does get easier every year withthe boys
I like to go shopping, but I’m a very cautious, conservative type of shopper too. So I carefully think about my purchases … a curse I tell you! But I also like to relax – I enjoy a warm pool at a spa onsite.
But having the boys now will change all of that. We will have to choose somewhere to go that is comfortable not only to sleep, but to have 2 small kids, without too many hazards.
I would love a small weekend break at Mount Grace – ALL BY MYSELF! That is what will be a great holiday for me right now. Not because I’m tired of my boys – nope. Only just to give myself some me time – being a SAHM and all!
My idea of a holiday changed a lot over the years. When the children were still at home, we had a caravan and went on regular camping trips…sometimes for up to three weeks and travelling all over Mapumalanga. I don’t really like long “driving” holidays. I want to get there and relax. If I don’t have to get into a car for the entire time while we are away it would suit me.
With the children grown up and because of the work we do with a lot of people around us all of the time. I don’t do crowds. That means no holidays during school holiday periods…it just gets to hectic. I want to get up, go for a long walk or exercise and then do NOTHING but sit and read or relax. My idea of a dream holiday would be on a remote island with no internet or cell phone reception. When we go on holiday we are phoned at least three times during each day in connection with problems at the Mission.
I would love a ‘pool side’ holiday, with LOTS of sun (think i may be getting rickets, from lack of vitamin D this summer,lol). The last time we had a hot holiday was on our honeymoon (many years ago). Not good, is it.
When we lived in England we always ‘holidayed’ in Ireland so we could see DH’s family, now we live in Ireland and ‘holiday’ in England to visit my family.
We live in the middle of now where, so when we go away i want to see and do things – visit castles, gardens, see humans, lol.
As for shopping – my parents live just down the road from one of Europe’s largest shopping centers – would be rude not to visit, wouldn’t it?
We also went camping last year too, we went to County Clare then we went to a Christan arts festival in England – TOTALLY loved it, saw two of my favorite singers and all the kids had a great time! Would have loved to go camping again this summer, but alas the weather conspired against us. Think when your kids are happy on holiday, you are.
opps, sorry about typos. L
I like a holiday where i don’t have to drive around all the time. I cannot actually think of something I would enjoy less than going to the game reserve and driving around all day. My typical holiday day needs to have a nap in it somewhere, lots of good food and pretty surroundings. I like a base camp that I can walk to where I need to go from.
Hmmmm I like a little bit of everything when on holiday – depends on my mood. LOVE a beach holiday where I can relax, but also like canoeing and hiking etc. My main goal when on holiday is to sleep more and feel relaxed at the end of it. So if I’m busy or whatever as long as I get to sleep and am relaxed it works for me
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Kade doesn’t have a preferred holiday yet – he’s too young to know whats what right now!
xxx
I love ANY kind of holiday as long as it NEVER includes the word camping! Camping is my absolute worst nightmare! I really have tried it a few times but I just can’t do it.