Since becoming a parent, my holidays have gone from luxurious breaks sunbathing by a pool to chasing a toddler around, not getting enough sleep and watching my food go cold.
So when looking for a getaway, I’m on the hunt for pure family fun – for all of us.
Where will my 18-month-old be most entertained? And where can his dad and I also relax? (Does such a place exist?)
Well, now I believe it does. Enter Parkdean Resorts.
Scouring the website, their holiday parks looked like the ideal place for a family, with comfortable caravans, beaches within walking distance, a huge choice of restaurants, indoor pools, arcade games, arts and crafts and sporty fun.
Sure, my toddler was a little young for some of the activities (high ropes course and water sports might be a few years away yet) but there would be a lot he could get involved with.
As we excitedly booked a three-night break in Parkdean Trecco Bay in Porthcawl, South Wales, I had high hopes that we were about to take our first family holiday which would actually feel like a break for all of us.
The first thing I loved about the resort was the caravan. It was spacious, airy, bright, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living space, a tidy little kitchen and it felt very safe and comfortable.
Our accommodation was based right by the resort centre. I’d worried it would be noisy, but it was great. A dip in the pool, a play in the park and a bite to eat were just a minute’s walk away.
With a little one, it was easy to pop back to the caravan for a midday nap, or a bit of quiet time. The living space had a huge sofa and a TV with all the apps (Netflix, Prime, YouTube) so we could enjoy some home comforts in between all our swimming, beach fun and activities.
Trecco Bay is one of Parkdean’s collection of resorts that have been upgraded in the past two years with better facilities and accommodation and a wider range of activities.
Some of the new highlights are Adventure Bugz (6x6 electrical karts), bungee trampolining, The Bear Grylls Survival Academy, cycle hire, family karts, pottery painting, sand art, tie-dye, build-a-teddy, high ropes courses, climbing walls, archery, hoverboards, laser quest, roller discos, kayaking, inflatable jet skis, water zorbing and Wiped Out 2.0 (an inflatable obstacle course).
There was just so much to do.
During our break we enjoyed a trip to the pool – the baby water slides were a huge hit with our son and we spent our entire 45-minute slot going up and down the same one.
We signed up for a family karting session, strapping our little one in the front seat while his dad and I sat behind and pedalled around the resort and along the beachfront.
You get an hour on the karts for less than £20 and it’s quite relaxing just cycling along, enjoying the beach views.
During a slot for build-a-teddy in the craft den our toddler chose a monkey soft toy and some fetching purple pyjamas, and we had a fun half-hour ‘building’ and dressing him.
A few weeks on, he’s still very attached to this monkey – a lovely reminder of our trip.
The resort’s playpark and splash pad area are ideal for sunny days.
Inside the arcade is a lovely soft play area which we enjoyed on the final day. You have to book a slot rather than just walk in but this was nice as it meant it was never too crowded.
The resort centre, called The Pavilion, is full of arcade games and mini fairground rides which were, naturally, an incredible hit with our child. Sometimes it was difficult dragging him away.
There are also plenty of 2p machines and mini merry-go-rounds costing £1 a go, so I’d advise taking a little bag of change if you visit.
Showdome, the main entertainment venue, was packed in the evenings as people gathered to have a drink and watch singing and dancing.
But we actually found ourselves there at 9.30am on the Sunday for Milkshake Morning, based on the Channel 5 children’s programme.
Energetic Milkshake entertainers took to the stage for singing and dancing, entrancing the youngsters watching.
My other favourite thing about Parkdean was the huge range of food on offer.
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There were so many restaurants; Tandoori Indian, The Boathouse pub, Thunderbird Chicken, Papa John’s Pizza, Burger King and Scoops ice cream stand.
There’s also a little Nisa corner shop if you want to buy groceries to make your own dinner.
But whenever I’m at the seaside I love to eat chips, so we ordered a hearty mix of fish, sausage and chips from Parkdean’s on-site chippy, then walked the five minutes to the beach.
We sat on a blanket and scoffed the food while watching the waves. The wind billowed, sand snuck into our shoes, and the seagulls were a little too cocky, but it was one of the highlights of our trip.
We loved Parkdean in Porthcawl, made many very happy memories during our stay, and left on the Monday wishing we had time to explore some more.
Book the holiday
Parkdean Resorts offers a three night self-catering weekend at Trecco Bay holiday park, Porthcawl, South Wales, from £199. For arrival on September 29, staying in a Coychurch caravan (sleeps six); four night half-term midweek from £319 for arrival on October 24, staying in a Gower caravan (sleeps six). parkdeanresorts.co.uk
You can find more information at visitwales.com.
