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No children please!
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Noel Hernandez Monday 18 July 2011 |
More than three quarters of holidaymakers admit other people's children spoil their vacation, according to a survey carried out by a mainstream travel company.
The research, elaborated by Thomson Holidays, reveals that 79% of those questioned admitted other people's children affected their holidays, while 31% said that bad behaving children completely ruined them.
There is also a third of UK adults who agree with the statement "Hell is other people's children on holiday," according to the company. Which is, incidentally, what 4% of parents think about their own kids.
The black spots where children are seen as an annoyance would be the hotel restaurant and swimming pool, with many adults complaining as well about next room noises caused by youngsters.
The survey went on to show proposals by those who would like to see adult-only areas in hotels. One would be banning the entry to the bar, a restriction 55% believe necessary; and the other would be having part of the swimming pool cordoned off for adults to swim quietly, a decision backed up by 42% of those questioned.
The research has been based on interviews with people taking both Thomson child-free and child-friendly holidays in Cyprus during last October's half-term holiday.
The news come to support the launch of an adult-only holidays initiative available from summer 2011, Thomson Couples, which will feature 19 hotels exclusive to Thomson UK customers in locations across all haul types, including Portugal, Crete, Mexico and Dominic Republic.
"Many parents tell us how much they cherish a few days to themselves once in a while in addition to their family holiday, to recharge their batteries. Just as our Family resorts are focused on keeping children entertained, Couples is completely geared to adult relaxation and together time. At a Couples hotel, peace and quiet both come as standard," said Luke Gaskins, Head of Product Development at Thomson Holidays.
Although Thomsom claims to be the first mainstream travel company to offer 100% child-free holiday resorts worldwide, there are other majors offering similar products, like First Choice or Virgin Holidays.
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Shellie, Bexleyheath 18 July 2011, 01:56PM | |
As a mother I can relate to some of the comment above. I love spending quality family time with them on an annual holiday but also enjoy time with my husband without the children. I think having hotels that are adult only is a good idea, however I expect a lot of people are unable to afford the luxury of having a family holiday and a partners only holiday! | |
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Justine, Hextable 19 July 2011, 01:22PM | |
No matter how much we might claim to love our children there are times when we need the peace and quiet of a child free environment. My husband and I are looking to book a few nights away to celebrate our wedding anniversary and so will be checking out to see what Thomson have on offer. | |
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Luke, Lingfield 21 July 2011, 11:43AM | |
We recently travelled with our 2 young children and 2 other families (with young children) to a hotel in Cyprus. The hotel was advertised as a family friendly hotel but it was defiantly NOT. I have no problem with adult only holidays as long as they are advertised as that. | |
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Hayley, Crawley 25 July 2011, 11:55AM | |
I think childfree holidays can work for some people but to be honest I look forward to spending time with my children when we go away. I am sure if our children had a choice they would vote for parent free holidays! | |
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Mary Williams 29 July 2011, 03:07PM | |
I do understand some people wanting child free holidays. I think they are missing out of so much that life has to offer but than comes from my side as a mother of three youngsters. | |
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Jill, Colliers Wood 1 August 2011, 01:57PM | |
I am a working Mum and so relish the holiday time with my family. Like anything though I think it is nice to be given the choice of either having a family holiday or a couples holiday. If you know you want to be in a childfree environment then you would surely book that type of holiday? Why should I stop my child from having fun when I have made the choice to go on a family holiday! | |
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Lauren, Lincoln 8 August 2011, 01:49PM | |
I think it is totally acceptable to want time away from children. In today's society we are all under so much pressure with a large percentage of us being working mothers. Time out to chill is important and we all need to recharge our batteries. | |
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Lorraine White, Huntingdon 5 February 2012, 08:53PM | |
I agree with Jill, I'm looking for a child free holiday this year, so that's what I'm looking to book. However on checking Thompsons couples holidays out we've discovered that many of these hotels are NOT exclusive to adults. Although Thompson may only book them as such, and it categorically states in their brochure that the hotels are reserved 'entirely for adults' they are simply not, and other tour operators can book whoever they want into these hotels, unless Thompson has exclusivity to the hotel (which most of them they don't). Basically Thompson should be done under the trades descriptions act for lying about their holidays. If anyone knows of a truly child free holiday company I can book with I'd be interested to hear as Thompson are not coming up with the goods. In fact I can't think of a time I have ever found a holiday booking to be exactly as described, other than with Virgin. | |
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