Review: Holiday With A Toddler and Baby
Going on holiday with a toddler and a baby in tow is no mean feat but at Bluestone we try to make life for busy parents as easy as possible.
Have a read of how superdad Fraser Watson and his clan got on when tried out a midweek break at our Pembrokeshire paradise. Here’s Fraser’s diary of his break.
Toddler Friendly Holidays
Arrival
My family, consisting of myself, my partner (Keeley), our 19 month old toddler (Tyler) and six week old baby (Ivy), as well as my parents, spent four nights at the Bluestone resort in Pembrokeshire.
We arrived on a Monday – and by the time we left the following Friday, we had already pledged we would definitely return after a truly fantastic break.
On the first day, we checked in our car and picked up our information packs at 12pm, although admittedly, we were slightly concerned that we were unable to actually check into our lodge until 3pm, especially with an excitable toddler to entertain, but we headed off to explore the resort and our concerns quickly vanished!
Our Lodge
The helpfulness of Bluestone staff towards our children would become a theme throughout the week.
At 3pm, we unpacked our cars to find our Grassholm Lodge in immaculate condition. We had good kitchen space, ample draws for cutlery and our own shopping, a good sized fridge – and a large living room and dining area perfect for Tyler to roam around in.
Bedroom space was more than adequate and we had two bathrooms, and most importantly from our point of view, simple to use stair gates were in place, along with a pop up cot that was simple to erect.
That night we ate at the resident Bluestone pub, the Knights Tafarn, one of the many available food options on the resort.
We left with no complaints – good food at a reasonable price, and again importantly for us, very accommodating staff who were frequently checking to see if our children needed anything.
Free Range Fun
The next two days, we had the good fortune of glorious weather.
Our children were too young to enrol on many of the activities on offer, but it mattered little as via prams and child holding back packs, we ventured on the numerous nature trails the resort had available.
We were amazed by the volume of scenic (and pushchair friendly) trails on offer, and one particular treat was finishing up at Camp Smokey one lunchtime – for some proper ‘ranch’ food, with Tyler fascinated by all of the activity on the high ropes and zip wire courses.
The outdoor play area by the Knights Tafarn was also a particular highlight – as numerous young children mixed together with enough play facilities for everyone to be doing something at the same time.
Swim Time!
On the Thursday the weather turned, but that didn’t deter us from enjoying ourselves at the resort’s Blue Lagoon water park.
Again, the Lagoon catered for all of us. There was a mini pool to keep Tyler content, a lazy river for myself, Keeley, and my parents (plus slides if we felt adventurous), and a large catered sitting area for which ever one of us was looking after Ivy. In terms of indoor entertainment, we couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Even in the afternoon, we were able to re-visit the soft indoor play area and Ty Coffi shop. Rain or shine, there was no shortage of entertainment.
It was with great sadness that we packed up on Friday, but again, we were still able to use the resort’s facilities until 3pm, so another trip to the Lagoon was in order!
Our Verdict?
One of the many positives we noted from the week is that while there were ample extra activities on offer, we as a family did not have to spend a lot of money during the week to have a great time.
And if we ever needed extra supplies – the on-site shop had all food and house essentials, and at very reasonable prices.
Myself and Keeley did treat ourselves to a massage at the resorts Well Spa one morning and we were able to use the private swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms, and enjoy lunch beforehand. And the treatment itself was so relaxing, I even fell asleep!
As a family we hired one of the golf buggies for the week as well. Well worth the price with the young children, especially if trips back to the car park were needed.
Overall, we couldn’t have been more satisfied with our week, and would recommend a family stay at the resort to anyone. My gratitude to all the staff at Bluestone for contributing to a great family holiday!