First foreign holiday - family of 4
Discussion
The time has come to look next year at an abroad holiday. We've put it off with both kids until they were a little older and easier to manoeuvre and less crap having to take with us.
I however have no idea where to look, we're probably going to my parents so it'll be 4 adults and 2 kids so would probably look at a villa with a pool.
I'm just wondering if anyone could suggest family friendly resorts or location within a couple of hours flight time from Manchester. I was initially thinking Portugal or Spain but wondered if there are any other locations to look at?
Anything else I should be thinking of at this stage apart from where but stuff like is a self catered villa good or should i look at some half board hotels, etc?
I however have no idea where to look, we're probably going to my parents so it'll be 4 adults and 2 kids so would probably look at a villa with a pool.
I'm just wondering if anyone could suggest family friendly resorts or location within a couple of hours flight time from Manchester. I was initially thinking Portugal or Spain but wondered if there are any other locations to look at?
Anything else I should be thinking of at this stage apart from where but stuff like is a self catered villa good or should i look at some half board hotels, etc?
How old are the kids ?
One view is that a villa is pretty boring for the kids unless you go in a bigger group whereas a resort gives you loads more to do.
We’ve done TUI family life resorts a couple of times and these were brilliant when the kids were 2 - 8 ish.
Loads to do and kept them entertained all week. Sure it might not be the holiday you dreamed of, but happy kids works.
We have recently done the AI hotels in Lara beach in turkey and you definitely get way way more for your money in turkey than in regular Europe. Decent food, a water park and fairground rides on site is again ideal to keep the kids happy.
One view is that a villa is pretty boring for the kids unless you go in a bigger group whereas a resort gives you loads more to do.
We’ve done TUI family life resorts a couple of times and these were brilliant when the kids were 2 - 8 ish.
Loads to do and kept them entertained all week. Sure it might not be the holiday you dreamed of, but happy kids works.
We have recently done the AI hotels in Lara beach in turkey and you definitely get way way more for your money in turkey than in regular Europe. Decent food, a water park and fairground rides on site is again ideal to keep the kids happy.
I would second Menorca as a lovely family friendly location with plenty of good quality villas. You may also want to look at areas in France which can have a fantastic family vibe. Ile de Re is amazing for families and you can fly directly to La Rochelle, literally just the other side of the bridge. If the beach isn't important, the Dordogne is amazing for families with loads of great gites and plenty of things to do for everyone.
Our experience with small children was that, to make it feel like a holiday for everyone, make sure you take a villa that comes with catering and housekeeping.
Our experience with small children was that, to make it feel like a holiday for everyone, make sure you take a villa that comes with catering and housekeeping.
Jet 2 currently have a free child place.
We have a 2.5 year old and a 7 month old. Under 2s are completely free and a free child place so only paid for 2 adults. 3 x 22kg, 3 x 10kg carry on and a 10kg allowance for a buggy (they dont actually weigh it) which you can take right to the steps of the plane.
We chose a hotel in Gran Canaria with a paddling splash park and walking distance to the beach.
A mates just come back from Turkey with his family and young kids. The hotels there seem like bigger "resorts" with plenty of water slides and right on the beaches. Great for a bit older kids.
We have a 2.5 year old and a 7 month old. Under 2s are completely free and a free child place so only paid for 2 adults. 3 x 22kg, 3 x 10kg carry on and a 10kg allowance for a buggy (they dont actually weigh it) which you can take right to the steps of the plane.
We chose a hotel in Gran Canaria with a paddling splash park and walking distance to the beach.
A mates just come back from Turkey with his family and young kids. The hotels there seem like bigger "resorts" with plenty of water slides and right on the beaches. Great for a bit older kids.
Mallorca
Dragged there forcefully when the boys were little - 3 and 1 - and it was a fantastic holiday
Booked an independent villa with pool which combined with Easyjet flights and a hire car was better value than the big name companies
The whole island is great however we based ourselves around Pollenca and Porto Pollenca which are both fantastic
Pollenca - inland with really good town square and restaurants
Porto P - on the beach which is sublime
If you have a car stay in one and drive to the other
We had a number of holidays there when they were small although bear in mind that it is ruinously expensive in school holiday time
Coincidentally we are returning in the first week of September after a long absence with their girlfriends
Cheers
Ibiza is great.
We have stayed at the Tui Blue Aura which is perfect for kids.
You have to compromise that the holiday may not be what you are used to but I wouldn't pick a villa as the kids love the variety of the buffet, kids clubs, pools and kids disco.
For me, so long as the rooms are decent, the buffet is adequate and kids entertainment is good we have a blast.
If a little refinery is more to your taste check out the Paridisus in Gran Canaria
We have stayed at the Tui Blue Aura which is perfect for kids.
You have to compromise that the holiday may not be what you are used to but I wouldn't pick a villa as the kids love the variety of the buffet, kids clubs, pools and kids disco.
For me, so long as the rooms are decent, the buffet is adequate and kids entertainment is good we have a blast.
If a little refinery is more to your taste check out the Paridisus in Gran Canaria
Depends on your kids. Ours were never bothered with all of the kids club stuff and happy in the pool or down the beach.
Handy really as the idea of spending a week or two surrounded by groups of screaming kids and listening to baby shark on repeat really doesn’t appeal.
We’re actually currently away stopping in a villa in Kefalonia (Greek island). Been here numerous times and love the place, highly recommended. Got the kids with us, but as they’re now 19 and 22 they keep themselves amused.
Handy really as the idea of spending a week or two surrounded by groups of screaming kids and listening to baby shark on repeat really doesn’t appeal.
We’re actually currently away stopping in a villa in Kefalonia (Greek island). Been here numerous times and love the place, highly recommended. Got the kids with us, but as they’re now 19 and 22 they keep themselves amused.
Wow thanks a lot everyone that's a lot to go about with.
Kids will be 4 & 2 at the time we go. Pools are good for us to an extend but 1 child has a perforated ear drum and the other suffers from ear infections at the min so we have to be careful around a lot of water and their ears.
We have thought a villa too but i'm worried they would get bored easily with the pool and then we're scratching round for idea for them while there rather than going to a nice hotel where we can shove them into a holiday club
Kids will be 4 & 2 at the time we go. Pools are good for us to an extend but 1 child has a perforated ear drum and the other suffers from ear infections at the min so we have to be careful around a lot of water and their ears.
We have thought a villa too but i'm worried they would get bored easily with the pool and then we're scratching round for idea for them while there rather than going to a nice hotel where we can shove them into a holiday club
Honestly there's loads of places that will fit your brief, there's plenty of places on mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands which are a bit more upmarket. I like Villa's we went to Fuetaventura twice last year, once in April (as it was warmer) then in August as the heat is less oppressive than than the med at that time of year more high 20's to 30 rather than 30+.
My daughter was 6, I really like my own space with a Villa but we'd probably have to think about a resort in future to offer her a bit more entertainment/chance to play with other kids.You're fine at your kids ages-only thing with a villa and pool and young kids it goes without saying you've got to keep an eye on them. My little lad was 2 almost 3 when we went in April last year, our rule was the kids were never outside with at least one of us, he managed to fall in the pool when I had my back turned for all of 2 seconds to put a towel on a lounger-quite scary as zero noise and splashing about like I'd maybe expect.
As no one else has mentioned it Moraira is really nice on the Spanish mainland, near Alicante. Small with a nice promenade, loads of nice restaurants.
My daughter was 6, I really like my own space with a Villa but we'd probably have to think about a resort in future to offer her a bit more entertainment/chance to play with other kids.You're fine at your kids ages-only thing with a villa and pool and young kids it goes without saying you've got to keep an eye on them. My little lad was 2 almost 3 when we went in April last year, our rule was the kids were never outside with at least one of us, he managed to fall in the pool when I had my back turned for all of 2 seconds to put a towel on a lounger-quite scary as zero noise and splashing about like I'd maybe expect.
As no one else has mentioned it Moraira is really nice on the Spanish mainland, near Alicante. Small with a nice promenade, loads of nice restaurants.
We have 5 kids, years ago we used to drive down to the south of France to the euro camps and stay in caravans. Really set up for kids and you can easily fly/drive in a few hours.
Villas with pools are brilliant for kids. We live in the Costa Blanca and have a private swimming pool with a separate self contained apartment. The grandkids are in the pool from early morning to late at night. The only time we can get them out of the pool is to go to the local water park or beach. It's handy also if there is a local shop that sells pool toys and inflatables.
Villas with pools are brilliant for kids. We live in the Costa Blanca and have a private swimming pool with a separate self contained apartment. The grandkids are in the pool from early morning to late at night. The only time we can get them out of the pool is to go to the local water park or beach. It's handy also if there is a local shop that sells pool toys and inflatables.
Edited by mart 63 on Tuesday 4th July 08:18
richatnort said:
Wow thanks a lot everyone that's a lot to go about with.
Kids will be 4 & 2 at the time we go. Pools are good for us to an extend but 1 child has a perforated ear drum and the other suffers from ear infections at the min so we have to be careful around a lot of water and their ears.
We have thought a villa too but i'm worried they would get bored easily with the pool and then we're scratching round for idea for them while there rather than going to a nice hotel where we can shove them into a holiday club
With kids of that age, I wouldn't do a villa with a pool holiday. Not with a 2 year old.Kids will be 4 & 2 at the time we go. Pools are good for us to an extend but 1 child has a perforated ear drum and the other suffers from ear infections at the min so we have to be careful around a lot of water and their ears.
We have thought a villa too but i'm worried they would get bored easily with the pool and then we're scratching round for idea for them while there rather than going to a nice hotel where we can shove them into a holiday club
As others have said OP , there is a bundle of places which will match your needs. Just keep an eye on flight times and what will be easier with naps/feeding etc. We fly to Cyprus a couple months ago and the flight times are horrible. We are going to Alcudia next week mainly because the flight out is early doors and the flight back is lunch time ish.
We have a 4yr old and 8 month old. I am not a fan of all inclusive places but they really help to keep the kids fed and entertained.
We have a 4yr old and 8 month old. I am not a fan of all inclusive places but they really help to keep the kids fed and entertained.
For several years when our kid was a tiddler we rented a villa-with-pool with friends who also had kids of almost identical ages. 6 adults versus 4 crawlers/toddlers was fine. Kids entertained each other, pool was a focus when at the villa. Loads of space for kids' clutter and nappy changing. Dordogne, somewhere in Provence, can't remember the others of the top of my head. All coming from the UK, some flew, some took the train, some drove; all perfectly good options.
With kids at this age, I found that all-inclusives with kids clubs were a godsend. It's great to be able to drop them off for a couple of hours and get some of your own R&R.
A default holiday for me is usually a nice Airbnb and drive/fly so the all-inclusives were an occasional treat (not culturally!) and the kids love them.
A default holiday for me is usually a nice Airbnb and drive/fly so the all-inclusives were an occasional treat (not culturally!) and the kids love them.
I dont have kids but we did a TUI Magic Life back when covid restrictions first lifted. Fuerteventura. They have them in various spots around the med too.
3 star hotel with solid food and drink. Its all done to a good standard, hotel was clean and well kept. Food is pretty much available from early hours till late at night. "Speciality" dining is included but was just "ok", not bad though. The main dining room was fine, if you got lucky better than the speciality on some nights. Plenty of entertainment. Pool area was big, pool bar did food, ice cream etc all afternoon.
We went to a 5 star in Mexico (Excellence Playa Mujeres) and other than the private pool in the room and perhaps slightly better selection of food and grilled meats etc it wasnt *that* much better and tbh the Excellence was about 3 times the cost. The speciality dining was better, but not 3 times the cost better. We were in the "club" section too.
I would defo go to a magic life again, and if I had kids I would 100% take kids there. If the beach at the one in Fuerteventura was more accessible (its down a massive flight of steps) then we would have already been back.
Loads of reviews on youtube.
3 star hotel with solid food and drink. Its all done to a good standard, hotel was clean and well kept. Food is pretty much available from early hours till late at night. "Speciality" dining is included but was just "ok", not bad though. The main dining room was fine, if you got lucky better than the speciality on some nights. Plenty of entertainment. Pool area was big, pool bar did food, ice cream etc all afternoon.
We went to a 5 star in Mexico (Excellence Playa Mujeres) and other than the private pool in the room and perhaps slightly better selection of food and grilled meats etc it wasnt *that* much better and tbh the Excellence was about 3 times the cost. The speciality dining was better, but not 3 times the cost better. We were in the "club" section too.
I would defo go to a magic life again, and if I had kids I would 100% take kids there. If the beach at the one in Fuerteventura was more accessible (its down a massive flight of steps) then we would have already been back.
Loads of reviews on youtube.
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