Recommendations -- First time holiday with kids to the sun

BennytheBall

Hi

We have 2 young kids (3 and 1) and after not going abroad the last few years since they arrive we badly feel the need for a bit of sunshine this year.

Thinking Algarve, Majorca or somewhere like that for a package holiday - it will be a new experience for us as we used to do city breaks, etc when we were pre-kids!

Priorities would be a decent size s/c apartment, good kids pool, family friendly, and something mid/high end but not very pricey.

Budget would be around 2-2.5k for 2 weeks for the 4 of us for flights and accommodation. We would be planning on early Sept.

Any recommendations for a good area or property would be appreciated - maybe you've had a great experience somewhere.

TIA.

monkeynuts111

I would highly recommend Club Oceano Apartments in Lanzarote. It has a great feel to the price, and very reasonably priced. We brought our 18 month old there last year and she loved it. About 40 apartments there, a nice little bar, and nice food. Thinking of going there again this year, this time with 2 kids. Fly by Aer Lingus or Ryanair, and book directly with the hotel.

GenuineFan

I would recommend The Old Village in Vilamoura, Portugal. The flight is only 2.5 hours and the transfer time is only 20-25 minutes. This complex is about 20 minute walk from the Marina, but it is a nice walk. The complex is made up of studios, apartments and townhouses. There are three pools, and the main pool has a lovely kids pool. There are 3 or 4 restaurants and bars on site, a supermarket, internet point, tourist office, and property management companies. It is all cobbled stone, with parking on the periphery. If you google The Old Village, Vilamoura, you will get an idea. www.ownersdirect.co.uk do several properties in this complex.

redman

GenuineFan wrote: »

I would recommend The Old Village in Vilamoura, Portugal. The flight is only 2.5 hours and the transfer time is only 20-25 minutes. This complex is about 20 minute walk from the Marina, but it is a nice walk. The complex is made up of studios, apartments and townhouses. There are three pools, and the main pool has a lovely kids pool. There are 3 or 4 restaurants and bars on site, a supermarket, internet point, tourist office, and property management companies. It is all cobbled stone, with parking on the periphery. If you google The Old Village, Vilamoura, you will get an idea. www.ownersdirect.co.uk do several properties in this complex.

I second this recommendation went there a few years ago with a 12mth old and a 4year old.

BennytheBall

Thanks for the recommendations so far.

mfceiling

Italy all the way.

Try around lake garda....magnificent.

And the Italians love kids!!

MadsL

Italian food - very kid friendly

redman

Thanks, any particular camps/venues in Italy, Lake Garda
sorry to thread ambudh... i am too looking this year for places where there are lots of other kids for them to play with

How Strange

We're going to Bella Italia campsite on Lake Garda for 2 weeks in september. It's costing €900 for a 4 person mobile home with decking and air con. We wanted somewhere within walking distance to a town which this is. We also wanted somewhere with lots of amenities for young children/toddlers. We'll have a 2.5 yr old and a 4 month old.

Flights cost €800 to Verona with Aer Lingus and we won't be hiring a car so transfers should be around €50 each way.

2rkehij30qtza5

Would you not try a Keycamp holiday in France? They are so kid friendly, especially for that age and everything you would need would be on site.

BennytheBall

Thanks for the tip off - Keycamp holiday might be an idea.

Jocelynel

I hope you don't mind, I've just sent you a pm

BennytheBall

Thanks for all the ideas.

After much research, we think we will do a package holiday for 2 weeks to Menorca in Sept. It seems like a nice quiet family island and although you can get a bit of rain in the Autumn it should be nice and warm and sunny in the main.

If anyone has stayed in Menorca and would recommend a particular property for a young family let me know. We are thinking the Paradise Hotel in Cala'n Bosch but havent booked yet.

milanomosher

I second Menorca for a quiet family holiday. I stayed in an all-inclusive hotel in Cala en Brut, and everything was great, food, rooms, pool, entertainment etc, all at a very reasonable price. The only problem was that it was very kid-orientated and when we went we had no family, but now I have an 18-month old and would definitely go back. We went in September too and the weather was perfect.

If I remember correctly Cala en Bosch is about 50 or so minutes from the airport. Looks like a nice resort with some lovely beaches, and looks a more lively resort than where we stayed.

Going for two weeks I recommend you rent a car for a few days and explore the various calas around the island. The roads have very little traffic and the distances are small, and there´s loads of beautiful secluded calas to visit. Also try a boat trip around the coast to visit some of the calas not accessible by road. The boats are large so you´ll have no problems with the kids.