1st overseas holiday with kids, help me decide

NIMAN

So this summer we hope to travel away with kids to see some sunshine, fed up with our recent summers being washouts.

It will be the first time taking kids abroad. They are 3,5,7.

We are considering 2 options.

1) A French (or Spanish/Italian) campsite.
2) Standard package holiday, AI, usual spots like Spain, Canaries, etc.

Each have their pro's and con's in my mind, but I want the kids to have fun, thats the main thing.

Personally I think Option1 would suit them best. More open space, more aimed at kids, more relaxed type of holiday. Having been on a sunshine holiday before as a couple, I am not so sure a hotel complex would allow the same type of freedom, unless it specifically catered for kids and had plenty of playgrounds, pools etc adapted for them. Maybe I'm wrong?

Then again, the advantage to a hotel is that we can go AI, and means no cooking for mum and dad, plus the kids won't bankrupt us looking for drinks and ice cream.

Considering the ages of our children, what do you think you'd pick?
Have you been on a campsite holiday and enjoyed/hated it?
Have you any specific hotel that you think the kids would have fun in?

Peregrinus

Don't see why the kids would be less demanding of icecream and fizz in a hotel than at a campsite, to be honest.

Go for the campsite. Within two hours of arriving, your kids will have have made new best friends, and they'll have a ball without requiring your constant efforts to entertain them. You and the missus will have a much more relaxed time as a result.

Yes, you'll have to cook, but campsite cooking is pretty basic and it needn't take that much time. There is much to be said for the one-pot meal.

NIMAN

Well AI is appealing when its your first time away with kids, done it myself as an adult a few times and its great not having to worry about carrying money round the complex with you.

I do think the campsite would be better suited, more freedom, more space to entertain themselves.

As for cooking, perhaps I made it sound like we didn't want the hassle, but I'm sure it would be very relaxed and not too strenuous!

Eponymous

I've never been on a camping holiday and the only time I did AI was on honeymoon in Cuba which is probably comparing apples and oranges when you measure it to holiday resort type AI.

If I may throw my tuppence worth in, a self catering holiday needn't be ruled out. The complex we stay at in Lanzarote is great, we get a bungalow and our routine each trip is to check in, unpack and go to the shops to grab essentials like ice creams, beers, wine, water, milk and coffee (our kids don't like fizzy drinks thanks to their assumption that they all taste like fizzy mineral water and we're not inclined to set them straight!). All kids that age really need is a pool and some kids their own ages and in summer the latter are available in abundance. Then when they come running looking for ice cream, just grab them from your freezer! In the evenings we always go out for dinner as it's pretty cheap and have the option to cook something if we really want. Then once back and the kids are in bed, there's beer and wine in the fridge so we can relax on the terrace.

One of the greatest flaws with All Inclusive is the risk of boredom with the food. I know there are some great places out there but two times we've stayed SC in a complex doing AI and paid to have dinner there one night and been less than impressed with the offerings (particularly as they weren't particularly cheap to stay in). The prospect of having paid for two weeks of it wouldn't be ideal for me. Of course, I may also have been unlucky!

fdevine

+1 for a campsite/mobile site.

We've done Italy, France & Holland. All three were excellent. Italy was spoiled by an infestation of Tiger mosquitoes but loved the place. France was brilliant but out of the three myself & the kids would pick Holland if we were going back tomorrow.

Italy - Union Lido - Huge complex, on the beach, lots to do
France - La Croix du Vieux Pont - Big pool complex, water slides, lots of activities
Holland - Duinrell - Free theme park, aqua park, town close by

If you want guaranteed sunshine though you'll want to go further south in Europe

Mitten31

Can't help but reply on here. We have gone to Lanzarote with our 2 kids the last 2 years and stayed in the same place and can highly recommend it. We go on a half board basis and have brekkie every morning and then either lunch or dinner. The hotel is H10 Lanzarote Gardens, Costa Teguise. It's across the road from the beach, has 2 play grounds, an excellent kids club, large pools with water slides etc. Our kids loved it. We stayed in a large apartment that was cleaned every day and fresh towels, sheets etc every couple of days. It was lovely, from my perspective not to have to clean, tidy or cook at all! Costa Teguise has loads of lovely, reasonable restaurants and I highly recommend it!

NIMAN

Mitten31 wrote: »

Can't help but reply on here. We have gone to Lanzarote with our 2 kids the last 2 years and stayed in the same place and can highly recommend it. We go on a half board basis and have brekkie every morning and then either lunch or dinner. The hotel is H10 Lanzarote Gardens, Costa Teguise. It's across the road from the beach, has 2 play grounds, an excellent kids club, large pools with water slides etc. Our kids loved it. We stayed in a large apartment that was cleaned every day and fresh towels, sheets etc every couple of days. It was lovely, from my perspective not to have to clean, tidy or cook at all! Costa Teguise has loads of lovely, reasonable restaurants and I highly recommend it!

Just checked that place out, looks a nice spot.

Who did you book with?

fdevine

fdevine wrote: »

+1 for a campsite/mobile site.

We've done Italy, France & Holland. All three were excellent. Italy was spoiled by an infestation of Tiger mosquitoes but loved the place. France was brilliant but out of the three myself & the kids would pick Holland if we were going back tomorrow.

Italy - Union Lido - Huge complex, on the beach, lots to do
France - La Croix du Vieux Pont - Big pool complex, water slides, lots of activities
Holland - Duinrell - Free theme park, aqua park, town close by

If you want guaranteed sunshine though you'll want to go further south in Europe

Fdevine, would those places be OK for older kids 12-16?

Mitten31

NIMAN wrote: »

Just checked that place out, looks a nice spot.

Who did you book with?

We've always booked direct with the hotel and gotten flights separate. Transfers are cheap and readily available from the airport.
I can't recommend enough - my kids are still talking about it and singing the songs and talking about Daisy the mascot since last year!!

ScumLord

I drove down to Spain this year and camped along the way. France has excellent campsites, they really go all out, even the crappiest ones have a pool. Spain was horrible. I was in the middle of the country so maybe they're better elsewhere but they cram people into spots, the ground was like rock, the heat was unbearable, and the services just weren't as good.

Stayed in hotels on the way back, we got eaten alive in Spain, the local bugs seem to really like irish food.

NIMAN

Mitten31 wrote: »

We've always booked direct with the hotel and gotten flights separate. Transfers are cheap and readily available from the airport.
I can't recommend enough - my kids are still talking about it and singing the songs and talking about Daisy the mascot since last year!!

Just checked and its expensive, but then again you tend to pay for quality.
Weekly prices:
SC = €2200
HB = €2300
AI = €2900

Add flights on to that, and the Canaries tend to be quite dear too to book flights too, and I think I might be out of budget!

Looks like French campsite for now.

aquarius10

Hi

We have been doing campsites since our youngest was a few months old.

Can recommend Bella Italia, Lake Garda but it's prob gone for this year, it books up a year in advance.

La Clarys Plage in the Vendee area France, take the ferry & drive, lovely lively campsite near the beach and loads to do around the area.

Stayed in Cote de Nacre, Normandy, very interesting area from WWII and nice campsite easy drive from Cherbourg, weather can be hit and miss unless you head south or travel in July & August.

price a few different operators and also price direct, you could save few hundred shopping around for same dates.

Ferries to France either Irish Ferries, Stena from Rosslare or Brittany from Cork. Expect to pay around €1200 for Ferries - we normally book ferries in Sept for June - July travel and use the early booking discounts and tesco vouchers to reduce price. There is another thread on camping in France if your interested - loads of useful information there.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057621952&page=30

Best of luck deciding ��

NIMAN

I had considered driving but tbh I couldn't be bothered.

We live in Donegal, and you're already talking about a long drive to get to the ferry, and likely a long drive in France, and then same home. I need a holiday too!

But thanks for all your info, will check it out. Via an airport!