Sun Holiday with 2 young kids - Is it worth it?

JimboJones99

Hi,

Myself and my wife are thinking of heading on our first sun holiday in the middle of June. The kids will be 5 and 1.

The first question is; Is it worth it? I'm not so worried about the five year old, even though she can get bored easily enough from time to time but is it worth the hassle bringing a one year old abroad? Not so sure if it sounds too relaxing to me!

The second question is; can anyone recomend a resort to head to? Must have plenty to do on site for kids and within walking distance of a beach. Preferably not too long of a flight either.

Thanks

Eponymous

Yes! Once you plan ahead for the airport and keeping the kids occupied on the plane, you're sorted. Honestly, the stress in air travel with kids is the airport, not the flight. Whether the flight is one hour or five, you still go through the same ordeal in the airport itself. Just be prepared to keep the keep the kids amused, so have new books/puzzles and snacks to pull out of your bag to keep them occupied during the flight.

Any of the main resorts have loads to do for kids, plenty of them have kids clubs etc. For kids so young I daresay you don't need them once there's a kids' pool. They make friends so easily and that keeps them going for the hole day if you let them! We've never had our eldest in a kids' club yet, but that might change this year.

If you wanted a specific recommendation, I really like the Costa Sal in Lanzarote (I've recommended here several times before and always received great feedback from those who went). No kids club until July, but there's two kids pools, a big playground and loads of room to wander. It's in Matagorda, between the airport and Puerto del Carmen, five minute walk to the beach, 7 minute walk to bars and restaurants and there's a great bar/restaurant on-site too. €5 in a taxi gets you into the middle of PdC with a huge selection of bars/restaurants and shops. We're heading over on the last week of June for two weeks, our fifth stay there in six years! It's not particularly cheap, but it's definitely worth it. Huge selection of accommodation on the island for all tastes and budgets and there is loads to do and see on the island.

Lex Luthor

it might sound like an ordeal and every time myself & missus went away when the kids were young we always said never again, just not worth the hassle but the memories you get cannot be replaced looking back now
Like said the airport is a nuisance, queing for the check in, far side of security waiting to board
For me at that age, camp sites are great

There are some really good ones across Europe, France is not the only place
I would highly recommend Camping Sanguli near Salou. Ryanair fly locally to Reus airport 20min away, beach across the road, Salou 20 min walk, plenty pools on site.

Another place supposed to be great is Martinhal in Algarve.

We're going to Lake Garda this summer (Camping Bella Italia) and another place near Lake Como that's supposed to be top class for young kids in Hotel Parco San Marco

These places book up fast though so as soon as flights are released you should be ready to book

Bargain_Hound

Lex Luthor wrote: »

it might sound like an ordeal and every time myself & missus went away when the kids were young we always said never again, just not worth the hassle but the memories you get cannot be replaced looking back now
Like said the airport is a nuisance, queing for the check in, far side of security waiting to board
For me at that age, camp sites are great

There are some really good ones across Europe, France is not the only place
I would highly recommend Camping Sanguli near Salou. Ryanair fly locally to Reus airport 20min away, beach across the road, Salou 20 min walk, plenty pools on site.

Another place supposed to be great is Martinhal in Algarve.

We're going to Lake Garda this summer (Camping Bella Italia)and another place near Lake Como that's supposed to be top class for young kids in Hotel Parco San Marco

These places book up fast though so as soon as flights are released you should be ready to book

Brilliant place. We tried getting 10 days again this summer but cannot get any availability for dates that suit us.

Lex Luthor

Bargain_Hound wrote: »

Brilliant place. We tried getting 10 days again this summer but cannot get any availability for dates that suit us.

good to know
we're going with Eurocamp...looking forward to going back to staying in a mobile home as we haven't done it in yrs...mostly hotels last few yrs but now boys are well in their teens I think they'll enjoy it again

Bargain_Hound

Lex Luthor wrote: »

good to know
we're going with Eurocamp...looking forward to going back to staying in a mobile home as we haven't done it in yrs...mostly hotels last few yrs but now boys are well in their teens I think they'll enjoy it again

Scratch the above - we managed to get a week booked end august/start of September Mobile homes look like good fun, the whole site is very busy with a nice atmosphere. The local shop on site is good too, very cheap. Sight is right on the lake. Local town is a 5 minute walk (downhill) with lots of restaurants and good views. GardaLand is a 5/10 minute drive north of Peschiera, well worth a visit if you have kids. A lot of people from across Europe (NL/D) seem travel down for their holidays too it would appear, so its not just Irish/English (Good thing IMO).

Rustyman101

Aldi store not far away either , difficult to find but once you do your sorted ! Bus stops outside for serimone & perscheria , la lume nice spot for grub , its overlooking the lake on way in to perscheria ! Spoiled for choice with ice cream !! Enjoy ! Book a buggy for kids real handy !!

JimboJones99

Lake Garda seems to be the place to go!

Probably too late for us to get ourselves in gear to organise it for this year but definitely will be more prepared to book for next year.

Thanks for the replies

76544567

How do you get to Lake Garda?
Is there a train or do you have to hire a car.

finbarrk

We went to the Falcon places in Salou when the kids were young and it worked out fine.

Rustyman101

76544567 wrote: »

How do you get to Lake Garda?
Is there a train or do you have to hire a car.

Fly into Verona , Bella italia is bout 30 mins by car / taxi also bus depending on package. Wouldn't bother hiring a car very good bus and train service , Verona and Venice are nice day trips if kids are older ! Wouldn't bother bring young kids on city breaks !

76544567

Rustyman101 wrote: »

Fly into Verona , Bella italia is bout 30 mins by car / taxi also bus depending on package. Wouldn't bother hiring a car very good bus and train service , Verona and Venice are nice day trips if kids are older ! Wouldn't bother bring young kids on city breaks !

Sounds like a nice trip. Might do it on august

towger

Also, get all day sun cream like this
http://www.irishbodycare.com/Departments/Parasol-Sun-Care.aspx

We used it every day in very hot places, but twice a day, morning and after lunch. Kids in and out of the pool all day, never got burned in 35 degrees. You don't want to get cream that you have to put on them every time they get out of the water.

aquarius10

JimboJones99 wrote: »

Lake Garda seems to be the place to go!

Probably too late for us to get ourselves in gear to organise it for this year but definitely will be more prepared to book for next year.

Thanks for the replies

Eurocamp will be taking bookings for Bella Italia for 2018 in next few weeks if you still interested. Stayed there in 2014 with then 4 & 2 yr olds and we all loved it. Flew to Verona & hired a car. Definately recommend visiting Sirmione and Monte Baldo while there .... magical place. We travelled in mid May and temps were 25 & sunny most days

NIMAN

Booked our first ever family holiday abroad, heading to the Cypsela campsite on the Costa Brava in July.

Kinda excited and apprehensive all at the same time !!

Ninelle

I can understand your worries about travelling with young children. I think some things depend on your child’s character. For me when we travelled to Spain with my 15 months old daughter, there was not much trouble. She slept all the flight from Dublin to Alicante, we were so happy, as usually she is very active. You shouldn’t be worried about the flight itself, just chose a direct and not too long one. What you can do to simplify your holidays is (as someone has already recommended) to find a good resort with a kids club. This will give you some free time. For us, as we rented a villa with one more couple also with a girl of 4, a good option was possibility to do shifts :)  Which means that sometimes we managed to have romantic diners only two of us, when the other couple took care of our girl. Was really nice to spend 1 month in Alicante, especially living in our lovely villa. Actually, all of them are just amazing in Spain  https://tranio.com/spain/valencia/alicante/. Probably you can also consider Alicante as a destination.

big syke

Went to Lanzarote last year with a 1 year old and 6 year old.

Not worth it.

Flight was grand slept at night etc but the 1 year old wasn't walking so was stuck in buggy most of the day or in the pool (only so long he would stay in pool) and he couldn't just crawl around because the ground was too hot.

The 6 year old got bored after a few days even though there was activities.

Just my honest 2 cents.

Anatom

Fully recommend the Eurocamp / mobile home holiday. They have kids clubs, pools, restaurants etc. We've been going to the same one in France for a good few years now and wouldn't go anywhere else. I hate the apartment block idea. With the mobile, the kids can wander around and make friends and enjoy themselves (not your 1-year old yet obviously!), and if you hire a car you can take trips around the locality and see the area too.

You'd really want to book now though. We book ours the summer before to get (a) much cheaper prices - i.e. 20% off, and (b) your pick of the best campsites.

Look at the Eurocamp website, pick the area you want to go to first and go for it!

sullivk

We stayed on a Eurocamp site in Britanny last June with our teenager and then 10 month old. Brought the car on the ferry Rosslare to Cherbourg and then a 2 hour drive to camp.

Lots of activities on site for older kids, zip lining, pedalo boats, football tournaments, horse riding, entertainment with kids clubs and then great pools and playgrounds for baby. It was lovely, got to head over to Normandy to see the D-Day beaches etc.
The mobile homes are great, nice to relax with a bbq at the end of the day and they had it all kitted out with travel cot, baby bath and high chair. Highly recommend a camping holiday

JimboJones99

Anatom wrote: »

Fully recommend the Eurocamp / mobile home holiday. They have kids clubs, pools, restaurants etc. We've been going to the same one in France for a good few years now and wouldn't go anywhere else. I hate the apartment block idea. With the mobile, the kids can wander around and make friends and enjoy themselves (not your 1-year old yet obviously!), and if you hire a car you can take trips around the locality and see the area too.

You'd really want to book now though. We book ours the summer before to get (a) much cheaper prices - i.e. 20% off, and (b) your pick of the best campsites.

Look at the Eurocamp website, pick the are you want to go to first and go for it!

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated.

We have decided to not go abroad this year mainly because as you have stated above availability in the eurocamps and resorts in general were low enough. Think we will get ourselves more prepared for next year and look into it much earlier.

Also the young fella will be a year older and more independent!!

Anatom

JimboJones99 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated.

We have decided to not go abroad this year mainly because as you have stated above availability in the eurocamps and resorts in general were low enough. Think we will get ourselves more prepared for next year and look into it much earlier.

Also the young fella will be a year older and more independent!!

Good plan! You'll be able to book for July / August 2018 in the next few months probably (certainly in July) and get the discount and the options.

Tigerandahalf

If you have kids under 5 you are better to travel in the shoulder months of the season - May and Sept. Cheaper, less crowded and not as hot. Over 25c everyone will be uncomfortable and even strolling in a buggy becomes an issue.

Would all camp sites have aircon?

You can get decent small apartment blocks with pools if you research plus aircon to keep everyone cool especially for sleeping at night.

Airports are also easier at that time of the year plus less kids on the flights.

Campsites are probably better once the kids get older and you can perhaps avail of a kids club to mind them for an hr or two to have some time to yourselves.

meeeeh

We had no problem keeping kids occupied on sandy beaches. If anything we had trouble getting the older one out of water. The rest of time was spent by building sandy castles and some other sand games. I never felt the need to be stuck in some resort with dirty pool water when sea offers so much more. And it encourages their imagination and creativity.

Tigerandahalf

meeeeh wrote: »

We had no problem keeping kids occupied on sandy beaches. If anything we had trouble getting the older one out of water. The rest of time was spent by building sandy castles and some other sand games. I never felt the need to be stuck in some resort with dirty pool water when sea offers so much more. And it encourages their imagination and creativity.

True. We found the same. You could sit on the beach for hours but a pool complex would bore you. If I was getting bored on the beach I was always able to get up and go for a walk or a swim. You do need the temp to be reasonable. Otherwise the sand would be too hot.
Also the beaches in June/July would be packed.

I am the kind of person that doesn't like crowds so I suppose a lot depends on what your likes/dislikes are and planning around that.

Victoria21

Yes. Just be prepared to keep the keep the kids amused, so have new books/puzzles and snacks to pull out of your bag to keep them occupied during the flight.

infogiver

JimboJones99 wrote: »

Hi,

Myself and my wife are thinking of heading on our first sun holiday in the middle of June. The kids will be 5 and 1.

The first question is; Is it worth it? I'm not so worried about the five year old, even though she can get bored easily enough from time to time but is it worth the hassle bringing a one year old abroad? Not so sure if it sounds too relaxing to me!

The second question is; can anyone recomend a resort to head to? Must have plenty to do on site for kids and within walking distance of a beach. Preferably not too long of a flight either.

Thanks

Not worth it at all in my opinion.

Shorty69664

Is it possible to get late booking for the Eurocamps that would be cheaper than booking now?

We had a look but the prices are a little on the high side for our budget when you include flights.

If there was late availability that would work out cheaper (due to cancellations, etc.) we might hold off and book later rather than trying to get somewhere different.

Anatom

Shorty69664 wrote: »

Is it possible to get late booking for the Eurocamps that would be cheaper than booking now?

We had a look but the prices are a little on the high side for our budget when you include flights.

If there was late availability that would work out cheaper (due to cancellations, etc.) we might hold off and book later rather than trying to get somewhere different.

You might be better contacting the camp(s) you want to go to directly and getting them to put you on a cancellation list. I'm not sure if its terribly common, but it must happen that people have to cancel for whatever reason...

You have nothing to lose really.

Good luck.