Sun holiday first-timers

kyomi

We are a couple with a four-year-old child who have spent every holiday since she was born in Ireland. We generally stay with the grandparents in West Cork but the house is very isolated and my daughter was a bit bored on our most recent trip. I think she would really love to be around other kids.

I'm thinking we could try going on a sun holiday next year, but I'm completely clueless about where to go or what to look for. I'm tempted by the Canaries as it would mean we could go earlier in the year, but all the islands seem very different and I'm not really sure which would suit us best (it would be my first time going there).

We would be looking for a child-friendly place, realistically probably a resort as there would be other kids around. One with a kids' club or kids' activities would be ideal. We would prefer self-catering but there would have to be lots of restaurants nearby as I have no intention of cooking every night! Our budget would be mid-range.

We'd prefer a town/region with a family-friendly atmosphere, not a party place. And because my husband is picky, nowhere that's too built-up or has a lot of high-rise! Finally, my husband and I are both sporty, like to run a lot, and I also like to do a lot of sea swimming and snorkelling.

Would anyone be able to recommend a place that ticks a lot of these boxes? I'd be happy to consider places other than the Canaries if anyone has any ideas!

The Davestator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058210018/sun-holiday-first-timers

There are so many options available to you - try using the 'best for families' search criteria available on most sites.

From my experience, I would offer the following couple of tips;

Get a place with a very shallow kids pool in it, or even better, a mini waterpark in it - this makes it so much easier to entertain kids. (check out the pool in Bella Italia for a good example)

Request a room at the end of the corridor - this means that people are not walking past your room when the child is asleep.

An evening kids club is great if available as it allows you to enjoy dinner in peace and the kids have a ball.

naughtysmurf

It’s been recommended here over the years, & we’ve stayed there too but a few years back, Costa Sal in Lanzarote & if your budget stretches go for one of the bungalows, I wouldn’t describe it as a resort but it’s well run, in a quiet area away from the busier parts & ten minutes from the airport, usually plenty of kids there, it attracts families, just Google Costa Sal or read the reviews on tripadvisor, short taxi ride away from the centre of Puerto del Carmen for restaurants & bars, think it would be a good option for first timers, there own food offerings on-site were good too.

junebabies

Es Cana in Ibiza is fab . It’s such a beautiful island and Es cana itself is a lovely family friendly resort . Of all the sun holidays we have been in Ibiza was our favourite.

I prefer the warmer water in the Mediterranean to the canaries personally but Fariones plays in lanzarote were lovely and they are being refurbished at the moment and due to reopen early 2022

kyomi

Thanks all! I agree with @naughtysmurf that Lanzarote would tick a lot of boxes for us so I've started checking out resorts there with the aim of travelling in March next year. I'm thinking Playa Blanca or Costa Teguise rather than Playa del Carmen, but it depends more on the resort rather than the town as we would probably be spending most of our time there. If anyone has visited Lanzarote in March, would it typically be warm enough to swim in the sea, or would a heated pool be essential?

@The Davestator also mentioned Bella Italia, which looks fab for kids (and I think my husband would also like it a lot better than a sun resort!) - will definitely check that out for a summer trip. @junebabies, funny you mention Ibiza as it's another place that wasn't really on my radar but a friend of mine has just come back from a family holiday there and has nothing but good things to say about it! It may not be quite warm enough in March so that's another one on the list for a summer holiday.

naughtysmurf

While I can’t predict the weather in the Canaries in March, good chance it will be warm during the day but would feel cooler in the evening, maybe jeans & a hoodie needed in the evening, may get lucky with hot & sunny or unlucky with warm & cloudy, as regards swimming, depends how hardy you are, Canaries are in the path of the trade winds which come from the N/NE that’s what keeps the temperature down compared to say Florida which is approximately the same latitude, if not too breezy & the sun is out it will be hot. A lot of the hotels etc especially the better ones are built with the winds in mind, usually plenty of sheltered spots for sunbathing, you can pick up a cheap windbreaker if needed or bring a pop up tent, they are light enough .

March 21 was hot & dry, they had two Calimas where the wind shifts to coming from the south & temps were in the 30’s but as I said, can’t predict,