Sun holiday 2023 with 12 year old boy

km79

We have just returned from Parque Santiago 3 in Tenefire after an excellent 12 nights. That was our 4th time there after initially getting the recommendation from a thread here about 7 years ago!

So we still love it but want to change for 1 year next year. I would like to find somewhere similar in another country (not Portugal as we have been there multiple times as well) but a complex that has activities for his age range so that he can make a few friends. He relied on us for his pool entertainment this year :D

We actually had booked Sol Lanzarote for summer 2020 but Covid put paid to that. I have been thinking about there now but the Tripadvisor reviews are very mixed for such a pricey holiday and we have also never done all inclusive. Prefer to rent private apartments if at all possible. I won't rule it out though if anyone highly recommends it.

So if anyone wants to point me in the right direction for a good central resort/complex or even just a location other than Tenerife, Portugal or Lanzarote that would be great. We do like to be near beach, nice restaurants etc. The only place we have been so far that we were not mad on was Salou due to the location and standard of restaurants.

Thanks!

standardg60

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g642208-d500314-Reviews-Apartamentos_Casa_Luis-Santa_Eulalia_del_Rio_Ibiza_Balearic_Islands.html

Have never had anything other than a great time here

NIMAN

Would you consider a camp site?

They are great for kids that age.

km79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119461669#Comment_119461669

For one year only maybe ……..one of the neighbors went to Lake Garda . Going to ask him about it .

have you one in mind ?

We do like the beach though..

NIMAN

Some of them have beaches close by.

Example, Cypsela in northern Spain. Great campsite, and it has an hourly free bus that operates to the beach 5km away.

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g580332-d1155446-Reviews-Camping_Sandaya_Cypsela_Resort-Pals_Costa_Brava_Province_of_Girona_Catalonia.html

km79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119462497#Comment_119462497

I had a quick browse there and I’m almost certain the one we looked at and strongly considered before was Bella Italia campsite in lake Garda

It May he back in the running now

Prices of flights for the 3 of us to Lanzarote next June are over 1600. That’s almost double what we paid to Tenerife in high season this year

Thats a factor now too . Campsites had looked dear but flights could be cheaper

fdevine

We did the Sol Lanzarote this year and absolutely no complaints.

All-inclusive for 10 nights (2+1) including flights cost us c.€3500 with Budget. Flights were nearly half the total so agree it's not cheap.

Entertainment team are genuinely tireless and while our child only got involved in the pool activities there were other activities organised for different age groups as well.

Food was excellent IMHO and even the snack bar had decent food that could be eaten by the pool should you choose to.

Bonus that it's 10 minutes from the airport. Beach on your doorstop. Quiet area but close to PDC if you want something more lively, or a change of scenery.

fdevine

Don't know what prices are like now but we did Union Lido campsite before and it was great. On the beach too. Huge site but loads to do & relatively easy to get into Venice if that rock your gondola.

There are lots of sites along the Lido di Venezia.

km79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119463291#Comment_119463291

Thanks sent you a pm

km79

Having checked the prices for Cambrils Park and Camp Bella Italia I think they are out of our price range. For our dates we get a tent for 2 week in Bella Italia for 2,800 or a 2 bed classic with air con in Cambrils for 3800. Crazy money

fdevine

Campsite/mobile home holidays only worked for us when we had all three children travelling with us.

Now that our eldest has flown the nest and the next eldest is in college it's not financially justifiable to spend <€3k on accommodation alone, especially when AI can be got in Canaries for the same money including flights.

km79

Have booked in for Sol lanzarote

By pure chance our return Sunday date flight was 100 less than every other date. So that brought flight totals down to 1300

Thanks very much for all the replies