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Holidays

Laid back Hols for older children

21 replies

Brighteyes27 · 09/01/2017 19:01

Looking for holiday for older children my DD will be 12 and DS 13 come summer. Any ideas for hols this August please? The kids want other kids to make friends with, a pool, a beach not far away, some space to run around and maybe table tennis or something else on site (also WIFI but they are nicer to be around without this). We want a relaxing break lovely scenery, shade from the heat of the sun, nice restaurants, decent sized accommodation not a double bed and double sofa bed would like a double or king and single beds for DC's. Have previously enjoyed family holidays in Alvor, Carvoeiro (private let's), less relaxing city breaks in Rome and Barcelona and mad AI holidays in Majorca. Prefer Algarve ideally but think kids need something more than Just's a pool but nowhere to manic but just need more facilities than we have had with private let's. Thanks

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Brighteyes27 · 09/01/2017 19:13

We want somewhere that feels safe and with the least likelihood of any trouble breaking out and somewhere with a cooling breeze which is why we like Carvoeiro and Alvor. We did think about Eurocamp but I was shocked at how high some of the prices were and wanted somewhere within walking distance of a pretty local town or village so we weren't confined just to a massive campsite.

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dibbley · 09/01/2017 19:19

The Riva end of Lake Garda is breezy.

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Brighteyes27 · 09/01/2017 21:09

Thanks I have also been to Lake Garda as part of YHA trip around Italy as a singleton. It was lovely but think two weeks with the kids might be hard going and not DH's first choice he does really long days at work and has a long day to and from work so he likes a good bit of chil out time in the warmth and the shade with his kindle.

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CheeseEloise1 · 10/01/2017 08:15

Look at Ikos Oceania. They had a good teen club, amazing facilities and amazing food!

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Brighteyes27 · 10/01/2017 11:37

Cheese Eloise1 - it looks lovely but we must live in different worlds and don't have that kind of budget with the kids ages they are classed as adults here. Also ideally I don't fancy AI or Greece at the minute. I should have said. I would like something under £2,500-£3,000 in total for flights and accommodation in August.

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Brighteyes27 · 11/01/2017 19:37

Bump

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user1475317873 · 11/01/2017 21:57

We have done holidays in Menorca and Mayorca with that budget. 13 nights and another one for 10 days. The last one we did a week in a self-contained apartment with a pool and then 6 nights in a resort, as the kids like the entertainment; they are younger than yours though.

We like Menorca, it is an island easy to explore and has many beautiful beaches. We rent a car and like to go exploring different beaches. It needs to be planned carefully otherwise you can go over that budget quickly if you eat outside all the time for instance.

It really depends on what you are looking for: eg. mountains, beach, lake. Apartment, resort, hotel. UK, Europe.

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mummymeister · 12/01/2017 11:05

from your description you want a site not an individual villa and these are therefore going to be more expensive. plus may tie you in to their flights which again will push up the cost.

you are going to have to compromise. either increase the budget and do what you want or keep within budget and stay in a privately rented villa and book your own flights to suit.

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Brighteyes27 · 13/01/2017 15:41

Thanks yes definitely don't want an individual villa and private pool the kids like to meet other holiday friends. In the Algarve we have stayed in decent sized private let's fit around £2,000 in August for 2 weeks in Aug and own flights. We would by shopping drinks and eat out on top of this. I like to be quite close to the coast/sea.
I wondered about Menorca but think your right it sounds like it's more for younger kids an dours don't need kids club or full on evening entertainment. Just a private let apartment recommendation, area campsite & tour operator, or nice apartment complex in nice area not to chavvie with some facilities in nice part of Algarve, France (near coast), Majorca or Ibiza or similar. I always fancied Croatia but wonder ho Edgar it is at the minute.

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Costacoffeeplease · 13/01/2017 15:49

Have you looked at rocha Brava or Quinta do Paraiso in Carvoeiro - or monte santo?

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ChippyMinton · 14/01/2017 10:26

I have PM'd you about a place in the Algarve Smile

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Brighteyes27 · 14/01/2017 12:49

Thanks Chippy I'll have to work out how to view that.

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ChippyMinton · 14/01/2017 17:23

Did the link not work? I'll message you again.

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Chewbecca · 14/01/2017 17:37

Maybe consider a cruise?

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SerialBodenReturner · 14/01/2017 17:44

If you're not all Carvoeiro-d out, we stayed at Colina da Lapa resort there last year - independent villas (well, semi-detached, but huge), communal pool with table tennis, pool table, tennis courts. Our children are 10/8/8 but made plenty of friends round pool and ran about with them in the evenings while we ate/drank.

It was about £900 for a week I think, flights extra obv.

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Brighteyes27 · 18/01/2017 21:29

Thanks 'serial Boden returner' yes ours loved Monte Dourado the year before and it was like that how far out is it from the restaurants. I'll look it up. Where there many older kids there not 16 year olds but more like 2-14 year olds?

Costa Coffee Please QDP was on my hit list to try this year but the only apartments left on the usual sites are £2,500-£3,500 for 14 nights? Do you have any contacts? Also do you know if it's geared for younger kids or older ones and how does the distance compare to walk up to MD. Looked at Rocha Brava and thought it might be too far out is that right? Are their likely to be many older children here in August?

PM me if easier. Many thanks

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Brighteyes27 · 18/01/2017 21:31

Thanks 'serial Boden returner' yes ours loved Monte Dourado the year before and it was like that how far out is it from the restaurants. I'll look it up. Where there many older kids there not 16 year olds but more like 2-14 year olds?

Costa Coffee Please QDP was on my hit list to try this year but the only apartments left on the usual sites are £2,500-£3,500 for 14 nights? Do you have any contacts? Also do you know if it's geared for younger kids or older ones and how does the distance compare to walk up to MD. Looked at Rocha Brava and thought it might be too far out is that right? Are their likely to be many older children here in August?

PM me if easier. Many thanks

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Costacoffeeplease · 18/01/2017 23:36

Rocha Brava is further out, it isn't walking distance of the village but there are free minibuses that go up and down and taxis aren't expensive. You have a restaurant and cafe onsite plus a small supermarket and there are several other restaurants within walking distance, as is Centeanes beach and O Stop bar/restaurant on the beach. O Farol restaurant on RB and O Stop are amongst our favourite places to eat Smile

Rocha Brava is quite a big development with different pool areas, tennis courts, and the 9 hole golf course at vale do Milho is just opposite

Quinta do Paraiso is within walking distance of the village - 2.5-3.5k seems very expensive for an apartment there, are they not villas?

I think it's difficult to say that any development is better for a particular age group, it varies so much even week to week with which clients happen to be there at that time but RB and QDP are bigger so there's more chance of a better match

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Grausse · 20/01/2017 13:53

Have you thought of Lanzarote?
We stayed in Playa Blanca when DC were that age and it ticks all the boxes. It's warm but breezy very similar to the Algarve.

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SerialBodenReturner · 20/01/2017 22:22

Hi, thanks and sorry for the delayed reply! Yes, there were a few older ones as well as the littlies. We were there right at the start of the school holidays so it was fairly quiet, but got busier as the week went on. Good luck looking! Love searching for holidays Smile

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Brighteyes27 · 21/01/2017 09:29

Me too serial Boden returner but usually I feel spoiled for choice. We all seem to feel the benefit of a two week break and DH relaxes into it. Unsure whether to do a week Abroad this year and a week in UK. But wonder if DH would get as much from it? Like another post says it's kind of a funny age as they get a bit older and might be bored staying round the pool somewhere quieter but you don't want to be dragging them out everyday in a hot car 🚗 looking to entertain them.

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