Cheap flooring - laminate?

[twinkletwinklelittlestar123]

We will be moving house soon and will need new flooring. I really want wood flooring however this is too expensive. I'm considering buying laminate that looks like wood - good or bad idea?
I could do carpet but with mucky small children worried about stains (our living room carpet here they've stained!). So I'm thinking at least for living/dining room? Or maybe all over? Thoughts?

Laminate has come a long way. Having suffered rental laminate, I was adamant that I would not have it in our house. However, there’s cheap and there’s cheap. We have a brand called Kronotex in our downstairs and carpet upstairs (noise). I splashed out on expensive rubber underlay to help minimise noise. It’s really good, has a slight wood grain texture, robust, doesn’t mark. It doesn’t like being wet for long but can deal with occasional mop and washing up.

Got a laminate in B&Q, I think it was possibly the second cheapest one per metre, looks great, appears childproof. Only have it downstairs in a room mainly used by kids. Will see can I find the name of it. As @reetgood says a good underlay is a must.

I've just got an amtico catalogue through, their stuff looks good for more realistic look. Not sure what price is though. I am looking to get some wood and time effect flooring as the real thing is more expensive and high maintanence. Be interested to hear if any one has used amtico and how close to real it looks.

I wanted amtico but you could lay a real wood floor for the equivalent cost.