All inclusive but with private pool, does this even exist?

[HolHello]

Looking at Spain. Max 2.5 hr flight from Manchester for 2024.

We need a private pool but I don't want to do a villa as I cherish not worrying about cooking for once!

Ikos Andalusia. We've just done ikos in Greece. Food and facilities were amazing and they had 2 and 3 bed villas with private pools. I'm sure the one in Andalusia does also

Not aware of any in Spain but could name a few in Greece, Turkey and Egypt.

My sister did this in Corfu I think last year. Only a small pool but private.

Definitely IKOS

But prepare for heat. It's been 41 degrees in Andalucia for a couple of weeks now, and it is HOT.

eagles palace and MarBella in Greece also have private pool bungalows

Ikos ones always book up really quickly so you have to get in quickly

Eden resort - Albufeira. Very expensive though

What’s your budget?

OK maybe not.

Prices are crazy :(

I have ND kids and just got back from holiday, they liked it but wouldn't go in the shared pool as it was way too busy/loud.

They asked if we could do a villa with pool next time.

But I can't afford 2.5k PP for a week :(

You should look and booking villa / flights / transfers all separately yourself if going down the villa route. Often cheaper than a package

We stayed at a hotel a few years ago in Menorca which also had villas with pools and I believe they were part of the AI package? The hotel itself was a bit dated but was fine for us. I believe it was called the Marina park in Arenal De Castell

I have children like this. We do self catering. Mine can't cope with the buffet food situation either.

If 2.5 hours is your absolute maximum from Manchester, than southern Spain is slightly further than that anyway. Cost Brava/Dorada area and Balearics a little closer.

Could you get a villa and eat out every day?

Is it just you cooking/shopping or are the DC older, so can pitch in, and do you have a partner?

Eating out is likely very expensive, but if you eat out for a main meal each day then have easy breakfast/lunch/BBQs/snacks/ice creams etc and do a couple of supermarket trips it can be a mostly relaxing peaceful holiday, but without the silly price tag for IKOS AI that MN seems to think is a normal holiday cost.

How about a hotel with a swim-up pool? Basically like having your own pool, right next to your room.

Try looking at Portugal, Martinhal but also there are a few other resorts that offer this and less expensive than the Ikos resorts. Similar flight to Spain

Slightly longer flight so not sure if it would be suitable but we stayed at TUI Blue Lagoon Princess in Halkidiki last year and they have private pools. We had booked one originally but swapped to a swim up as we have an only child and thought she might make friends (she didn't, so should have stuck to private!).

I'm not sure if it was just where we went recently (turkey) but we found it was cheaper to book self catering and then add on inclusive on arrival! It was £100's more doing it advance through jet2!

I just looked it up and it says adults only? 🤔

@HolHello sorry Blue Lagoon Palace is the adults only which is next door. Blue Lagoon Princess is the family one

Thanks so much!

I'm with you with ND kids needing their own pool!

Try Lanzarote - playa Blanca on VRBo or Airbnb. We've been a few times and smaller villas (much more affordable) with private pools are a plenty there. Book flights separately and hire car and good to go.

We stayed in a nice small villa in Lanzarote, but it's well over 4 hours from Manchester and the pool was unheated, but would be fine in summer.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g652121-d4353451-Reviews-Villas_Puerto_Rubicon-Playa_Blanca_Lanzarote_Canary_Islands.html

Could be the same ones that @impotuginhd is referring to

Walking distance to marina, restaurants, bakery and large convenience store. You could probably BBQ, get takeaway pizza etc as a halfway house between self catering and AI. I know it's not 'not thinking about food' all week, but it's a far more sensible price.

You could do a villa to suit your kids needs but eat out instead? Or cook if you can’t afford the 2.5k?

Why are you wanting AI - is it just avoiding cooking?

If so then you’ll spend a lot less by getting a villa and eating out for most meals, or even hiring a private chef, than for a villa in a resort (which tends to be only available in the most expensive hotels)

We've stayed in villas in Majorca ( Cala Esmeralda, Cala d'Or and locally bought access to nearby hotel dining. Would that work for you?