To sort of want our first family holiday to be a package holiday?!

[Snufflebabe]

OH and I have been pricing a last minute trip to the Canaries for us and our Dd, who is 18 months. Having come across some really good deals, we have got ourselves all excited at the thought of a nice week relaxing in the sun somewhere. We haven't been ANYWHERE since I was in the early stages of pregnancy, and would love a nice little break.

Having looked into these 'cheap deals' the time you add baggage etc, it's actually kind of pricey. Not that much less than that you would pay for a Thomson/Thomas Cook week in the sun.

Would we be crazy for booking a cheap and cheerful week in the sun and hoping for the best? Or, baring in mind it's our first family holiday, and I have no idea about taking a cot, what to pack for DD etc, would a package deal, with an onside rep, and a generous baggage allowance be maybe the best option?

I kind of quite like the safety net of a Thomson rep...

To be honest, you really wouldnt need a rep. All they are any good for is drumming up people to go on trips!

If you go to Lanzarote the transfer from the airport is really easy and really quick. We stay in Matagorda which is less than ten minutes from the airport, very family friendly, and anything you cant take with you can be hired or bought there. Anything you need for a baby or toddler, (food, milk, nappies) can be bought at the local shops and they stock UK brands too).

The only advantage of booking with a tour comp as in a mega crisis they 'should' look after you . Bear in mind that in winter months many have skeleton staff and offer phone contact only!
Most hotels offer cots , high chairs etc for free they will state if a charge.
I would price your flights yourself , contact the hotel you like ( look on trip advisor)for a direct quote then say look on venere or booking.com to see if it is cheaper. Go to the arrival airport site and look for taxi comps( normally they are official). Book comprehensive insurance . I did all this in an evening. Mind you i am not flying from the Uk but I did check Thomsons accom only prices.
When we went to Florida Thomsons flydrive was cheaper but we still did the accom ourselves.
Also some tour comps give you a 15 kg allowance so watch out!

We go to Lanzarote about 3 times a year, simply because it is cheap, you are pretty much guaranteed decent weather all year round, and it is fairly quiet. By quiet I mean no 18-30's and lots of drunken people recovering from hangovers during the day... but there are plenty of good restaurants, nice family bars, and it is only a 3.5hr flight.

We have stayed in lots of different complexes at Matagorda and I always use Alpharooms or Holidaynights to book the accomodation, and we fly with Monarch.

Never had a bad holiday there yet.

Yep, Lanzarote, anywhere in PdC is a cheap and quick taxi from the airport, there's plenty of small apartment places, fly whoever is cheapest, book the apartment yourself directly with them (or through one of the services, but if you get the number you can often get further discounts phoning direct)

Absolutely don't see the reason for any sort of package tour if you're just wanting to laze around in some sun.