to ask your best holidays with small kids?

[marymary40]

Not sure where to go this year with our 3. They are 3-6 in age. All want the go to disneyland, but it is too expensive - I mean we could with credit cards afford it but I feel it is too much too spend when they are so little - best waiting a few years until they will remember it.

I have to look after my dad so would prefer to only go on a one week or maybe 10 day holiday (if long haul)- 14 days would be too long.

Ideally we would like to go in school easter holidays, if not then, then the summer (we can't do whit)

I would quite like somewhere with a kids club - never done this b4 and hate the idea of the AI benidorm type holiday.

absolute max budget is £5000, but prefer less!!

Any suggestions??

We took our 1.5 ry olds to Antigua )we didn't pay for their seats) as we thought we'd never be able to afford to go there again if we did have to pay. They loved it! We didn't like the flight out (10hrs) but if you take a portable DVD and colouring books it lessens the pain. They were fine on the way back as it was a night flight. We wanted to go as far as we coud for as less as we could. Just be prepared for long hauls!!

I agree that Menorca is lovely- very quiet in lots of places, not sure about weather at easter though- june probably ideal.

Have a look at Siblu. You even get MN discount!

Eurocamp in France, beach holiday in Sardinia & villa holiday on Corfu have been my favourites with the dcs. Also Australia, but that would presumably exceed the budget.

Have you tried getting a quote for Disney? I reckon you would be able to do Florida for that budget, definitely. If not, Paris in the summer?

When we found out we were pregnant with triplets we decided to do our last (for a while) luxury holiday with our 2YO and 1YO and went to Antigua; it was pure bliss :)
Triplets are 3 now and we are now starting to think of going abroad again and will hopefully start with Disney Florida next year.

Agreed that Center Parc's is just amazing when going with kids - there are loads in Europe so would still be hot :)

Hilton at Dalaman. Fantastic kids pool with watersides, big bedrooms, fantastic food, only 20 mins from airport.

We are prepared for long haul - we have been to south africa and thailand!
Agree with the portable DVD players - god sends, especially when the flight promised screens in the back of seats and then did not have them.

Eurocamp type holidays in Europe without a shadow of a doubt. As natation says you can get the same thing on the same sites cheaper with other operators, but that type of holiday in a static caravan or ready set up tent with bedrooms and facilities (advantage of the caravan option is the bathroom).

We have done these 6 times now (I think) - now have 3 kids under 7, though the first time we did it was before the youngest was born.

We love Croatia and Italy - weather is perfect at Easter - obviously you'd want to fly there from the UK, which is why more Brits who do that type of holiday do them in France, so they ca drive (we drive to Croatia and Italy but live in Germany).

Really the absolute best low stress holidays, they have kids clubs, kids activities, pools, playgrounds, but it is not remotely Benidorm-esque and for adults the great thing is you don't all have to sleep in one hotel room together and the adults can sit on the terrace while the kids are in bed, and the best thing for the kids is there are always tons of other kids about to strike up holiday friendships with and play with outside while you watch them and have a glass of wine on the terrace - what's not to like? :) Having stayed on what I thought would be a similar type of set up site in the UK the European ones are much, much nicer, less cheesy, and the weather is much closer to being guaranteed.

www.camping-bellaitalia.it/en/

or

www.camping-adriatic.com/lanterna-camp-porec

Even for 10 days and every extra including flights and a nice hire car you'll have half your budget left I'd say.

I have looked into Disney - does not seem possible for 5 for £5000 (that budget is all in- spends etc and from manchester )

Kinderhotel in austria (unken) was the most fantastic stress free wonderful holiday ever with the kids. The food was gorgeous, there was so much to do, it was safe, relaxed and beautiful.

Portugual, rented a villa. DD was 4, ds1 was 2 and ds1 was 3 months. I just sat by the pool feeding ds while others played with dh in the pool. Then we had barbies at night. Lovely

i love the look of these Euro camp type places particulrly the Italy/Croatia idea but also just France BUT- dh refuses to drive (and is a nightmare if i drive - so no holiday!) and I have to to agree it is a long drive for less than 10 days.

Anyone done Fly - Drive?

Sorry, Portugal!

You could fly to Dubrovnik or Milan (as appropriate) and hire a car... does bump the cost up significantly obviously but still far, far, far less than your budget.

Sensatori in Crete or Majorca, the Crete one is supposed to be the most child friendly though, although they all are. All have kids clubs, ofsted registered nursery staff and babysitters etc

We managed to get two adults and toddler for £1200 flights hotel car parking at airport and all transfers.

Our siblu holiday was near Bordeax. We flew with easyjet and hired a car for the week. That was Easter 2010. Was a really brilliant week.

We have also done the Eurocamp type holidays with DCs since they were tiny. Most sites have shop, takeaway and restaurant so that you have plenty of choice whether whether to self-cater or be catered. This is great when DCs are young as it means you can eat when it suits you all.

There are plenty of options for fly drive and the various companies are set up for it.

You know that if you do choose to drive you dont have to do it all in one go? You can stop when you want to take a break and look at the countryside. Also many of the Eurocamp type companies allow you to do stopovers at campsites along the way. This means that you can split the journey up over two or even three days if you wanted to. A long car drive is simply several short car journies taken one after the other!

I second the first choice holiday villages. We have done the ones in turkey, Mallorca and costa del sol. Would not do the Spain one again but first 2 were fantastic for kids

Another vote for Santa eularia in Ibiza, we rented a villa though and it was great at easter. Mark Warners are supposed to be good too.

Egypt would be nice, as you could dive - kids can't but you can go on a day boat if you like diving- I took my dc and they were fine for one day. My dh dived and we snorkelled or swan about with floats. Oonas dive school is lovely and they have acommadation at the school, on the beach with a restaurant. You don't have to dive every day:)

Dubai? Lots of deals, lots to do, weather not to hot in Easter if you have naps in the afternoon, which you would do anywhere I guess as its always hot then. Jumeirah beach hotel is fabulous for family.

Rovinj in Croatia was one of my best holidays when DS was 4, had a little apartment in the centre of town, easy to walk to beaches, cycle hire available to go further.

Also Cinque Terre in Italy, we stayed in Monterossa in an apartment and walked the hiking trail between the towns.

I've never done a kids club on holiday.

Look at Thomson holidays, we always use them, they do excellent hotels for children with great facilities, if you want a beach holiday I can recommend Crete and Ibiza.
x

How about Tenerife ? People are a bit hoity toity about it but we have booked for the October break for the 4th year running and find it a great place to go with our DS age 6 as the temperature is warm without being overbearing - should be nice at Easter our friends went there at that time this year and said the weather is fine.
One of you could maybe take your eldest to the water park but other than that there isn't a huge amount to do except go on the beach and enjoy yourselves.

We stayed at this place httpwww.holidaywatchdog.com/36168-Los_Cristianos-Regency_Country_Club-Holiday-Review.html and its wonderful with young children. They have a small childrens club which runs mornings only but it is 4 up, but they also have entertainment ( much less tacky than it sounds) and best bit is you stay in apartments rather than hotel rooms so have space for your family to spread out, and they have cartoon network !
Alternatively our friends went to a First Choice AI to Tenerife - two sons age 6 and 3, said it was the most relaxed holiday they have had since having children and like us they are used to 4/5 star accomodation.

Cyprus, Crete.....

However the very very best hols with out 4 as young kids was saundersfoot in Wales.

Yes it did rain a bit but lovely beaches, folly farm and oak wood are fantastic for families.

Look at Pierre et Vacance, Port du Cruesty in Southern Brittany. Absolutely fab. Pools, clubs, beautiful location, apartment/villa accommodation - I'm sure you could fly quite reasonably - not sure if there is a small airport at Vannes - and hire a car. It really is the best of all worlds - we did it a few times when the dc were little and loved it.

Tenby or Saundersfoot! Caravan or self catering cottage.

Beaches galore, manor house zoo park/folly farm/oakwood park all within an easy drive - soft play place in Tenby if rainy and desperate - pont trekking - tons to do. And cheap.