...to just want to find an affordable holiday abroad for a family of 5?

[StilleNachtCarolling]

Posting for traffic really. We have three kids who will be aged 7 and under and want to go on holiday during the next summer hols - somewhere sunny.

All the places we've been quoted have been really - last year was the first time we looked at a foreign holiday during school holidays. We almost fell off our seats I think DH actually did fall off at the prices.

This year we went to France and stayed in one of those Al Fresco park things (it really reminded me of the resort in Dirty Dancing!) for a week, and then drove over to Disneyland Paris for another week. It was good fun but not very sunny and all self-catering. I don't think self-catering is much of a proper holiday

So...does anyone know of a secret place somewhere sunny, half board or all inclusive, that's near the beach and has good pools etc? I'm probably asking for the moon on a stick but we don't really want to spend any more than £4K in total. Is that totally unreasonable??

[LucyLou2003]

Thank you Stille for the link and description. It looks fab, I think we're going to go for it, I'm so glad I saw this thread

[Babyroobs]

we went on a first Choice all inclusive 2 years ago to menorca ( sorry can't remember the resort) but for six of us it was around £3400, so I would imagine your gudget is do-able.

[StilleNachtCarolling]

[Buttercupsanddaisys]

I've been looking at this heading since it was first posted. Still think it looks like 'affordable holiday for a family of 57'...

How long before I can focus with these new specs?

[StilleNachtCarolling]

Can I ask the name of the place to went to in France, it sounds just what I've been looking for

Yes, the place we went to was called La Croix du Vieux Pont ( www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g2278155-d284968-Reviews-La_Croix_du_Vieux_Pont-Berny_Riviere_Vic_sur_Aisne_Aisne_Picardy.html )

We stayed in a 3-bed Thomas Cook Al Fresco mobile home. It was right next to the outdoor lake/pool. This is surrounded by an artificial beach and so was perfect for a bit of before breakfast/last thing before bed sandcastle building. It's also very close to the castle where the TV series of Merlin was filmed, Chateau de Pierrefonds, which went straight into top place of our list of favourite castles EVER. Truly gorgeous!

We booked the Disneyland Paris part direct with Disney, and got half board thrown in for free as part of the deal. I think our entire holiday (both parts) came to approximately £2500.

[defineme]

Can you give specific examples of villa holidays you have done Fox? I have always found they price up much more than something like sc apartment in a hotel...where we often have 2 bedrooms. However, I love the ides of our own villa so would love to know where you go.

[FoxInABox]

I would try a villa, have a look on owners direct for example. We are a family of five too and always go to a villa as the cost of flights, hire car, villa and spends equals or is sometimes a lot less than an all inclusive in one room! I couldn't bear to be all in one room for two weeks, plus my youngest would not settle at night so it's great they can have their own spaces.

[olympicsrock]

Don't go for Sharm. Way to hot for children in the summer holidays.

[CointreauVersial]

Ooh, useful thread....

[LucyLou2003]

Really glad you found something suitable.
Can I ask the name of the place to went to in France, it sounds just what I've been looking for

[StilleNachtCarolling]

Quick update for those lurking for ideas!

We have FINALLY booked our holiday for the summer - we are going to Menorca, to Isla Paraiso hotel. It's right next to a gorgeous looking beach, has a couple of nice pools (although sadly no slide for the kids) and there's a water park type place nearby if we fancy it. There's also a land train around the area that I bet the kids will love.
We are going half-board for 11 nights and it's come to a grand total of £2830 in August. We are using some of the leftover budget to go to Alton Towers Splash Landings resort for a few days at Easter so it's worked out quite nicely.

We also have Starry Skies to go to in the summer holidays so I think that's plenty of fun for the kids to be getting on with

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

That's where we are going too douchbag!

[FuzzyWuzzywasaWoman]

Marking Place

[douchbag]

I've just booked the first choice holiday village in Turkey for a week 3dc me and dh 3.5k all inclusive in August so it is doable

[defineme]

We are a family of 5. We went to costas apartments in kalamaki on zante with thomas cook... 14 days cost usless thsn 3000 in August sc but restaurant pool bar so cheap it was not economical to do more than eat breakfast at home. Plus points were it was very warm, beautifully warm sea few minutes walk, edge of resort with lots if nice restaurants, turtle nesting beach so very quiet, incredibly friendly family run hotel with menagerie of random animals, regularly cleaned apartments and fun evening entertainment. Downsides were it is super basic and small pool...but my kidsplayed in it all day with the friends they made which is the benefit of a small place.

[Branleuse]

this summer in france wasnt great weather. It's usually much better, and they had a better spring and autumn than their weird summer, but ita not usually like that so dont be put off x

[GreenPetal94]

We tend to book flights on easyjet and then find a place to stay on the villarenters website. But then I like self catering as it gives us a lot more space than a hotel. And can go out to eat / just cook pasta.

[StilleNachtCarolling]

I'm trawling Love Holidays currently - they seem a lot cheaper than On the Beach.

Despite some of the really gorgeous looking resorts in Sharm, I just don't think it's going to be great for my middle child and husband in terms of the very high temperatures. She's a whinger and a moaner at the best of times - being super hot won't help her temperament!

Branleuse We went with Thomas Cook Al Fresco (v similar to Eurocamp) this year for a week - one not far from Paris - and we and the kids loved it, despite it being a bit chilly. We then stayed at the Davey Crockett Ranch whilst we were at Disneyland Paris for another week, which I can highly recommend! I've no idea why that particular Disney Hotel is only rated ** as our cabin was spotlessly clean, the breakfast boxes are fabulous and you can take them into the parks for your lunch if you eat cereal for breakfast instead. The food at the restaurant there was delicious too. The pool is supposed to be good but we didn't have time to use it.

[HyperThread]

Someone above mentioned the cleopatra luxury resort in sharm. I can highly recommend them. They have separate restaurants you can book dinner for too.

[HyperThread]

You've got a healthy budget. Try a 5 star hotel in sharm el sheikh.

[cantbelievemyeyes]

StilleNachtCarolling you may well find it gets much hotter than that- I tend to look at max temps as opposed to averages as they're the ones you'll be experiencing in the daytime! This summer typical highs were between 30 and the mid 40s I believe, with lots of reports of it being 'absolutely boiling'. I like this website for historical weather data, it's not the exact resort but it gives you a good idea of this summer www.wunderground.com/history/airport/LTBS/2014/8/19/MonthlyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA&MR=1

[isseywithcats]

another reccomendation for turkey and even going self catering you wont have to cook even once the whole time you are there the restaurants are good and cheap, i like marmaris as a resort

[SecretSquirrels]

Veteran holiday booker here. My DC are 18 and 16 and we have travelled abroad every year.
I always spend a lot of time researching and booking and never find that do it yourself holidays are cheaper.
One tip is to make it 11 or 12 nights instead of two weeks. You won't feel short changed as you might having one week instead of two.
I'm currently looking at Tenerife for August with Jet2. I have to book two rooms for 4 adults and can get a reasonable hotel for around £4500 AI with entry to Siam Park included. If I drop to HB it's cheaper. Often AI is only actually cheaper for very heavy drinkers but I tend to choose it for convenience..
Just tried the same holiday in OnTheBeach and it costs more without free entry to the waterpark.

[Branleuse]

thats a eurocamp btw, who i think are very underrated