MIL wants to book a dream holiday....

[Whatsername17]

MIL lost both of her parents fairly recently. With some of the money she has inherited she wants to take us all on holiday to try and make some happy memories with the money her parents left her. Dh and I have a two children, as do sil and bil and then there is sil2 and bil2 who are childless, young and hip. MIL has asked us to suggest a hotel, it must be at least 4* and all inclusive, ideally somewhere where they have never been before. Disney has been ruled out as MIL is worried it is the rainy season and sil2 has been several times before. Spain, Teneriffe, Lanzarote are also firm 'no no's' too. MIL and FIL don't want to go anywhere where Zika is a risk. They've all been to Greece and Cyprus but would consider it, if we found the right hotel. They've been to Santorini and Italy but again, for the right hotel they could be persuaded. Any recomendations of where we can go? My kids will be almost 7 and 18 months, I'm a little worried about keeping an 18 month old happy on a pool holiday so suggestions of how to cater for my little one would be appreciated. In the past, holidays in the UK have been very stressful with the whole family, so, selfishly, I'd like somewhere that is big enough to get lost for a couple of hours when we all start to get on each others nerves.(Although I do appreciate how generous MIL is being - it's a lovely thing to do and we are grateful.) Any ideas would be most welcome. She would like everyone to submit a couple of ideas and then I think we have to vote.

Seabank or the Radisson Blu in Malta. Malta now positioning itself as the new Ibiza so will appeal to the hipsters. Loads of culture if you want that. Fabulous diving. Everyone speaks English. What not to like!

We stayed at Tilnik in Slovenia. Most beautiful place I've ever seen, mountains, lakes and we swam in the rivers...Lubljana is a gorgeous city, prices weren't bad, roads were brilliant - just a wonderful holiday. But we did have great weather...

All of the children I know who have been on cruises hated it. A few were travel sick and the other two hated how claustrophobic it felt and were a nightmare!

I think the secret with kids is to pick a large ship with lots to do. Some ships have multiple swimming pools, bowling alleys, video arcades, splash zones, ice skating, rope courses, merry go rounds, mini golf, climbing walls etc. I think there's even some with dodgems. And that's before all the activities provided at the kids clubs.

Large ships have very little movement, so while it's not impossible, it's unlikely to get seasick unlesss the child is very sensitive to movement.

Try Helona Beach resort with Mark warner. It's a 5 star hotel but with the usual (excellent) child activities. Plus loads of activities for adults Or the neighbouring Lakitira Suites which is a 4 star boutique.

I was also going to suggest Malta. . There is so much history, so much to see and if you stay in Valletta there are hundreds of buses that take you all over the Island. I think it is important, on a holiday like this, that ever family can go off for days and do their own thing. The people of Malta absolutely love the British and are so kind and helpful.

Madeira is also stunning but is not so easy to travel around as Malta.

I would think splitting the £25k equally between her children might bring them more happiness..?

I second Italy or Croatia. Good luck with it all - DH and I found on big family holidays that childcare wasn't forthcoming (well it was if you counted reading a book on a lounger and glancing up every 10 minutes or so to check the toddler was still running around the edge of the pool).

We go on our own now

As other have suggested Med cruise. Food is great lots of options plus you can buy an all inclusive drinks package, different ports will offer something to cater for everyone. No need to be stuck by the pool. Great kids clubs.

I'd do an upmarket AI.
Mauritius has some gorgeous hotels which would be perfect but the 12 hour flight (overnight with BA) is a killer.
Sugar Beach in St Lucia would be another one, but not guaranteed Zika free.

If she is going to pay, what about a cruise, and you all get your own rooms, no cooking lots to do and kids day care, so you can have me time'

Also a vote for a Club Med.

Fabulous.

Menorca is gorgeous - I'm not sure about fancy hotels, but you could got for a super fancy villa and hire a cook and cleaner. no Zika.

The one in 'Les Boucanniers' is amazing.

I agree with a cruise - it really does have something for all ages. My partner and I went on one with his parents and it was fantastic. We did a few activities together but often went off and did our own things during the day meeting up for dinner etc.

Before going I thought a cruise might be a bit boring for a young couple but honestly it was fantastic!

Algarve? There are some lovely AI resorts, beautiful scenery, lovely warm climate - I'm a big fan, so maybe a bit biased...

A good club med would be good. They cater for everyone in a laid back, all inclusive French style.

A cruise would be my idea of hell! Tiny rooms (unless you pay a fortune) and nowhere to escape to.

With the ILs, I don't get involved with the decision making.

We have been on hol a few time, and leave the decision making to the brothers, and sisters and MIl. Would not want to be responsible for the whole project!

I'd stay out of it, and whatever they decide, just go and enjoy it.

We ended up in a big house in Cornwall, which has been lovely

How about this place in Italy - www.villapia.com/ or not posh enough?

We are now waiting on a quote for the Forte one in Sardinia. I think its going into the pot as a possible. The childless couple are my children's aunt and uncle. They often take the kids out and spoil them for the day (they ask if they can) so I'm not worried at all about help. In any case, Dh is my team mate, we will do everything 50/50.

We went to Krabi last year (Feb) with small kids. It was amazing. I could give you deets of hotel?

I can also recommend Mauritius but as per PP's it is long haul - if it was considered then Heritage Awali was a fantastic hotel.
Not been but heard great things about Kefalonia/Croatia/Ibiza (not the party side obviously) and Menorca

Kind of useless tip but can I suggest taking a little inflatable paddling pool in your luggage for the 18mo. Fill it up with pool water and put it by your sunlounger and you might get lucky and have 10 mins peace watching her play in it.
Other than that everywhere I would suggest has already been mentioned and I am noting down the others!

Yellowheart- yes please!

We have been doing this as family for 25-30 years as my family live overseas and we meet at holiday destinations. We are lucky enough to have been on lots of different extended family holidays, australia, Canada, Dubai, maritius, Africa, Greece etc. Most important thing I do is check hotel reviews on tripadvisor.com. Also, look for hotels with a good kids club - even your 18 month old can use the kids club if you are with them or pay if you pay for a babysitter. Write a wish list of people's needs and wants and research hotels thoroughly by reading reviews to help ensure the hotel matches this. I only book hotels where the majority of guests say the food is good.

Turkey has some lovely AI resorts - many of them big with toddler pools, kids clubs, playrooms, etc, which would suit you.

Thomson Sensatori also have several lovely resorts which cater well to families - off the top of my head they have Ibiza, Cyprus, Crete ... and others besides.

Majorca would also suit your needs and those of the other family - nice beaches, short-ish flight, kid-friendly, etc.