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.

Why are people suggesting caravans and the like in the UK, when the OP has clearly stated she wants 4 star in the sunshine, and has a fairly high budget?

Cape Verde?

I'd look at going with scott Dunn. They have amazing kids clubs from little to big and that way you can have a rest too. I've been with them to different locations and they take the stress out of it all (booking etc)

Just call them and they will give you some suggestions but ask for one with a kids club location. I'm a single mum and my 8yo loves its. I'm off to Croatia with them this weekend but also done Portugal etc etc

If budget allows, Mark Warner. Great for kids, lots of activities for adults if wanted. Their evening kids cinema club is the best thing ever, you can have adult evening meals and relax without having to entertain tired children, endlessly push a buggy round to settle them, and no babysitting needed

Malta - definitely a choice for me.

Madeira is beautiful, check out the cliff bay hotel if you want somewhere nice to stay. Beautiful island, lots to explore, flight not too long and not crazy hot. It's usually around 25-30 this time of year.

I'm at the family hotel Amarin in Croatia on the Istrian cost. There is so much for kids to do at this hotel. We only see the kids for meals and the pool as the rest of the time they're off at various clubs. Although there isn't much evening entertainment for grown ups the hotel does a courtesy bus to Rovinj or you can take the taxi boat for a few euros where there are lots of bars and restaurants at the harbour. You could also hire a car and go along the rest of the Istrian peninsula for day trips

Another vote for Malta. You could hire a massive farmhouse/villa with a private pool and get a chef in to cook on that budget. So much to do for those (of all ages and predilections) that want it, fabulous sunshibe for those that want to lounge. Hire a couple of jeeps and Bob's your uncle.

What about hiring a house in France? You could all travel independently and there would be lots to do in the vicinity to suit everybody.

Don't do Malta if you're after a beach holiday though..... There's bugger all sandy beaches there and the ones they have get really busy.

Seabank all inclusive in Malta is nice. 4 star with plenty of restaurants and a kids club. Also opposite a sandy beach ( rare in Malta).

Are you planning on going this summer OP? I am a bit confused as this seems like an immediate need to book, and everyone is assuming summertime? Did I miss the bit where you said when and how soon you were going? If very soon, availability will be your biggest issue!

Regarding the Algarve : lovely place but for a lot of people's tastes the sea is too cold ... my DCs wouldn't really stay in it for long. DH was OK with it but I couldn't tolerate it. We've been in the water in Cornwall but that's different as you are generally expecting brass monkeys!!

I'd go for Majorca or Greece.

I was going to recommend Crete.

We holidayed a few years ago at a lovely all-inclusive, hotel was called Vasia and was near village of Sissi, it had kids' clubs (from 4 -
12 yrs) and entertainment, but was also near a village where you could potter about, and a lovely sea-inlet ... the beach by the hotel wasn't sandy but there was a shuttle to a better beach not far away. Village had cafes, bars and crazy-golf (which we loved!) but prob not much else. We took a couple of trips further afield and enjoyed them.

Would your LO not enjoy splashing about in a kids' pool? Where we stayed, some of the family apartments had their own (small) pool, provided you were happy to be right beside her your LO could enjoy some sit-in pool inflatables?

Since your DC are so young, I'd definitely go short-haul. The Algarve is now, as are the Balearics. If you wanted to go slightly further out maybe one of the Greek islands?

Aphrodite Holiday resort in Paphos, Cyprus would cater for you all. Brilliant kids clubs, golf, tennis, horse riding, etc and stunning location

www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/europe/cyprus/paphos-region/aphrodite-hills/hotels/tui-sensatori-resort-aphrodite-hills-by-atlantica.html

Or there is the Elysium Hotel right in the heart of Cyprus which is a true 5 star hotel

Have just re-read my post - wanted to clarify beach by hotel "wasn't sandy" = too rocky to visit safely - think huge lumps of rock, no shale or gravel or sand.

Where France is concerned, la Côte d'Azur or Monaco would both be fab! I've had lovely holidays there (I had a very bad jellyfish sting though so look out lol!!). I wouldn't go elsewhere in France, though, as your MIL has specified no rain and the weather can be as bad as in the UK.

An added bonus, the flight will be short too, which is what you want with an 18 month old.

Sardinia is beautiful. Nice beaches, things to see.

Mauritius has great hotels, but is an 11 hour flight.

When are you going?

What sort of holiday would your MIL enjoy?

Kids focussed? Beach? Resort? City? etc

Having done similar last year never, ever, again I would say you are better off going for somewhere that isn't inclusive, but does have a couple of restaurants on site, a pool, grassy area for the kids to play and a good area to sit around in the evening outside your room (so you can put your toddler to bed) preferably near the pool so the older kids can go in still. Somewhere there are day trips you can do but don't plan to do them everyday. We had a SMALL part of our holiday like this, I wish we'd stayed there longer instead of going to loads of other places, it was too frantic.

Am also doing a bit of snorting at people suggesting caravans in UK or stretching to Mark Warner when the OP has said that MIL is happy to spend £25k on a hot, rain free holiday .

Come back OP, we are dying to know where you are inclined to go after all these suggestions!

If I had that budget I'd book here
https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/jumby-bay-antigua/accommodation/estate-homes/

Or
https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/sugarbeach/accommodations/villas

At SB you could have individual cottages but opt for AI. Superb children's facilities too.

Luxury villa near the beach in Barcelona.

Hot weather, own space, pool, beach, plenty to do.

I realise it's not AI but plenty of places to eat.

Or I agree with cruising, if you choose ship and ports wisely. Just like being in a hotel really, but with more going on, and waking up somewhere different every day.

Disneyland in California. Great for those with kids and without.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! We are still struggling tbh. Everyone wants somewhere with different features, those of us with kids want child centred, those without not so much and MIL is staying quiet despite being asked repeatedly. If I'm honest, I'm hoping for either Cyprus or crete. Dh priced up swim up suites at the Sensetori Crete which came in under budget. These were perfect imo as either I or dh would be able to take my 18mo for a nap whilst everyone else played in the pool outside and I wouldn't be stuck on my own and could still join in. I don't think others consider it 'specisl' enough though. No idea where we will end up at this rate! It is for next July but MIL wants it booked asap. I kinda wish she would just choose and we can just get on with it. Dh is finding it stressful that we've been asked to do the leg work but there is no response to the suggestions.

teal I don't know of many adults who would describe Disney as a dream holiday.
And two of the kids are babies so won't even be old enough to appreciate it.