Aibu to want a holiday that’s a cross between self catering and hotel?

[Guiltridden12345]

Just that really. The benefits of a hotel complex - primarily kids meeting other kids - but the ability to retreat from the swarming masses. My partner and I don’t like hotels, we like privacy and peace, all inclusive hotel holiday would our worst nightmare and we’d genuinely rather stay home than do that (I wish it were different). However, our tweens/ teens are becoming less able to amuse themselves -they argue continuously wotj each other and it’s really wearing. We are on Holiday now in a villa somewhere idyllic and it’s like WW bloody 2. First world problem but I wondered if there’s a halfway house holiday that suits old and young?

we went to martinhal in sagres when they were little. Had a Villa with a small pool on the edge of a big holiday village with bigger pools, bars, restaurants, play areas and a kids club where the kids can play with other kids (plus formal care if you want it). It was great - we could stay away or dip in as we wanted. We didn’t go back only because it was a bit too windy (it’s an upcoming surf spot apparently as a result). And we’ve not been able to find anything similar since. Anyone know of anything like this elsewhere in Europe? Or how do you cope with bored/truculent/irritating siblings on sunny holidays?

Aparthotels? I've been to a couple in Majorca though ae while a

https://www.loveholidays.com/holidays/majorca/puerto-pollensa/aparthotel-flora.html?WT.mc_id=pgo-38413690042-kwd-66416343274&ch=hn&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz8emBhDrARIsANNJjS4OBV14c58JbV4faW0oaOjtX2P_u4-YrZdANSROAHk67nLcPHsJGB4aAu37EALw_wcB

yes, very. But we both like to have one hot drop everything holiday a year.

An aparthotel seems like the obvious answer. They're everywhere!

Aparthotels. Or hotel complexes with self-catering bungalows?

Well yes, hotels with apartments or hotel complexes with villas perhaps?

You need enough to interest the teens.

We just did Florida with our teens (14 and 18) it was amazing.

Last year we did California and some other places with them.

Mixed it up between chilled locations and activities.

If you are in a villa you'll need to alternate between chill days and active/site seeing ones.

Mobile home in a park like Eurocamp?

There are absolutely loads of self-catering apartments on resorts. This one is quite nice. https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/agppy-marriotts-playa-andaluza/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0

Pools, restaurants, lots of games and activities, practically on the beach and walking distance to beach bars, and they have 2 and 3 bed apartments.

I realised that! The arguing has got to me today, bloody ingrates.

Eurocamp type holiday

Plenty of all inclusive resorts have individual bungalows, some with own pool. Or you can get B&B in a big resort hotel and still enjoy eating out, though I guarantee tweens / teens love AI.

To me if the kids are happy it makes the whole holiday more relaxing wherever you are.

There are lots of apartments in complexes in Greece etc. They usually also have a pool but are nowhere near as big as the hotels etc in Spain.

There's loads of places with self catering apartments, bungalows etc on a complex where you can dispatch your children to activities. Remember even with hotels you can dip in and out of activities, stayed at a place in fuerterentura with a quiet beach just beyond the hotel and 7 separate pools so you can get quiet spots. Rooms were really quiet and there was 5 restaurants so you could opt for quiet table service rather than buffet (even better, send the kids to the buffet and head to the adults only restaurant without them!). I didn't think I'd like it until I tried it

I know what you mean. We stopped our self-catering villa type holidays once mine were 14 and 12 as the novelty of their own pool wore off after a few days when in their younger days they would have been in it all holiday. Even in gite type complexes in France with opportunities for a bit of socialising round a shared pool or games room etc there was never a guarantee that there would be other children there their own age. Once their screens became more of a pull than a swim in the pool and relaxing in their lovely surroundings I decided enough was enough and they needed something more to do. And I was sick of DH and I wasting hours here or there shopping or cooking when I could have been relaxing!!

We went from one extreme to the other and booked an all inclusive hotel. I did my research as I wanted somewhere with nice food but that wasn't overly posh and formal. I wanted there to be stuff going on but not banging music all day at the pool. I wanted the place to be big enough where you could find a quiet spot for a read. And where there were pool tables, tennis tables, mini golf etc. We actually booked Tenerife, somewhere I'd been a bit snobby about before, to my shame. We had such a good time we booked again for the following year, which was 2020 (so it didn't happen!) but we're going again this year and our kids are stilll coming with us (one in uni,, one in 6th form).

Basically, I'm suggesting that you try a hotel somewhere that has everything you want even if you think you wouldn't like it, because you may be surprised and find you like it.

Or would you go somehwere with friends or relatives with children the same age? Get your own gites on the same site and then you've got your own space but the kids can socialise together and it might be nice for you too? If it's got a games room and somewhere to kick a football as well as a nice shared pool then it could be really nice.

Or, if budget isn't an issue, do a big adventurous type of holiday eg Californian road trip. We did that last year - 3 weeks driving around California. Best holiday of our lives, nothing would beat it. The teens loved it and we didn't even go near a theme park (my idea of hell!)

I didn't think I'd like it until I tried it

Yes, exactly, @gogomoto , I think this is one situation where having an open mind about trying something new on holiday is really important. If you do your research well and ask people on here if you find somewhere then someone might have been there and can give you an honest opinion.

Neilson is a good call actually.

the AI wouldn’t work for us, it’s our worst nightmare. Done it, reasonably high end, we hated it. Too many people, obscene amounts of food, just not our thing.

Would you consider a hotel that isn't all inclusive?

My son is younger than yours (9 yrs) and an only so I realise my experience may be irrelevant. I have never fancied all inclusive- nothing against it for those who enjoy but it isn't me.

Currently, we are in Austria in a hotel on a half board basis and so far, it's been brilliant. Food is lovely and there is a long breakfast sitting so no rushing about. Pool and spa at the hotel.

Out and about there is so much to do! We have only been here since Sat afternoon but have been to high mountain reservoirs, done a visit to a gorge you could walk up which was brilliant. Wandered about the town. Today we did a boat trip, then minigolf, then Pool at the hotel and chilling in the room now before dinner.

Loads more to do, cities/towns to visit.

Not a hot sun holiday but it may suit with older kids? I have seen a fair few families with older kids and all seem to be enjoying?

Oh and DH and I are both introverts and are not into making friends on holiday. I can understand that some people love it and are really sociable. We'd chat to people while waiting at the bar or something but we go on holiday to spend time together. So I understand you not having a big urge to be around others. But you know, what other people are fascinating. FASCINATING, I tell you! 😆I love people watching at the pool, and hearing what they're saying. You can also overhear some good tips on which sights to see and what not to bother with.

Your first para is literally this holiday!

we do holiday with friends a lot but budgets now for main holiday are quite different. That’s the killer.

Just off to police shampoo argument…. Aaaggghhh!!!