To consider AI with 3 under 6?

[orangedrizzle]

Looking at getting away in October or Easter 2025. We will have 3 under 6. We've only done safe holidays to a family home in France and the idea of AI with 3 of them seems scary. Is this madness or am I a total wuss?

Different people like different things.

Our kids nap in the afternoon when it’s hot. It’s very important for us to eat as a family.

A holiday village would be perfect for your kids ages. The canaries would be nice at both time ( though no super hot) all inclusive is the only way with kids IMO, want a drink but then it’s too warm? No problem, get a new one, wants some pasta but the decide you want chips? No problem.

also check out the TUI blue for families resorts.

stress free and if the kids have fun, you’ll have fun by default! Some will be old enough for clubs and activities too which are excellent.

I cannot be doing with villas and washing clothes and making dinners etc - I’m on holiday!

I never understand how some families want to live with the restrictions of strict bedtimes (and eat separately from their kids), instead of just going with the flow like I did, but everyone's different. Some kids need a routine, others don't. Some 4 year olds need to go to bed at 6pm, others don't. Some kids can nap at random times and places, others can't.

I disagree with most on here! All inclusives in my experience are extremely busy. I've done AI around 7 times and can't imagine doing it with little ones. Meal times are so busy as you are all serving yourself. Rather than sitting at a table and the waiters bringing everything to you.

OP, a couple of specific places to look at if you aren’t keen on big busy AI hotels but want something easier than pure self catering - these have your own mini villa/apartment but with kids club/restaurant;

Hotel Suites Villa Maria, Tenerife
Baobab Suites, Tenerife
Mousses, Greece (not Apr or Oct, but lovely May-Sep)

AI is literally the best thing with young kids. I wouldn’t do anything else. You want an ice cream? Sure get one! A drink? No problem. You wanna live off chips for a week? Go knock yourself out.
Isn't this just being on holiday? We've stayed AI, B&B, half board and self catering and I don't recall ever denying anyone a drink or an ice cream.

It's good for the kids but it can feel like ground hog day for the adults no matter how nice the place is. Make sure you book somewhere that isn't isolated so you can get out and about if you want to. Personally I won't do AI again, I like to actually see the country I'm in.

We recently went to Iberostar Club Cala Barca in Majorca all inclusive with a three year old and six year old and had a great time - plus flight was only 2.5 hours.

Second Majorca.

Alcudia bay has a very gently sloping beach at the Port d’Alcudia end , plenty of hotels to choose from.

Are you bound by school holidays OP?, so you mean only the Easter school holiday or October half term?

I never understand with the AI hotel set up and young kids how it works with everyone getting enough sleep? Do the kids pass out at the dinner table or do you eat really early and the drink wine in the en-suite while the kids are asleep? Do the kids get really grouchy over the course of the week if they stay up late?

We always kept DS up with us and enjoyed the entertainment. We never tried to be strict with bedtimes and he never really got grouchy.

How do you wash any clothes in the hotel, or do you take enough to cover a 10/14 day holiday? How do you fit that many in?

If everyone has their own suitcase it's not a problem. I don't go on holiday to do laundry!

We do an apartment / villa / mobile home holiday so kids can go to bed at normal time and we get our evening afterwards. I must admit I would like to not have the faff of cooking every evening though!

We went to Crete with Tui this April, it was just as the season opened (from Easter). It was perfect, hot enough but definitely not too hot. Food was good, but enough tame stuff for the littles and the less adventurous. Rooms lovely and big.

The only thing I don't like about Greece and the islands is that you can't flush toilet paper down the loo, and for some reason they don't have bidets. If yours are independent bum-wipers take that into consideration!

We've done AI for many years and it's worked really well. We tend to always go for apartments so if the kids are in bed we can still have a drink on the balcony. Quite often we'll just buy a few cheap beers from the supermarket to have in our room. The apartments have a kitchen with a fridge etc & we've even had a washing machine once or twice! I hand wash essential stuff (underwear) but otherwise I'll wear outfits twice on an evening as you're only wearing them for a few hours. Same for wraps/cover ups during the day. Jet 2 have a generous allowance for hold luggage too. I always come home with one or two unworn items of clothing!

I do find AI a bit of a tie but it saves having to go shopping for food & finding a restaurant that suits everyone every night

October or April AI with young kids is perfect.

In those months, if you want to spend your days on the beach/pool rather than wearing clothes sightseeing, I would aim for Canaries (any), Turkey (Antalya area is great for airport transfers; watch out for transfer times in other resorts), or south south south Mediterranean (Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus).

In my experience, the Balearics, mainland Spain, mainland Greece, mainland Italy and the northern Mediterranean islands are too cold for beaches/pool. There will be good years where it's warm in April/October, but not reliably so.

AI with kids is the best, particularly if you can let go of all the boundaries you have at home. I let my kids have whatever they want on AI (I think the record is 9 ice creams in one day!) and don't worry about it - not thinking about cooking or what anyone is eating is what makes it a holiday for me. I did let the 4 year old have fizzy drinks from the drinks machine, but not caffeinated ones!

Jet2Holidays are fab with family holidays. I used all sorts as a single/couple, but have definitely learned that Jet2Holidays are better than TUI/Thomas Cook for family holidays. Better rooms for larger families, and better holiday reps to help if you need them.

@MarmitePizza I thought Artificial Insemination too!!

Opt for one with a splash zone and paddling pool for the youngest and kids club for older ones. We liked magic life fuerturentura as sandy beach adjoined the hotel. TUI

Those asking about kids staying up late or falling asleep at the dinner table, we've always taken a pushchair for any under five's!

When we had twins under five we'd feed them early with food from the shop/snack bar (they'd eat a full lunch, so not the main meal) and then get them in pjs and pushchair and go for a walk at about 7pm. They'd generally sleep through our later dinner in the pushchairs and then we'd move them to bed later.

Once we had over five's, it's a balance of needs (isn't everything?). Generally they'd make it through a 6-7.30 dinner and then either be reinvigorated by the evening entertainment or need to go to bed, in which case DH and I would read/play cards in the room/balcony.

In my view, the really holiday is that someone else makes the bed and chooses/cooks/serves the food. With four small kids, it is totally liberating to not be at fault for the choice of dinner!

@Itsmyshadow

I don't see the problem, my kids ate at normal dinner time, 7.30 (6.30 in the U.K.) then let them enjoy the mini disco before they fell asleep in the best invention ever, a double buggy! To be honest mine burned the midnight oil happily and slept in, I've had many a solo breakfast and brought food back for the kids and ex! Take enough clothes though 1 week is plenty ai so less needed.

I too was wondering how Artificial Intelligence would help with having 3 under 6.

After a lifetime of self-catering and/or staying with family when the DDs were small, we did half-board (breakfast/dinner) in Italy a few summers ago. My picky teens had some stressful moments at the buffets but they managed to find things they liked and even tried some new things since there was less commitment than if they'd ordered off a menu.

Grand Hotel Moon Valley, Seiano - magnificissimo!

You just go with the flow.
Parent 1 and 1 child go for food.
Then Parent 2 and child 2.
Our dc used to nap on sunbeds in the afternoon.
Only ever do 7 days, so clothes inevening then used next day.
Usually used to stay out until around 10, then kids would crash and we'd sit on balcony.
Quite an intense 7 days when they were little, but they have fond memories.

Tui blue is great for different options in Spain, Greece, Portugal and other places

7 bottoms and 7 tops. Mix and match. Sorted for 14 days!

Db Seabank in Malta. Perfect for that age.

4 under 4 and we went last October and going again this one and best holiday we've had with them