Holiday want list - AIBU?

[Surelytheresaneasierway]

AIBU to ask if there is a holiday in existence that fits this bill?

• All inclusive
• Smallish hotel not full of 1000 Brits
• Good food including local options
• Kid friendly pool
• Hotel room/suite where we aren’t all in the same room
• No loud music by the pool
• Kids clubs not needed
• Close to local sights

We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids (10&12) and have never done an all inclusive holiday before so not sure what is ‘normal’. We usually self cater abroad or stay in UK hotel

Hit me with your resort suggestions or your mocking laughter! 🙈😂 Thanks

No idea but am following as that sounds like my dream holiday.

So far DH and I have only come up with expensive cruises!

Some of your criteria seem mutually exclusive. "Kid friendly pool" is going to mean music, ime. Similarly if a place has all those things going for it then it will have a fair few British visitors.

I've found Rui hotels have a selection of nationalities. Can't recommend on all these things but kid friendly pools generally come with activities so your request is contradictory.

Thanks for this - useful to know.
By kid friendly pool I mean one where kids could throw a ball around - as we’ve not been on this type of holiday it’s good to know that kid friendly pool means music!

I don’t have anything against other British tourists… it was more a desire to be in a place which was smaller in size and maybe popular with tourists from other countries too!
I assumed (but sounds like wrongly) that people always want a kids club and music!

All your points noted - thanks

AI's tend to be biggish hotels. The local food is rarely popular with tourists especially as most kids are picky gits.

The AI's I have been to usually have a small local option available eg tagines in Morocco etc. if you want local food you are better off eating out. In many cases outside of Europe the local food can be tricky for kids (and sometimes adults) - Egyptian food for instance is hot!

Brits are generally fairly reasonable fellow tourists.

AIs in the Caribbean get a lot of Americans and Middle Eastern ones a lot of Russians.

Ikos Andalucia meets most of those requirements and Estepona has some great restaurants and bars. If you want to travel a bit further afield then Ronda and surrounding villages are beautiful

What you are asking for is totally achievable if you have money to spend. It does depend a bit on budget though.

Zafiro C’an Picafort in Majorca. We’ve just been with Jet2Holidays and it ticks all your must haves. Plenty of activities for kids, our 3 YO toddler was very well catered for.

A bit old school but why not go to a travel agent and discuss? They’re likely to know where to recommend and have a good idea of comparisons between hotels and areas within these boundaries.

Look at Mitsis hotels in Greece.

Depends on budget, we’ve found all those things on longer haul holidays but that’s our preference. Morocco also was good for cuisine, suites, local sights and smaller options.

This is actually an excellent idea as I also don’t want to be in a room where I can hear the evening entertainment either 🙈

It’s pricey and often trotted out on here, but Ikos reports offer everything you want. Friendly and great for kids, but still quiet and classy. Lots of restaurants on site as part of their all inclusive, including local cuisine. We have been to Dassia and it included a boat trip and a days cat hire for you to explore the island too.

None of the places are AI (half board or just BB) but they have 2 bed apartments, a good range of dinner out options and the other things on your list.

Pine Cliffs in the Algarve, either Villas or Premium apartments Srebreno (book with jet2 to get use of the Sheraton faculties) just outside Dubrovnik or a bit more basic but good Seth Mestral in Minorca!

Flights are good times and not too long

I've found avoiding the big well known chain hotels the best to meet your criteria.

I also try and go for hotels with less than 2/300 rooms.

The type of room you want is a 1 bed apartment within a hotel. Anything with aparthotel in the title is a good starting place.

Also you need to look at hotels that aren't in the main - most known - resorts in wherever you decide to go.

For example when ds and 1 went to Malaga area we stayed in a Torreblanca. It's between feungirola and Benalmadena which everyone searches for in that area because they know them!

These places do exist. My suggestion would be to go into a travel agent (Hays are really good) and give them your requirements - they should be able to narrow down searches for you.

You can then take them away and research areas and compare prices.

Hi op

I have not used a travel agent in years but for some reason I did this year and she found us a brilliant holiday (got back this morning) . She listened to everything I wanted and came up with the place we went. I think travel agents must have access to good deals that we can't see as it was 200 less than I could see on line.

[email protected]

Charlie's holiday dreams.

She emailed the hotel ahead and requested a room overlooking the pool rather than a carpark and they also took into account a quiet room as my DD is autistic. She checked in with me a couple of times over the last week to ensure we were happy with everything.

I am very used to booking with Expedia / on the beach etc so this was a really nice surprise.

Have a look at a residence room in Arum Barut hotel near Side in Turkey. They are rooms with a double bedroom, a twin bedroom and a living room.

Agree with Mitzis. We had a room for 4 with a sort of mezzanine, not separate rooms, but the rest of the criteria fit.

I can recommend Travel Counsellors as an agent - we've used them for over a decade and they're very attentive and have always come up with excellent options

We’ve found and booked somewhere with a kids pool and no music 🙌

Where did you go for OP?

TUI blue sensatori resort in Rhodes. It didn’t tick every box - I was clearly being a little unreasonable(!) however I’m reliably informed there is no music round the pool!
Also the entertainment is mainly in an arena with seating I’m told so it’s in a separate area which means we can avoid it if needed!

Lovely enjoy!