Talk to me about First Choice Holiday Villages, please.

[stovies]

They look great on paper but wondering what they are really like. They are actually quite expensive, at least by my standards, to go in school holidays so wondering if they are worth the money. I've just been quoted 6.5k for 4 of us to go in Aug to the one in Rhodes. It just seems a lot.

I've been on tripadvisor and the reviews seem very mixed. Though some of them have far better reviews than others.

The stuff for the kids is the main attraction but wondering if its anything special.

So, has anyone been? If so to which one and would you recommend them? TIA

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Anyone?

Hoping someone has been!

hi there
we went to the one in majorca a few years ago in september. it rained but if it had been nice weather it would have been ideal. at the time we had just our daughter who was about 18 months. the creche was great adn the babysitting service fantastic. the evening entertainment was naff but enjoyable enough and the kids loved it. overall it was kind of tacky but it was quite cheap as we went towards teh end of season. the accommodation was great, big bedroom, bathroom and large living area with kitchen.

we booked to go to the one in egypt this march but i cancelled it after i found out they have had quite a lot of problems with food poisoning there and i wasn't impressed with the lack of information first choice was giving me about it. we found the food at the marjorca HV fine, would have been getting pretty fed up with it if we had been there fore more than 1 week though i expect.

we looked at the HV Rhodes and would love to go there but decided the weather wouldn't be good enough in march.

we found the staff at the majorca HV very good and i would definitely recommend the childcare but that was for just a little one so not sure what it is like for older kids.

i have to say that i can't imagine spending 6.5k on any 1 or 2 week holiday to europe so i can't say it would be worth that but to be honest i am not sure any holiday to a kids resort would be worth that to me! but i know that is what they cost so it depends on what prices you have had for other hols. have you tried tots too - a friend of mine recommends them and has travelled through them quite a few times.

sorry, not really being much help to you. i would say that if you are used to mark warner/center parcs terribly middle-class / posher end holidays you wouldn't like a HV but if you just want to go somewhere your kids are going to love, they have childcare and you don't have to worry about cooking etc you will probably enjoy it!

Hi Rachel, thanks very much!

I am very tempted by the Mallorca one tbh, mainly due to the short flight. The reviews for that one also seem reasonably good.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the average price for a family of 5, AI, during school holidays. It does seem expensive but then everywhere does for end of July and August.

We do go to Centerparcs twice a year for the weekend. When I think that we pay £500-£600 for the weekend, it doesn't make this seem too bad for a fortnight!

I'm not actually looking for childcare though. I'd like clubs and activities that the DCs can dip in and out of. Hope that's the case.

There are lots of complaints on Trip Advisor about the Egypt one with regards sewage being springled on the grass. Yuck! I guess if kids are running over the grass then into the pool it could cause all sorts of tummy problems. That one does look fab though!

Not sure we're into 'posher' type hols though even if we do frequent CP. We tend to do Eurocamp or just drive to S of France. That seems much cheaper but I really fancy a change and somewhere that has lots to occupy the kids.
Thanks again!

when we read the reviews for the majorca one there were various people going on about other visitors "pooing in the pool"!!! it seems to be an obsession with some holidaymakers as to if this is happening. we had no problems at all with the pool or anything else like that. the kids clubs seemed fine but be aware that i think you have to book in advance for them. there is a nice big room next to the kids pool bit and the kids all seemed very happy there. we booked the evening babysitting but as there were only two other kids booked in the girls ended up coming to our apartments which was great. the tattoo/ sun-reading quota was certainly higher than you would get at a mark warner resort or center parcs and my sister would never be seen dead at a first choice holiday village (she has an obsession with things being "chavtastic" as she calls it!) but we had a great time apart from the weather, found most of the other people there very friendly and will go again to one either this year or next i hope!

We went to the Majorca HV last year. Good for younger kids but you do have to book into the clubs early. Quite noisy round the pool during the day...constant quizzes and calls to join in the aerobics , loud music etc.

The pools were great..there's one 'over the bridge' wave pool, giant rubber rings for older kids and great squirty pools for littlies, also a pirate ship with water guns.

Food was good ..buffet style.

Nice big rooms.

Lunch was a bit naff...burgers and hotdogs on plastic plates.

Quite expensive ... I would go there again if kids were younger...but not geat for teenagers.

Thanks Rachel and Sharon. Hmmm, not sure about constant noise around the pool and constantly being encouraged to join in.

Sharon, I saw a pirate ship in the brochure for the one in Benalmadena on the Costa. Didn't realise they had one in Mallorca too. Thought it looked fun for the kids. Do they have those pirate ships at all the HVs then?

We're going to have to make a decision as already, availability isn't great.
This is all really helpful, thanks.

We went to the Eygpt one in 2008, and we had a great time, lovely room good food etc.

No problem re food poisoning, was embaressed with some of the other Brits behaviour though.

It is was it is, keeps the kids amused and isn't going to break the bank!

Thanks, Watfordmummy!
The Egypt one does look fab but the reviews have just put me off a little.

The 'Brit behaviour' is one of my biggest worries as DH is likely to get very annoyed and refuse to go on a sun/beach package holiday again. It's a difficult balance as I want somewhere with lots for the kids to do too.

We've been to HV Mallorca and Benalmadena. Both good, excellent for families but TBH we didnt think they were really worth the extra cash.

The HV in Fuetaventura was pretty bad - certainly not worth the extra. We enjoyed it but only because we had got it as a last minute (day before) deal for almost half the original price.

We have had just as good a time at Riu Hotels further afield and Louis Group hotels in Greece/Cyprus. Both of which are very family friendly but not as expensive.

The HV in Cyprus was TWICE the price of the Louis Phaethon Beach Club and we had people from the Aliathon sneak into the Phaethon at night as the entertainment was better!

There is a Louis family hotel in Rhodes (I think) that looks lovely.

Thanks, LtEveDallas, that's really useful. I think they appeal because I can see what's on offer for the kids, whereas other resorts often just say, 'lots to do' type of thing.

Can I ask, thinking of the two you enjoyed, which would you recommend most? The Mallorcan one somehow looks less tacky but maybe that's based on pre-conceived ideas of what Benalmadena would be like. Kids are 7, 5 and 3 if that helps!

Will also look at the other resort you've mentioned. Talked about this at work today and someone asked why I haven't considered Lykia World in Turkey as it is apparently amazing! Maybe I need to start a thread asking who has been and why it's so great.
Thanks again!

Hi stovies, I think the Mallorcan one is best for adults, Benalmadena best for kids! Mallorcan is smaller and quieter, Benalmadena busier, more going on.

Umm, Benalmadena a bit cleaner, but rooms smaller (not by much). Giant pirate ship was a big hit. Not as far from airport either.

If I had to go back would prob choose Benalmadena, but doubt very much we would chose a HV again. We really liked Louis, esp if going to Greece/Cyprus (Greek company).

HV have recently taken over a hotel in Tunisia, and prices have hiked by around £300 pp.! (we were looking at it last year, saw it again this year and were shocked)

Thanks, Eve, really helpful!

The Tunisia one looked interesting though I've no doubt they'll be practically giving those away by summer. They are currently still taking bookings for Tunisia despite FO warnings not to travel there. They must be very confident of that being lifted come the summer.