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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Has anyone been to La Manga?

11 replies

Fimbo · 14/02/2011 10:32

Tia!

OP posts:
SlightlyTubbyHali · 14/02/2011 10:34

Yes, a few times (to LMC, not the strip).

What do you need to know?

Fimbo · 14/02/2011 10:37

Oh good someone's brains to pick!

What is "the strip"? (see clueless!)

I am looking at El Rancho villas. Or any other type of accommodation that is detached.

How noisy is it at night? Are there things to do apart from golf and tennis?

Is it split into various areas, if so can you use any swimming pool or just the one allocated to your accommodation?

How easy was it to book flights to Murcia?

We are looking at Easter 2012 btw! (early me?, never!)

OP posts:
SlightlyTubbyHali · 14/02/2011 10:51

Okay, the strip is the beachy standard Spanish resort bit. It's the club that has the sports facilities etc.

It's pretty quiet at night IME. El Rancho is quite central so you might get a bit more noise from being near the shops etc, but in general it is quite sedate.

There's a spa at the Hyatt, there's a (very) small beach on site. Presumably you'll hire a car, in which case you can drive out to some of the better beaches (10 mins). You're not far from Murcia and Cartagena for sightseeing. There's a watersports centre not very far outside (windsurfing etc). At Cabo de Palos there are places to eat. Lots of walking to be done too. If your DCs are of footballing age there is a football academy for children.

It's split into areas and think that you are tied to the pool of wherever you are staying, although there is a big public pool next to the tennis club which has a very good shallow area for small children. You can also pay to use the indoor pool at the Hyatt spa (by the Las Lomas apartments).

I haven't flown to Murcia in a while because BA stopped flying there and I recall the remaining flights were at odd times. These days I use Monarch to Alicante which is a little over an hour from LMC. Never had any problem booking flights and if you're planning this far ahead you'll be fine! By the way, for car rental I really like La Manga Car rental. They have so far always managed to prove me with age appropriate and clean car seats, which puts them streets ahead of everyone else, and because they are not one of the bigger companies there is often no queue to get your car at the airport. They're at Murcia, Alicante and inside the club.

HTH

Fimbo · 14/02/2011 10:59

Thank you so much STH. That is all very helpful information. This strip bit worries me, is it full of English bars and lager louts?

Which accommodation do you think is best? My children will be 13 (nearly 14) and 8 by next Easter.

OP posts:
SlightlyTubbyHali · 14/02/2011 11:21

Tbh I have barely been to the strip - maybe once in half a dozen visits - it was easter and a lot of it was closed. It's not bang next to the club anyway (it's a drive up the coast), while the club is self-contained with security etc.

Re accomodation, we always stay in the same flat (belongs to some friends), so I don't really know. But if you call one of the companies (design holidays maybe) and explain you want somewhere detached, maybe where the kids are able to walk to a cafe or the shops, they can recommend somewhere.

Looking at the map again I am not sure El Rancho is all that central, so shouldn't be noisy I think.

Fimbo · 14/02/2011 11:41

Thanks again, Tubby. I was worried about the strip but being next to the club, that has put my mind at rest!

I can book accommodation now but I will need to hold off for the flights! Smile

OP posts:
SlightlyTubbyHali · 14/02/2011 13:51

Yeah, don't worry about the strip. LMC is all rather Boden...

rookiemater · 18/02/2011 21:30

We stayed at Los Olivos a couple of years ago at LMC. The appartment was lovelyone of the best I have ever stayed in but the indoor pool was freezing and could only stay in it for about 20 mins, the outdoor one was not heated and we went in October and it was not warm. The other pools are gated so you definitely can't use them.

Los Olivos was within walking distance of kids club, tennis, some of the restaurants and the main hotel. Posh spa and pool ( which by the way you have to pay handsomely for) was a drive away.

You can hire bicycles which is fun, there is a beach near by and a kids soccer school. The surrounding area is not scenic we didn't find much worth seeing within driving distance.

Everything at La Manga is expensive, the place is huge, if you are in the remote villas you definitely need a hire car. good if the DCs are older as they would probably enjoy football training or tennis club, kids club is prohibitively expensive and is like a full gated nursersy, not casual at all, may suit your DCs but not ours.

bluebump · 22/02/2011 18:26

Oh I only just saw this thread so i'm a bit late to it. We have a place in La Manga on the strip rather than the LMC - right at the end of the strip pretty much as far as you can go so if you have any more questions do ask!

weaselbudge · 27/02/2011 14:34

I am going to la manga in July - does anyone have any experience of the creche facilities? DCs will be 2.8 and 1.4 and we are desperate for the odd couple of hours sunbathing as this is something we haven't done since honeymoon 6 years ago. Any other advice for taking kids this age to la manga would be greatly appreciated!

rookiemater · 27/02/2011 16:15

Hi weaselbudge, the creche is in a separate building which is gated and has cctv it all seems very secure and safe. It appears more like a proper nursery rather than a childrens club

However it is expensive, just checked the rates and it is 70 euros for a full day or 160 euros for 5 half days per child. If you book in advance for the week and then decide that your child doesn't like it you don't get any money back.

In the end DS wasn't that keen so he only went in once. We now tend to choose hotels that have smaller childrens clubs - although having said that they tend not to take children under 3.

Enjoy your holiday.

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