Tips needed please! Good package deals for big families?

[shelsco]

We want to travel abroad (Majorca or somewhere with shortish flight) to do all inclusive package deal but have 4 DCs. Oldest will be 14 when we travel and youngest 4. Problem I'm having is that all deals seem to be for 2 adults and 2 children and even if you opt for family room it's 2 adults and 3 kids. Don't really want a villa but if we get 2 rooms in a hotel then we pay for under occupancy as they would each have 1 adult and 2 kids. Does anyone have any experience of how to get best deal when travelling with 4 DCs.
We don't really want to get a villa as kids like to join in with activities etc in hotels when we go away. Surely there must be some hotels that do rooms big enough for 6?

I would also be very interested as we are 2 adults and 3 children and you cannot book online as its all 2 + 2.

Last time we went away we had to have two rooms 1 adult and 2 children per room turned into me and the four girls in one room and thir dad in the other with one of the girls taking it in turns to sleep in the tidy room ...cost a lot. Only got three dd's at home now and are having the same problem trying to find something.

You need an apart Hotel. A hotel with 2 bed apartments that sleeps 6.
Menorca and Algarve would be the first place I would look for this set up.

This any good??

www.thomson.co.uk/thomson/page/byo/accomdetails/accomdetails.page?packageNumber=004773134336520000013433763000004524134398470000013439886000004525&locationName=Spain&tuiCtryCode=L06421&tuiDestCode=&tuiResortCode=&tuiAccomCode=&numAdults=2&numChildren=3&childInfantAges=14-12-10&searchPageName=HomeSch&searchFlag=FHPISearch&maxPartySize=9&moreDestinations=false&moreResorts=false&holiday_type=&timestamp=1341256001060&day=27&monthYear=7%2F2012&displayDay=27&displayMonth=Jul&displayYear=12&departureDate=2012-7-27&departureMargin=7&duration=7&dayTripSearch=false&checkOutDay=3&checkOutMonthYear=8%2F2012&checkOutDisplayDay=03&checkOutDisplayMonth=Aug&checkOutDisplayYear=12&departureAirportCode=*LN&countryDestCode=862&countryCode=862&destinationCode=&resortCode=&accommodationCode=&departure=&accommFeaturesBitValue=0&accommodationType=144&rating=0&numberOfRooms=1&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.adult=2&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.children=3&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.childAge%5B0%5D=14&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.childAge%5B1%5D=12&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.childAge%5B2%5D=10&numRemSearch=8

- Ooops sorry about the rather long link!! Dont know how to shorten them.

Anyway - they do 5 bedded rooms/suites and the price is usually a tad cheaper in the Costa Dorada.

There are some AI complexes that offer 2 twin bedded rooms with two beds or sofa beds in the living area. Some only offer child prices up to age 12, so if you will have 2 DC 12 or over when you travel they will be priced as adults. a typical statement in the Thomas Cook brochure is "2 bedroom apartments (4-5 adults plus child up to 12yrs)" or "prices based on 4 adults sharing on AI"

The main benefit of going to Spain/Balearics is the option to do 10 or 11 nights, which is a bit cheaper and still feels like a reasonable stay.

Will have a look at link now, thanks.

Well it did look just the sort of thing we were looking for but unfortunately is not available all inclusive when we want to go. Will keep looking on thompson though, as thye seem to have the larger room.

We went to la manga club in Spain and hired an apartment. Lots of sporting activities for everyone to do, and lots family friendly bars and restaurants to go to. You can do private rental so prices vary hugely.

Only downside is beach is a short drive away.

Algarve has some great apartments too with kids clubs. Try vilamoura and surrounding areas. You can get 3 bed apartments. I only have 3 kids but like three bedrooms. I have to say that is compromise on some of the entertainment for space. We've never done mini disco type things but lots in the day then relaxing evenings....although my eldest is only six not 14!!

Sorry, me again....the get the best prices we use sites like booking.com, alpharooms, sunshine.co.uk etc

We've never paid more that £1000 for 10/11 days 4* accomodation, although that's self catering. Book flights and car hire seperately. I find tour operators eye-wateringly expensive for us!

Now that First Choice are part of Thomsons, they specialise in AI holidays, might be worth looking for a special deal with them.

Thanks. will have a look. Are the apartments you mention part of a complex? I really want AI as don't want to be cooking etc and can't afford to go out for meals every day.

Mrsmoody you seem to have got some good deals, not paying more than £1000. How many is that for? I went with sunshine last time i travelled and they were much cheaper but only thing that has put me off them was that we just missed the second volcanic ash cloud and if we hadnt been able to travel we would only have gor flight money back as sunshine doesnt class their holidays as packages. Small risk i know but we did nearly get caught by it after thinking there was no chance of second ash cloud!
Not that bothered if beach isn't right at and if good pool and other kids around for mine to play with.

at hand not at and!

Hi, yes on complex but not AI. I've never been able to find any at a sensible price in a nice resort. We've had two and three bed apartments.

Just had a quick look on lamanga rentals and you can get a three bed apt for a week in Aug for £800. We do lots of easy lunches in like sandwiches, beans on toast for kids at dinner and easy tapas, like ham, cheese, salads so no real cooking. Then indulge in some lovely lunches out .... Kids still little so don't do evenings out but put them to bed and chill out with cheap wine

I also tend to book our hols in Sept/Oct the year before to get cheap flights and good choice of accommodation.

MMm, yes i see what you mean about price of apartments, they are good value. I'm reluctant to go out for meals in the evening though because, although I love it, there are 6 of us and the eldest child eats an adult size meal so it could get very expensive if we were doing it every night. the last thing i want to do is end up worrying about money and only being able to choose places to eat based on price so we don't run out of money. I think it could end up quite stressful. If all the kids were little it might be a better option as there are kids meals etc but as it is with drinks and food i think it would cost an absolute bomb! Did find a couple of decent looking places last night on first choice in menorca which were aparthotels. They looked okay.

Are September and October the best months for bargains then? Might be worth hanging on and looking then.

Holiday prices follow set patterns generally, early and late seaon are always cheaper but not always warm enough (with the exception of the Canaries which fluctuates less to extremes) Half term weeks and school holidays are always higher in price, peaking in the summer holiday. Unfortunately the temperature can be too high in many destinations during the summer, which is why so many people have to take their DC out of school to go there, a problem in itself. Are you going to be able to do this?

Would half board be any good to you, have breakfast and dinner at the aparthotel, and just self cater for lunch? It might widen the choices of accommodation and resort for you enough to get a good deal to afford the lunches.

I have to go in school holidays as I'm a teacher so that makes it expensive. I actually meant is it cheaper to book in September and October. Wasn't sure if prices might go down if you book at different times? (Might just be wishful thinking!)
Haven't really noticed any half board deals tbh just bed and breakfast but it might be worth another look. At least i'd only have to bother about snacks at lunchtime.

OOh haver found some decent deals on 'on the beach' website. anyone used these? They look to be good, ATOL protected etc

I meant I booked in Sept Oct for the following summer too.

You could try and Google some restaurant websites and see if they have menus to give you an idea of prices and therefore budget? Im lucky as you say cos mine are still little....although dc1 eats like pig :) and is forever hungry!! Which is why we like sc as we can fill the fridge and freezer with cheap drinks and snacks.

I'm going to look at the site you suggested, I'm always on the look out for good places to stay!

I think that booking many months in advance could possibly be cheaper, in that you've paid your deposit and fixed it at that price, especially if fuel prices etc for flights goes up and hotel prices in the next holiday season. What time of year you actually book it isn't that important as you are paying the price as set when you will be taking the holiday. So e.g. if you booked a holiday this Sept for the May half term next year it would be at next years prices, unless it was a special offer or something.

Depending on how many facilities you want from an AI, you might find it cheaper to go half board because you're not paying for things you won't use in a holiday village type place, like spa, various sports facilities, and so on. Look at self catering places as some offer B&B and half board as well.

I know you don't want a long flight, but Thomas Cook have a couple of things that might suit in Tenerife, Green Garden Resort and suites, Playa de las Americas AI with free admission to big waterpark included; and Gran Oasis Resort, Playa de las Americas AI which both do 2 bed appts for 6 although the latter is a way away from the resort centre. Plus you might be able to get in for a week at half term in October and it will still be warm! Some airports do Sat or Sun departures.

I do it mainly for the flights - this year we waited until November, spent over the weekend looking and by the time we'd booked the flights had gone up over £100 in 3 days!

we have used "on the beach" several times

so far never any problem and always seem to pay much less than everyone else for the same holiday in the same place!