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

Original poster

*HELP* Advice for holidays abroad with kids

11 replies

Tiggeriffic · 05/05/2006 14:24

Am thinking about braving a foreign holiday next year with children who will then be 7, 5 & 2.
Don't want to spend an absolute fortune (got to go hols - October half term??) and worried about food and activities for kids and fussy husband.
Any suggestions?? Don't fancy Spain.

OP posts:
WestCountryLass · 05/05/2006 20:08

My friends stayed in a First Choice holiday village (in Spain but they have them in other places) and they loved it. There are lots of activities going on for the whole family if you want to participate and the food was really nice with lots of choice.

www.firstchoice.co.uk/holidayvillage/families_flash.html

The one in Benalmedena is near Malaga but right by it there is a cable car that goes up a mountain, a place called Tivoli (amusement park)that the kids would love and a zoo as well. But obviously that is in Spain but it is worth considering as really nice!

Original poster
Tiggeriffic · 06/05/2006 10:29

Cheers for that. Am starting to think that Spain may be the best option. Really fancied Cyprus but way too expensive and worried Greek islands will be too quiet for kids.

OP posts:
copycat · 06/05/2006 12:31

If you don't fancy mainland Spain maybe consider somewhere like Fuerteventura, Menorca, Turkey or the Algarve? Personally I prefer all of the above to Cyprus Blush but, hey, that's just me! The south of France is lovely too but probably won't be warm enough in October.

LIZS · 06/05/2006 12:47

We've been to Majorca last couple of October half terms and it was still t shirt shorts and beach weather. Booked direct to save a bit and both hotels still had their own kids' activities running plus playground and pools.

LIZS · 06/05/2006 13:03

Would also recomemnd booking an apartment rather than individual rooms, even within a hotel complex and being catered for, as that gets you more than one room, with a seating area that converts to a bedroom and often a basic kitchenette which is handy.

Laura032004 · 06/05/2006 14:06

We stayed in the First Choice Holiday Village Costa del Sol in Benalmadena. It was absolutely great even though we went the first week of the season when they were just gearing up really.

We had a one bedroom apartment and went All Inclusive (highly recommended). We had a bedroom, lounge, kitchen (with cooker, microwave and fridge) and bathroom. The bedroom had two double beds and the lounge had a sofa bed, so you could easily put all three kids in the bedroom, and sleep in the lounge yourselves hence getting some privacy at night.

I love Cyprus (parents live out there), but getting there/holidays there are expensive, although IMO the cost of living there (meals out etc) is fairly cheap. The weather is v.likely to be good there in Oct as well (don't know about other places) - you could probably swim in the sea/pool although locals wouldn't!

mysonsmummy · 07/05/2006 00:05

thanks for the details on the holiday villages. i am taking ds away end of june and really like look of the one in spain. there is one in turkey but i keep reading that it gets loads of mosquitos. can i ask - if its just me and ds would it be worth us going AI as i dont drink much and he cant do watersports well neither can i as he will be with me all the time. or have i got wrong idea of AI. any details would be great. thanks

Tortington · 07/05/2006 02:32

go camping in france with venue holidays.

you drive there so have your own car - your not stuck on site waiting fro some spotty rep to rip you off with some fucking trip to some zoo where the animals are mangy an the experience is harrowing rather than exhilerating.

the 7 &5 yr olds will go to kids clubs and your dh can take the 2 yr old swimming whilst you pour yerself a cold one and read a book outside your tent.

ahhhhhh.

Original poster
Tiggeriffic · 07/05/2006 10:27

Thanks for all your help guys,

We've booked an AI apartment with First Choice in Cyprus. Travel agent recommended Menorca etc. above Cyprus for a virgin abroader but I was born in Cyprus but had to leave aged 1 due to civil war and it's been my lifelong dream to get back there. By going two days before half term we got a much cheaper price. I wouldn't take the kids out of school regularly but this is a one off holiday.
I AM SO EXCITED Grin

OP posts:
Laura032004 · 08/05/2006 16:42

mysonsmummy - the one that I went to didn't have watersports as such (I don't think anyway), so you wouldn't be 'losing' money by not doing those. I don't drink, but still felt that the AI was worthwhile - the soft drinks were expensive too, and you drink a lot of them sat by the pool, or in the evenings. They also stock your fridge in your room with soft drinks, which is a nice touch. I think using the restaurants / bars for food was quite expensive if you weren't AI, and it was nice to be able to get food all day long without worrying about the costs. The shop to buy food on the complex was v.expensive if you were SC.

We got the bus into the local towns a couple of times - v.cheap and easy. The stop was right outside the hotel. We didn't do any trips, and had no problems occupying ourselves for the week.

Laura032004 · 08/05/2006 16:43

Tiggeriffic - whereabouts in Cyprus are you going?

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