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Holidays

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

Mark Warner (again sorry!) vs Neilson

7 replies

Hungrypig · 10/07/2006 22:47

We're considering either of the above and probably in a Greek location. Has anyone done both MW and Neilson and which would they recommend and why?
Our son will be 2 in early Sept which is when we're considering going.
Reservations about this type of holiday are: being on a glorified Butlins with what I call "enforced group fun activities" (adults all expected to chicken dance around the pool) and the fact that we're not big on making new friends on holiday - sound like miserable g*ts but we see little enough of each other during the working week so to then be expected to have the same 'house prices, schools' blah blah conversations every night might be a bit of downer!
Also what are the hours for children's clubs in both? Do you have to remove them for a certain period of time each day eg MW remove them between 1-3?

Sorry in advance as I'm sure this has probably be done to death but I'm doing the usual 600 hours of research on the Internet and finding v. few 'independent' reviews of the above two travel companies!!

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Ladymuck · 10/07/2006 23:03

I've only done MW, so can only answer for them. You can do as much group stuff as you want to, but they are pretty much set up for couples so if you just want to be together no-one is going to forceyou too talk to anyone (so you will have tables to yourself at mealtimes, as will over half the people there). Dh is highly anti-social on holiday, and we've done a few MWs now - he enjoys them.

Children's clubs - from memory are 9-1 and 3-5:30 (nannies will supervise/feed childrens tea), so yes children are back with you for lunch (and often nap!). If you want to go offsite or for a days scuba trip then you can book your nanny to babysit during this period.

Hungrypig · 11/07/2006 13:06

Thanks LadyMuck, appreciate your views - sorry if I sound like a misery on hols but I spend so much time trying to plan and to get it right for everyone *I'm happy with sunshine and a good book!

Think I will give both companies a ring and see what they have available and compare prices - hopefully dh won't come along and pooh pooh it!

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MissChief · 11/07/2006 13:12

if you're worried about a glorified butlins (IKWYM having been on a MW hol) why not look at simply travel (as many a MNer has before you!).
Mousses in Lefkas and Zante (i think) have a creche. loads of MN threads if you have a look.

Bugsy2 · 11/07/2006 13:26

Sunsail is a good option. The kids clubs are great as they keep them all day, so you don't have the trauma of sending them back after lunch every day.
Also, the Sunsail crowd are slightly less into the endless chat about London house prices & schools & slightly more sporty & sailingish.

MissChief · 11/07/2006 13:31

still sometimes nhard to avoid those conversations on such hols- I got cornered several times on our last one- not enough to say job title but asked to specify "yes, so what do you actually do?" ie impress me (and let me infer yr salary/how senior you are so i can guess where you are compared to me)... yawn, yawn. I actually told the last perosn who asked that I'd forgotten what i did- partly true as have been on mat leave

prettybird · 11/07/2006 13:39

The Neilson holiday we went on (Port Heli) was all about the sailing or windsurk=fing, plus some yachting(and mountain biking if you wanted it). We did the dinghy sailing.

Ds was just turned two and was looked after very weel. It was the end of the season and he was the only one there, but the girl who looked after him was lovely. There was actually another wee girl, but her mother was very protective and ended up not leaving her.

We did have to look after him over lunch (can't remember how long it was - but they co-ordinated with when we go back in from the sailing and when we went out again). On the days when we had a whole day out sailing, they looked after ds all day - that was part of the "package".

Dh and I are also fairly reserved and not "into" enforced group acitvities either. There were a few in the evenings, but we just didn't bother with them.

However, we did meet some nice people - they weren't too "Hooray Henry-ish"

The family rooms in Port Heli were a fair way from the bar/swimming pool area. We had an great wee "aparment": big double bed room with wee kitchennette and fridge and adjoining twin bedroom, where we put up ds' travel cot. He was an excellent sleeper who once he was asleep (usuually in about,ooooooh, 5 minutes maximum ) never woke up again until 6.30/7 the following morning, plus didn't know how to climb out of the cot. Therefore, we were comfortable leaving him and going back to the bar and just checking on him periodically - but I recognise that many parents may not be as relaxed as we were.

Hungrypig · 15/07/2006 12:38

Meant to ask ages ago, which MW places did you go to LadyMuck? Which do you rate as the best?

Thanks in advance,
HP xx

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