Help me decide? Package or villa?

[justsodamntired]

We have a budget of £1500 for our summer holiday (for me, DH, 3yo and 1yo).

Some friends (two couples with three young toddlers between them) want to rent a villa in Spain. Flights will be around £850 plus car hire plus villa (about £400).

Other alternative we're thinking of is a package child friendly resort in Menorca. Similar price in total, probably a bit less hassle and somewhere we really fancy checking out, as opposed to Spain, which I'm not that find of. BUT without the fun of friends.

What would you do? It will be our first proper family holiday. Have to make a decision and can't!

Can't you persuade them to rent a villa in Menorca?

A holiday with friends & family can some times end stressful, trying to keep everyone happy ect....there are some great package deals around at the minute. I personal find self catering a little more hard work than necessary however you do get more room than a small hotel room....

Menorca is lovely.

I would never go on holiday with friends, but that's just me.

If I were you I would see if I could find a villa in Menorca for your family.

Totally depends on what you're looking for. We always book a villa (usually France) because a hotel is just no fun with small children. A villa is more relaxed - eat when they kids are hungry (from a fridge stocked with things you know they like), chill out by the pool in privacy, separate rooms for kids and parents etc.

That said, I agree with above posters, choose holiday mates carefully, make sure you all have the same expectations.

I think holidaying with friends is great if you have your own Villas and can just meet up in the evenings for dinner/drinks.

It can be quite stressful if you were all sharing accommodation -I would go with Menorca sounds like that is what you really want to do! Try and convince them to rent a villa in Menorca and then meet up with them a few times-best of both worlds!

Menorca is divine, but I'd pick a villa over a hotel every time. It's the only way you get to know the "real" Island.

The sharing of one villa can be a huge issue!

Would you be able to agree on shared shopping, cooking chores?

Best option for me would be separate / adjoining apartments or villas - that way you can have more privacy and less chance of a major falling out, you really get to know people when you holiday with them!

We do alternate years with two groups of friends. It has worked well for us and we will be doing our 4th shared holiday this year.

It does require compromise - I really wanted to go to Croatia/Menorca this year, but our friend was set on France, but this is outweighed by the advantage of having friends for our DS to play with and adult company to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening.

The first time required some setting of expectations - get separate cars so you can all do your own thing, don't eat every meal together, take advantage of the free babysitting.

Personally I'd go for the shared holiday, but try to have some input into the destination. There are some fabulous large villas on Menorca - would your friends reconsider their destination, or Spain is quite a large country so there must be some part of it that would be acceptable.