BEST HOLIDAY RECS FOR 6 & 7 YEAR OLDS?

[mrsmerryberry]

I'm planning our annual family hol and we would like to venture abroad this year. Can anyone offer any advice on what the best types of holidays are for kids in this age group (watermark, beach, mainland, short or long haul)?

I don't think there is a best type, it all depends on what you and your family enjoy and want to get out of a holiday.

I really don't like having to organise food on holiday, so we stay in hotels, often all inclusive, rather than self catering. It's nice to take children to lovely beaches if you can, but you might live near a beach in the UK and not feel the need to be near the sea as much as we do.

When ours were around that age we did a couple of years of going to the first choice holiday villages. They're pretty much the same thing whichever country you stay in and they have a lot of well organised activities for children. Most of the rooms have mini kitchenettes which is useful with children.

I'm glad I don't have to do those holidays anymore, but the children really enjoyed them when they were younger.

In my experience, a swimming pool, beach and other children were the elements most important. Then some child friendly days out - aquariums, fun parks, zoos etc. I would look for somewhere with decent, child friendly pools with a couple of slides, and a kids club. Our most successful holidays have been mobile homes in the South of France and Italy, and the Dordogne - loads and loads to do. It depends on your budget. I don't like AI though - prefer to go out and wander in the local town of an evening, and buy nice food in delis.

agree with Portofino re - pool, beach

I asked my dcs who said;
No1 Pool
No2 Beach
No3 Food
No4 waterpark/ theme park
No5 kids clubs/other kids
No6 crazy golf/animals

Examples of best holidays - Cruises, Disney florida, Toronto.
El Greco in Ibiza(has own small waterpark, on nice beach, pool, kids club, A.I. - food did get a tad boring tbh),
Cap Salou (waterparks/theme park),
Merton hotel in Jersey.

We have only done self catering once abroad and it didn't really work for us we at least have breakfast inc.

Not so much sightseeing at that age 1 day/2 half days per hol was enough for mine.

Dd is 9 now and has requested as much minigolf and tree top adventure park type stuff as possible. She wasn't bothered with the beach but wifi kids club was still important. We are doing a double centre trip between the Ardeche and Jura this year that covers all that, plus such delights as Archery and Segway trips in the mountains, and canoeing near the Pont D'Arc. It is giving me the incentive to do a bit of exercise in preparation. Though there is also a spa/adults only pool in the Ardeche, so I plan on doing lots of laying about with my kindle.

Easter we have a booked a midweek at Dutch CenterParcs, which offered a lot of similar activities. We have rented bikes (at least it is all flat round there) and booked the dining package. No cooking planned on that trip at least.

Swimming pool is more important than beach although nice beach helps too.
somewhere warm and sunny
plenty of friends to play with

Thanks for ironing this out for me. You all have offered really good advice and some suggestions on where to go, which I will follow up. Woo woo owl, where are the holiday village you went to?

Take a look at the FIrst choice Holiday Villages - perfect for that age group. They have fantastic English run kids clubs, a football accademy, swim school, high ropes and zip wires, plus some of them have slides and water parks plus a minimum of 3 swimming pools.