Holiday ideas for lots of fun/relaxing/fussy eaters?!

[plipplops]

We're planning ahead but want to think of a holiday for maybe next year. Been to Disneyworld (Florida) twice and love that there's so much to do and it's great for the kids. I think we're a bit stuck and need some inspiration and would love some thoughts please, we're DH and I, and DDs who would be 7 and 8;

Needs:
Things to do (so not a resort miles from anywhere) - the thought of sitting by a pool for 2 weeks send DH into a tailspin, this is by far the most important thing
Nice (at least 4*) accommodation
Food for v fussy DDs (sigh)
Lovely pool

Would be nice to have:
Childcare (never really done the kids club thing?)
Culture (but not so much that DDs would be bored)

Long haul is fine, don't want to spend more than maybe £7K? Happy to share a bedroom if it's nice enough.

Any ideas?? xx

I would recommend cruising.
You can get a mixture of culture and beach and the kids clubs are ace.
There are pools/Jacuzzis too plus lots of other things.
Al day/night dining plus every type of food you could think of-even separate kids teas- fussy eaters are easily accommodated on a cruise especially if you use the buffet restaurant.
we took ours on their first cruise at 6 and 8 and we've just booked another for next year they're now aged 12 and 14 and rate cruising as their best holidays (It will be our 5th-their 4th)

I agree.

A cruise would tick every box in your list. If you choose someone like Royal Carribean or Norwegian Cruise Lines you can leave the DC in the kids club when you go ashore. So you get the culture without boring the DC.

The cabin would be better with RCI as they have 2 bunks and NCL cabins have only 1 (they'll add another bed if you need it but it's cramped and not 4*).

It's the perfect family holiday IMHO and easily within your budget if you stay in Europe.

Hmm, interesting thanks ever so much for your replies. We've talked about cruising (DHs parents and extended family have been a few times), but hate the idea of having to eat with other people, and all that dressing up for dinner stuff?! Also worried about being part of a tour where, for instance, you get bussed into somewhere fabulous and follow a clipboard wielding guide for 20 mins then have to leave again (think DH saw a group once being shepherded through the Cairo museum to look at Tutankamen's mask and then taken away again and it's scarred him for life!)

Is it really like that?!?

I've had a look at the Royal Caribbean website and can't understand the rooms - would you need two or is there some way to all fit in one (even the state rooms seem to have a twin or double bed, and extra beds for under 3s but DDs are older than that?)

Canada - Vancouver, the rockies, van island or florida keys not at all like theme park florida. dream destination for me is Belize. would love to go there as it seems to have everything and they speak English too!! a cruise would be mine and my families idea of hell but it takes all sorts. also fancy some of the adventure holidays where you go off in a small group with a guide to unusual places.

Trips are optional.
sometimes we do the organised trips or do our own thing-depends what we want to do.

I have never felt shepherded! For instance there were several trips to Rome we chose the least supervised one that dropped you at the Vatican and picked you up several hours later- as we had been before. My dsis and family chose the more organised one- time at the Coliseum/Vatican/Pantheon/forum etc.

Other places we just walked to the beach, got a taxi into town or went on a local tour for e.g. in Margarita where the guide took us to a national park and then to a practically deserted beach with amazing waves-we couldn't have got there on our own very easily.

As long as you are back on board for the sail away, you can do as you please.

Btw we have only eaten with others once on all the cruises we have been on and we like dressing for dinner - though not bothered about the formal nights (black ties) but you can skip these on most ships and go to the buffet. Or some ships don't have the formal nights

Dd (now 10) rates our trip to the Dordogne as her best ever holiday. She wants to go back next year and I have this place here bookmarked.

There was LOADS to do - caves, castles, fun parks, aquariums, markets, beautiful villages. We barely scraped the surface in 2 weeks. And still managed to get a bit of pool time in.

I suggest a Disney Cruise around the Med with private excursions at some of the ports. There is a wide range of cabins which are a lot bigger than on nearly every cruise line. The adult only pools are beautiful and children's clubs really good. You can eat just with your family and there really is so much to do on the ship. The service is amazing, room service is included and having breakfast on your win balcony looking at the bay of Naples is such a treat. You could combine it with a few days in Barcelona beforehand.

Portofino that looks lovely - we're going near there with my extended family for a week in August so am really interested to see what it's like...

4-berth cabins have two beds that fold down from the ceiling for the DC. So you can all fit in one. These are marked with a special symbol on the deck plan. We put the two beds underneath together in the middle so we had a kingsize.

You don't have the dress for dinner but we like that too. Not cocktail dresses or anything but I just dress as I would if I was going out for dinner at home. DC enjoyed getting ready for dinner and DH would just wear a pair of trousers and shirt.

Mealtimes can be at a fixed time each night, we chose 6.30pm, or you can do flexible dining where you just book a table at the time of your choice each night. You can have a table for 4, you don't have to sit with other folk.

We like the evening entertainment. It's great to take DC to a show every night after dinner. DC like the free ice cream by the pool. DH hated the pool area but always found somewhere quiet to hide. I loved being at the back of the ship at night watching the wake, with a drink in my hand. It was so peaceful. And then you go to bed and wake up somewhere new.

It's just brill and the only holiday we've been on where everyone's had the best holiday ever, albeit different to each other's.

On cruises there are quite a few cabin options you don't need to book the above option. For 7k you could book a suite or 2 interconnecting cabins. Some cabins for 4 have a double bed and at the other end of the cabin bunk beds for the DC and some suites have completely separate sleeping areas.