Lanzarote - villa or hotel with a 16 month old? And pool with no gate?

[jollyroger2]

Not one for package hols but in need of a bit of a r and r holiday at Easter, with a bit of sun, and think we might try Lanzarote. Have only once done all-inclusive with some female friends to Sharm in Egypt one Feb some years ago - said never again - but tempted by Lanzarote hotels (eg Natura Palace, Playa Blanca) on a half board basis or AI...

OR a small villa with pool? On an complex? (hmm) Bit of a walk into town - and is not having a gate pool a nightmare?? Our DD is not walking but still...

Don't fancy self-catering for once but suddenly had visions of trying to grab sunloungers in a hotel...

Any thoughts really welcome - re Lanzarote or about non-gated pools generally. Thanks!

Non gated pools are a nightmare in my opinion. you will be constantly on edge about it. there are all sorts of things like water alarms you pin to your child or always putting a floatie on them when in the house but really this is just not my idea of fun and relaxation. you are better off going somewhere that has a pool but isn't just you at a villa.

Lanzarote is lovely. We went when I was pregnant and are looking to take dd next year. It's a beautiful place and the weather is great. Loads to do for families. Can you not find any villas with a gated pool? We hired a car when we were out there as we stayed at Peurto Calero which is a very small resort and car hire/petrol was very cheap and it was so easy to drive around as the roads are really quiet. Just something to bare in mind if you're not within walking distance of all the amenities and someone in your party can drive

I totally get what you mean about hotels though. I'd never stayed in a villa until we went to lanzarote and DP has never stayed in a hotel! I'd never go back to a hotel now if I can help it (unless it's super posh )

Thanks for your insights.

Mummymeister, you have totally put me off a non-gated pool! You have made me realise EXACTLY what it would feel like - not a holiday!

Thanks, Felix, for the ideas about car hire and stuff in Lanzarote... I think we will do that. I have found one villa with a gated pool but it's on the grotty side... I also really fancy not having to think about meals for a week (although we ALWAYS rent cottages / villas on holiday so I don't know why I'm so anti ai all of a sudden. Fancy just going downstairs in a hotel for breakfast, etc!

We have stgayed at places without a fenced pool. Total nightmare if you have an active child. Our DD ran away from us unexpectedly when we arrived at a villa complex and jumped into the pool. She was nearly 2. The pool had a cover on it. My DH bounded after her and pulled her out by the shoulders as she appeared between the cover and the edge of the pool. Had she gone under the cover, I shudder to think......

We stayed here when at Lanzarote when DS was about a year old www.sandsbeach.eu/en/. It's more an example than a recommendation as it was a long time ago, but a s/c apart hotel might fit the bill, so you've got a restaurant on site if you need it, or access to others if you walk a bit, but can s/c if you want to.