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Holidays

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

Original poster

Had a fab holiday recently?? Tell me about it as I need inspiration on where to go!

27 replies

IlanaK · 17/01/2007 14:29

We want to go away in september to a resort. We went to Rhodes last year and stayed at a resort that was lovely. We want something similar but in a different location.

Here are the musts:

Less than 5 hours flying time from london
Good quality resort (4 or 5 star)
Lots of pools and maybe water slides
Location must be very near a beach, preferably actually as part of the resort.
Near an interesting town for sight seeing

We are not bothered about childcare on site. My boys will be 3 and 6 at the time of travel. We are going off peak so most holiday clubs tend to be shut anyway.

So if you went somewhere on holiday and loved it, please please tell me about it! I want to start looking!

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 17/01/2007 16:24

atalaya ?

Original poster
IlanaK · 17/01/2007 16:59

Oooo - sounds really nice. I will definately put it on the list to look into. Have you actually been there?

OP posts:
mosschops30 · 17/01/2007 17:05

We went to menorca last year stayed at viva menorca in Cala'n'Bosch which are 4 star apartments, has a lovely large pool which has a lifeguard, very clean and spacious apartments.

It was about 5 minutes to the beach and resort centre which had a lovely marina and restaurants, some bars but mainly a quiet family friendly resort without being tacky (not a burger king in sight).
We hired a car and went to the main city which has lovely historic buildings and also visited the Monastery.

Was so great we are going again this year

\link(www.firstchoice.co.uk/holiday/index.cfm?step=accommodation_details&si=000E05A2%2D56A4%2D15AE%2DA8C183CB91190000\here

mosschops30 · 17/01/2007 17:05

sorry

here

Original poster
IlanaK · 17/01/2007 17:08

Thanks for that, but the link doesn't work

OP posts:
mosschops30 · 17/01/2007 17:09

works when I click ?? First Choice do it if thats any help you can look on their website

suzycreamcheese · 17/01/2007 17:14

crete july 2006
beautiful island west side, mountains, coast near to hania
would love to go back
april meant to best time to go locals told us in a heartbeat, guys...

nappyaddict · 17/01/2007 17:54

i haven't but my cousin went last year she said it was fab.

there's also la manga.

Original poster
IlanaK · 17/01/2007 20:29

Thanks suzicreamcheese. I will look into that. The problem with september though is it is not as warm as July.

OP posts:
suzycreamcheese · 17/01/2007 20:38

july was very hot 80 -90's need rest in day etc..september would be good time, not too hot?

PoppiesMum · 17/01/2007 20:42

Another vote for Menorca.

Also, we went to Austria in July once. Ok, there's not much in the way of beaches but it was directly on the lake. Weather was lovely, the entire country is spotlessly clean and efficient, and it's great for kids (cycling, waterski-ing, horse riding etc). We loved it.

marbeth · 17/01/2007 20:46

Ilanak

For the last 2 years we have holidayed at the Oceania club in halkidiki.We enjoyed it so much going back for 3rd time this summer.Does not have water slides. lovely pools. lots of scenery if you hire a car.Booked direct works out much cheaper and they collect from airport.website www.oceaniaclub.gr
we recommended to 2 sets of friends who have also rebooked again for this year.

bettythebuilder · 17/01/2007 20:56

Last sept we went to Antalya, Turkey, and stayed in the papillon Zeugma
It was wonderful, the cleanest hotel I've ever been to, right on the beach, all inclusive, friendly staff, fab pools and slides.
I'd also recommend the Sirene Golf Hotel on the same stretch of coast.

Original poster
IlanaK · 17/01/2007 21:47

Thanks for all the ideas everyone. Keep them coming! I will investigate them all as they sound lovely.

OP posts:
suzycreamcheese · 17/01/2007 22:05

we hired villas; hired cars; eat in and eat out etc do as you please have never stayed in resort place
also, have always meant to go to croatia, coast would be nice..maybe next year...nah, go back to crete! kalimera x

swedishmum · 17/01/2007 23:05

IlanaK, was it the Hilton resort? We've looked at it a couple of times.

suzycreamcheese · 17/01/2007 23:14

swedish mum how was christmas? hope you had good one

swedishmum · 18/01/2007 00:05

It was fine thanks Suzy. Hope yours was great. Maybe I have unrealistic expectations - dh thought it was great. Off to NY on Friday for very much needed child free weekend (payoff is taking in-laws to Tenerife in Feb - not a bad deal really).

My favourite holidays recently have been Sorrento - but my kids are older therefore appreciated Pompeii or at least tolerated my search for Caecilius - and Tenerife therefore going again but will absolutely not go to horrible water park this time.

suzycreamcheese · 18/01/2007 10:07

yeh, christmas was with PIL so was glad for new year..ikywim
new york, have fun!
not really planning holiday this year..crete was lovely family holiday though...wish i was planning one, its awful outside ...

sallyme · 20/01/2007 08:58

We stayed in this villa Platinum Villas in Florida last year had a fabulous time and have booked to go back this year.

Blondilocks · 20/01/2007 13:20

We went to Majorca last yr. It was lovely. Didn't stay in a resort though but there are loads to choose from. Saw several Thompson Gold resorts which looked nice. We were near Camp de Mar where there was one pretty much on the beach.

Blondilocks · 20/01/2007 13:22

Oooh just thoughtt:

Camp de Mar was about 40 mins from Palma so not too bad.

There were 2 water parks that were about 1/2 hr drive away.

franke · 20/01/2007 16:42

Marbeth if you see this can you tell me some more about Oceania? It looks lovely but I've found a few dodgy old reviews on the web alongside quite favourable ones.

What sort of room did you have?
What was the beach like?
Was the hotel noisy?
Was the food okay?

Sorry for all the questions but desperately trying to find somewhere for a week in May.

Original poster
IlanaK · 20/01/2007 22:06

Hi, just to revisit this. I spent a while tonight looking at the Papillon hotels that Bettythebuilder mentioned. They look fab and I think we may well go to one of those.

Thanks again!

OP posts:
marbeth · 20/01/2007 22:36

Hi Franke

Only saw your message now.Look on trip advisor for reviews.When the hotel first opened in 2005.It was meant to open in the April but was not ready.So I think the bad reviews were the first month as some facilities were not ready.By the time we wnt in the August everything was great.If you have a look at the website ,there is a forum on it where people have also posted reviews.We stayed in a deluxe junior suite both years.These rooms were large. They are in a seperate block with great sea views.
The hotel was not noisy.The theatre for entertainment is in the main building. Whereas the guest rooms are in different blocks. Food was excellant.The hotel really prides itself on customer service.The head chef is lovely and goes round each restaurant in the evening to check things are okay.All restaurants are good. The main buffet resturant is excellant.They will always get any food for you if you ask.Beach is okay.It is stony as you enter sea for about 6-10 foot after that it is really sandy. There were sand bags placed at different intervals to enter over stones.On the beach the waiters waited on you with drinks so you did not have to goto beach bar. we have booked directly with the hotel again this year.They collect you from the airport free of charge. There was also a lovely indoor childrens club. It was massive and air condtioned. Any more questions just ask.It is the cleanest hotel we have stayed in.