May Half term holidays

[nothappymummy2014]

Looking to book a week's holiday somewhere short-haul probably Greece or Spain for DH, me and our 9 year old, all inclusive. We haven't been on holiday for a number of years and a bit shocked at prices for a package holiday. Are there likely to be deals after christmas, free child places etc? Will there be anything available last-minute?

We are looking for somewhere with a kids club to entertain our DD, some waterslides/a waterpark and on a sandy beach. We don't want to go Egypt or Turkey. We have been looking at First Choice and Thomas Cook websites.

Any recommendations?

No specific advice but I feel your pain. Unfortunately I think now is a bit late to get the best deals for may half term - Free child places will have gone like hot cakes some time ago.
I doubt there will be discounts in the new year for school hols holidays.
Remember the worsening euro exchange rate will be a factor too. I've resigned myself to the fact that school hols holidays are now extortionate and need quite a lot of planning to get a good deal.

Ps i'm sure you would get a good deal for turkey or egypt but obviously many people don't want to go there which makes spain, greece etc increasingly in demand and even more expensive

Thanks - unfortunately only just found out DH has time off in school holidays so not able to book any earlier. He hasn't had any time off during school holidays for a couple of years..sigh. Thought this might be the case!

Defintely looking for all inclusive found it great last time and with the exchange rate at least you know where you are.

We had a fabulous week in Crete a couple of years ago. It wasn't all inclusive because that doesn't appeal to us, but we had great weather, great food, a fantastic hotel and visited some really interesting places.

Sounds like something like a First choice holiday village wold be perfect as it has everything to keep your child entertained from 10am to 11pm. The Ibiza one is the only one with its own proper waterpark, although at that time of year, I don't think Ibiza weather is reliable enough and would go for either Cyprus or Kos.

First choice usually have some deals just after Xmas and new year but if you see a price that's OK I would book it. These holidays have been on sale since April so the free child places for half term week have probably been snapped up already so I wouldn't hang on for one.

I think that you may have missed the cheap deals as these are when the holidays are first released generally. however, the thing to do is to note down half a dozen holidays that you really like and then start checking their prices every day so that if a brilliant bargain does come up then you are ready to snap it up. its hard when you are pouring through the internet not to get confused about the prices that you have or haven't seen and whilst it does sound a bit nerdy to do this, I have had a lot of success at finding the cheap prices like this.

FWIW I really wouldn't wait until the last minute. a travel agent friend says that the last minute deals are the holidays that no one else wants and you have to ask yourself why this is. personally I don't really get the appeal of AI I think when the pound was good against the euro it was a bargain but now would be going for a self catering villa as doing your own breakfasts and lunches at least is the easiest way to keep costs down.