AI in summer holidays - good times or nightmare?

[Cherrypie32]

Looking at Corfu AI hotels for August. We’re used to travelling fairly independently but kids having other kids to play with is now our priority, whilst we get to relax. They are 9 and 11. So is AI going to be all queues and bun fights for sun beds or just the job??

I think it depends where you go and what resort. We did AI when DD wanted a pool, kids club (she was 8 the first time) and I wanted somewhere warm. But I am fussy and we normally go at least 4, often 5and in general we had decent hotels, enough sun beds and more than just the main buffet restaurant.

Due to this we normally go every two years and save for it in the meantime.

I went AI last year for the first time. I am bloody converted. Love it! We are looking at 2 weeks AI on a Greek island this year. My needs are good food reviews, and a hotel near or on a beach.

Our hotel last year was in the canaries. Loved the food, very quiet and relaxed. Beer on tap for DP, animation team worked their arse of in the day. Our Dc's are 14 and 18 and cant wait for this years holiday.

We did go on day trips, eat out also. I love AI simply for having everything there already. On the last holiday, most mornings I would go to the restaurant and take a tray of coffee, fresh juice, pastries etc back to our apartment and wake everyone up with it. Swimming kit on next for a few laps of the pool and exploring. Love it!

Depends on your taste, it my worst nightmare as I hate buffets and "entertainment" and prefer to wander around sightseeing to the pool but others love it. My DD's refused to do kids club the one time we tried a place with one (they did do tennis though so entertained themselves)

@songforsal what hotel did you go to?

Rollerbird Hotel Royal Suite in Fuerteventura. Lots of apartments in the complex, a couple of pools. The animation team were fab all day long getting the kids (and adults!) participating in games all day. They also took the little ones of for swimming games in the indoor pool ect.

Food was bloody great. Highlight for me was sitting with 18yr old DD eating roast beef, grilled veg and potatoes with sparkly bubbly by the pool. Also, having a bit of a hangover on another day and sitting for lunch with DS 13 eating fresh pizza, salad, olives and coke! Followed by coffee and cake....DP loves fish, so he was in his element

Yep, I’ve honed in on good choice of restaurants onsite and on/near the beach, plus rigorous checking of reviews on Trip Advisor. I think we’re poised to book one of either the Louis Corcyra Beach or Kerkyra Golf hotels on Corfu with the only sticking point being I can get a better price booking hotel direct and flights separate than on Tui package but then kids wouldn’t get access to Tui kids club. They are at the top end of the kids club age group and am wondering if it might be a bit babyish for them anyway and that they’ll meet plenty of kids just round the pool.

AI was perfect for us when DC were young until mid teens. Having said that the one place that doesn't do AI so well is Greece IMO. Cyprus does it better if you like the Greek feel.
Choose at least 4 (preferably 5 if Greece ) and find a hotel with more than one restaurant and several pools.

We went to the Kerkyra Golf with TUI a few years ago.

Kids loved it - I think they were about 9 & 12. They both made loads of friends. We hired a car and pootled northeastwards a few times and found gorgeous tavernas for lunch and great beaches. It was a great holiday.

Good to know Random did your kids bother with kids club or were they too old?