All inclusive with DD12, DS11, DS11 in summer hols??

[TakeMeToKernow]

Hello all.

On the basis that everyone tells us “you could’ve gone abroad in the time you’ve spent getting to Cornwall” we’re finally going abroad.

But WHERE?

The Other Half refuses to go to: Egypt, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey.

Finding suitable accommodation for THREE children is proving difficult. Canaries so far seem to be the only place that provides accom in AI resorts for families larger than 2+2. I’m concerned canaries might be a bit hot/long flight.

Any ideas?

Other criteria:
Flying Birmingham or East Mids
Budget of circa £5k.
Needs nice pools.
Beach resort preferred
No one sleeping on sofas/in living room/no kids in with adults (cos it’s our holiday too!)

Any ideas please?? TIA

I think you're going to struggle if you won't consider sofa beds and living rooms. We've stayed at AI with one and two bed apartments but the hotels assume someone will be on the sofa bed in the living room.

Have you looked at Holiday Villages? They tend to have one + plus room apartments.

Also why not Cyprus? It's great (although will be bloody hot in the summer holidays)

Best place we’ve stayed with multi bedroom apartments in a five star all inclusive resort was in turkey but that’s on your no list so 🤷🏼‍♀️ It was great as had a small kitchen & living room with washing machine etc and separate bedrooms for all of us. I think you may need to reconsider your requirements to get something in budget that’s suitable for you. Also canaries is a shorter/similar flight to the other countries you’ve ruled out.

Yes holiday villages do have accommodation for 5 but I think would be out of budget if you dont want turkey.

I’ve not heard of “holiday villages”, so that’s a start for alternative searches, thank you!

We once looked at Martinthal in Portugal, they do proper villas while still staying in the resort. But these type of holidays are expensive. Same with a resort we go to in Cyprus in October.

Most resorts will have children sleeping on sofa beds but you would still need another room unless your girl loves sharing with her brothers.

Or look for a larger self catering villa near a water park and resort and eat out all the time?

Think people mean First Choice Holiday Villages. They currently have free child places on. May be best to call them I've heard can be tricky for acvo for 5 people via website

Blimey, those Martinhal places look lovely, but the summer holiday prices are making me weep.

Stalking the First Choice Villages and wondering if Montenegro is as nice as Croatia 🤔

Ah yes I meant FC HV, apologies. The Montenegro one opened last year, reviews were a bit iffy (but could have been teething problems as new). If I recall correctly they didn't have separate rooms but check as I am probably wrong. It was also a really long transfer (my dcs are much younger so we aren't willing to do long transfers)

The HV in Benalmadena has a water park which was nice. Also lots to do in the area.

Transfer times! Another thing to add to he criteria...

Put your criteria into the deals section of Jet2holidays

They go from both East Midlands and Birmingham and you can add party size, remove unsuitable locations and put in dates. Hopefully you will then find something suitable within budget.

Have you also thought about booking a villa and eating out for nearly all meals? Supermarket run for drinks, snacks, ice creams and maybe breakfasts and easy to prepare food, everyone pulls their weight - DCs can wash up for a start, and there could be a big chunk of money saved compared with AI to pay for meals out etc.

Don't rule out the Canaries because of heat. In the school holidays it's actually cooler there than Greece or the Med because it's in the Atlantic. The flight to Tenerife is about four hours and transfer times to, say, Costa Adeje are very swift.
I've also seen 2/ 3 bedroom apartments with all inclusive in Lanzarote and Fuertaventura.
I've always had a no-one sleeps on sofas or in living rooms rule. It obviously bumps up the cost but separate bedrooms means no-one gets woken up.

While I'm not a great fan of A/I it did suit us very well when our DC were the age yours are OP.

I think those holiday villages are probably better for younger families than yours.