Early October sun - am I asking the impossible here?

[haggis81]

Has anyone been on my dream holiday? Want to get away in early October to take advantage of last year before we are locked into school holidays. We have DS 3.5 and DD 1.

We’re generally not package holiday people preferring Airbnb and self catering etc even since we had kids but I’m increasingly tempted by the idea of a genuine break. I particularly want to go somewhere with a very gentle sandy beach and/or a shallow toddler pool for DS who has managed to get a bit freaked out by swimming.

So would love recommendations that tick the following...

• Warm in early-mid October, ie mid 20s ideally
• Max 3-4 hours flight from London
• Somewhere we can mainly self cater but have the odd meal / drink on-site and still benefit from shared pool and other play facilities, so possibility of DS making friends and seeing other kids enjoying the water
• Somewhere within walking or shuttle distance to a town for restaurants, food shops etc, would be great not to have to hire a car
• Not too bland and ‘resorty’- somewhere trying to make an effort to be eco with a bit of character, lots of greenery and nature. So probably on the smaller scale of things too.
• Nearby beautiful scenery and culture for the odd day trip.

What do you think - too much to ask? Would be so grateful for recommendations

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote
This place exactly fits your brief
casasdelsol.com
There are other similar small bungalow complexes nearby with pools, very near gentle sandy beaches and shops and restaurants but family focussed not noisy/clubby.

Apologies, that was just for one villa. This is the home website
www.casasdelsol-booking.com

Portugal is still very warm until late October. 2.5 hr flight, lots of choices for all budgets.

Try Alykanas on Zante www.alykanas-beach.com/en_accommodation.php

Any Greek island.

Lindos in Rhodes is nice but all the islands fit the bill. Check flights from your local airport.

Cyprus....gorgeous place

Where would you recommend in Cyprus I wasn't a huge fan when we went, where are the nice bits (we did hire car and went to troodos mountains etc but I wasn't hugely impressed)

Ha ha. Great minds think alike. When I read the OP, I thought, she's describing Playa Blanca Lanzarote.

Menorca or Mallorca would also be good, although you may or may not be lucky with the weather. Or Marsalforn on Gozo, although, you might find it a bit of a trek to get to.

But OP, your post smacks a little of 'we're too cool to go on a package holiday' but the reality is these days, a package is just a way of booking a flight, transfer and hotel all in one go and can look exactly the same as your 'all booked independently' version. Either could be in a quiet bungalow complex or equally in a big AI resort hotel. You can book anything in any way these days.

I'd go into a travel agents and look at some options

We love Peyia, Coral Bay, Sea Caves, Tala

About to get the keys to our very own place in Lower Peyia, we love it that much

Dones of Elounda in Crete

Greece or Turkey would be ideal, definitely warm enough that time of year

Lots of people suggesting Greece.
October is after the end of the summer season in Greece as well as Spain and Portugal.
While it's possible to have nice weather it's a gamble, like a June holiday in the UK it could be cool and wet. I'd leave Greece until you can go in summer.
If you want a mid 20s sun / beach holiday the Canaries is much the safer bet and around 4 hours flight.
I agree that Lanzarote might tick all your boxes. You might even find that a ^package holiday" can be a big busy hotel or a secluded villa, it's actually just a convenient way to book a flight, hotel/ apartment and transfer. It .

Couple of package holiday options from London Stansted with Jet2holidays

Villas Kamezi and Palmeras Garden Apartments are the ones that look nice in Playa Blanca

Any Canary Island or Cyprus

Eastern Cyprus if you want the best beaches.

Playa Blanca would be perfect but imo not casas del sol, many units haven't been modernised since they were built in the 70s.
Southern Spain 2hrs closer, would fit your bill especially the undeveloped Cabo de Gata or slightly more commercial Mojacar area both in Almeria province but a car is necessary at the former. There is a pre bookable shuttle bus to Mojacar from Almeria airport about 45 mins away or if you hire a car you could increase your flight choice by including Murcia and Alicante though they are a fair drive from Mojacar.
Western Algarve, very quiet and uncommercial but probably not enough ticks on your list.

Currently in Croatia, stunning place but have yet to see a SANDY beach so probably not for you this time.

Thanks so much for all the recommendations - especially the ones for specific accommodation as I find it hard to get the feel of a place from just a few photos mainly of the inside of an apartment etc, which as long as it is clean and reasonably comfy is the least important aspect of it for me. I’m going to look at all the places mentioned this weekend. Think Lanzarote sounds lovely, just wondering how much bad four hours with an 18 month old will be...

Barbaraofseville - you’re right, I guess I said package when I really meant all-inclusive resort, apologies. We’re not remotely cool - quite the opposite, my DH is laughably useless in most social situations which is one of the reasons we tend not to have done the types of holidays where you can end up socialising with other families quite a bit. But remarkably we seem to have produced sociable children, so for their benefit I think I’d like to try places with a shared pool etc. But all-inclusive is probably a bit too far out of our comfort-zone!

haggis81 Socinianising is never compulsory. DH is the least social person I know, would happily be a hermit and never speak to anyone. We have managed to holiday for over 40 years in all kinds of places, even cruises without ever speaking to fellow holidaymakers .
My DC are adults now (though still come on the odd holiday with us). We found that up to about 5 or so they were happy to play with each other on holiday but as they got older they wanted other children and activities. So we did small hotels or villas for a few years, then bigger, family oriented hotels. From around 10/11ish all inclusive was perfect for them. I wouldn't do it now other than on a cruise but it suited us for a while.
I would say at 18 months your toddler would be happy with a paddling pool anywhere so pick what suits you and your DH. Plenty of years ahead when holidays are tailored to the DC.

Costa teguise lanzarote
Dalyan turkey
Quieter parts of Los Cristianos Tenerife
Madeira
Palma Majorca

Lanzarote was lovely, we've been twice. Seaside Los Jameos in Puerto de Pocillos is lovely, nice family feel, no requirement to join in and offer B&B up to AI.