Beach holiday full board recommendations

[piscis]

Hi! we are planning our holiday for next year (it would have to be either on April or May) and we would like something very relaxing, the type of beach, full board holidays.

We've got a DD who will be nearly 3 years old when we go. Last time we went on a holiday like this (before DD was born) I remember there were activities for kids and even a nursery where parents could leave their kids for a little while. We would like to have something like that as well; even though we are very looking forward to going on holiday with her, it would also be great to have some time for the two of us as well at some point!

We love food, so good food is a must for us, otherwise it would spoil the holidays and I would be in a bad mood

We are planning on relaxing and staying in the resort for most of the time, but thinking of going to a place where there can be something interesting to see, even if it is for just a day or half day.

We have been considering Caribbean, Canary Islands, Cyprus...even Maldives, but the more I look, the more confused I am. Have you got any recommendations?

I've done 2 AI land-based holidays, & have mixed feelings about them.
All meals are buffet, the "waiters" are not waiting on tables.

There's always a good selection of food & plenty of it, but it won't be the best quality.

The best AI holidays for me are cruises - both river & sea.
They might suit you - the sea cruises have kids clubs & activities, & the food will be far superior.

Sani in Greece has great childcare and can be full board. Lots if lovely restaurants but you pay for drinks. It's not the cheapest so depends on budget. Booking direct is good!

If you go AI you need to pay a lot to get good food. We went twice to the Caribbean and while food was good the main restaurant was still buffet style and the table service ones were “once per week “ . Saying that with a 3 year old a buffet if done well can be a good idea.

April is a good Season for the Caribbean, south Europe may still be a bit chilly to be on the beach all day, even May May still give you some cloudy days and the odd shower. We went twice to Majorca with DD being 2 and 4, a great place but I wouldn’t go again before June.

Check he requirements of the kids club carefully, some do not take them under 4 on their own, some insist on 2-3 year olds being fully toilet trained.

We just come back from Cyprus, Aphrodite hills, a lovely resort but you need a car as it is in the middle of nowhere. You can go out and go sightseeing but as we went with a teenager I don’t know how much is suitable for a toddler.

When ours where around this age we went here in Madeira which was nice:

www.portobay.com/en/hotels/madeira-hotels/porto-mare/

The food was good and fine for us but does depend how high your expectations are - we aren't fussy at all.

Actually I don't think there's a beach there so ignore that!

Look at The Royalton resorts in the Caribbean. We went to the one in St Lucia in August and it was excellent. We had our teenage DDs with us but there were families there with much younger children.

Thanks for your advice.

Yes, we are aware that the kids club require the kids to be fully toilet trained (DD is not, yet, hopefully she will by the time we go!)