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3 bed apartment, on a complex, all inclusive - doesn't exist?

75 replies

RaspberryCoulis · 22/04/2021 08:32

Thinking about booking a summer break for us next summer 2022. We have three teenage children who really aren't up for all sharing a room together for a fortnight.

We are looking for a package deal given the current situation - I am confident that by 2022 we will be travelling as normal but want that package guarantee and refund.

Looking for ideally a three bed apartment or suite or something - would consider a 2 bed with a bed in the lounge at a push. As kids are older they would prefer a resort with stuff going on around the pool during the day and other kids to socialise with - not necessarily kids' clubs as they're past that stage really.

Not Benidorm. Not Turkey.

All-inclusive ideally, more of a holiday for me too but would consider a a self-catering villa/apartment on a complex with a communal pool and "stuff" going on for the teens.

Really struggling to find anything suitable at all, 5 of us crammed into one room or small studio apartment for a fortnight isn't happening.

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BarbaraofSeville · 22/04/2021 10:31

@rookiemere

I must admit having breakfast prepared for me is always a huge tick on my list , even though it costs pennies to have baguettes in the apartment it always feels so luxurious to have someone else do all the prep and be able to have fruit salad without all the gaff.

I agree with this and I think it is that long since I've been on holiday that I'd forgotten the joys of a hotel buffet breakfast.

Another way we do holidays to get what I think is a nicer experience than mid range AI but cheaper than nice AI is to stay B&B in an apartment with at least a kitchenette with fridge.

Have a big late breakfast from the buffet and then either have a lateish lunch out while out and about and relaxed snacks in the balcony in the evening, or have just an ice cream or slice of pizza for lunch and then a proper meal out in the evening.
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Clymene · 22/04/2021 10:33

I think you need something like a hotel resort villa - where you've got a little house within hotel grounds.

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Clymene · 22/04/2021 10:38

Something like this: www.jamesvillas.co.uk/destinations/spain/costa-calida/la-manga-club/las-palmeras-flor-5657?adults=2&children=0&infants=0&childAges=&nights=7&airport=-1&search_log_id=0&num_hols=113

So effectively self-catering but there are loads of restaurants/bars on site. Most apartments in AI resorts sleep 4 max

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Hoppinggreen · 22/04/2021 10:41

@MrsSchrute

What about Cape Verde?

We've been to the Meliá Dunas on Sal and they have apartments like that as part of the complex.

Look at the Tortuga in Cape Verde.
We were in a 2 bed suite but AI and there are villas there with 3 bedrooms too.
There isn’t a huge amount to do on Cape Verde but plenty of water sports etc and my teen/Pre teen loved it
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rookiemere · 22/04/2021 11:07

Or another option is Neilson. They offer interconnected rooms, AI and you'll never see your teens. Friend said it was best holiday she'd ever been on. Pricey mind and no direct flights from Scotland unless that has changed.

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SuziQuatrosFatNan · 22/04/2021 11:12

That one that a pp linked to down the road from Dubrovnik has suites with two bedrooms and living/dining/kitchen room. They sleep five, look nice, options for b&b, half board etc. It's pricey but everything's definitely on site, pools, restaurants and everything.

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SwimBaby · 22/04/2021 11:28

I stayed at Iberostar Cala Barca, Majorca in a 2 bedroom apartment and I think they had some other family accommodation. Perhaps you could check out other iberostar properties.

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SwimBaby · 22/04/2021 11:29

Forgot to say it’s all inclusive also we found with all inclusive out teens were hardly in their room.

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RaspberryCoulis · 22/04/2021 13:36

Thanks all, lots to think about. Will keep looking - i'm sure our situation is far from unique.

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itwa · 22/04/2021 15:18

I'd get a separate room for the 15 and 16 year old and then adjoining interconnected for you two and the youngest?
Neillson is a good shout.

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imnottoofussed · 22/04/2021 15:44
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HoldontoOneMoreDay · 22/04/2021 15:53

If you're willing to pay £££ then look at country club type resorts - Pine Cliffs in Portugal is one that we've been to. I fricken loved it but it was not cheap in the least but we'd had a tough year so opted for one week of solid luxury rather than two weeks with me cooking.

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imnottoofussed · 22/04/2021 15:57

Playa Bella Apartments Ibiza Half Board and 3 bed apartment

Sol De Alcudia Majorca Half Board and 3 bed apartment

Colina Del Paraiso Costa Del Sol Half Board and 3 bed apartment

If you want to blow the budget entirely try St Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel and Villas crete Half Board 3 bed seafront villa with private pool

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RaspberryCoulis · 22/04/2021 16:09

I've spent most of the afternoon trawling... have found a couple of options which may work. One hotel in Menorca which has a "family room" which is actually a twin and a double separated by a sliding door and then a separate twin. It's just not fair to expect anyone - even a teenager - to sleep on a sofa or camp bed for a fortnight.

That's coming out at £8400 for a fortnight, we'd have to fly from Manchester but that's not the end of the world.

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HoldontoOneMoreDay · 22/04/2021 16:11

@RaspberryCoulis

I've spent most of the afternoon trawling... have found a couple of options which may work. One hotel in Menorca which has a "family room" which is actually a twin and a double separated by a sliding door and then a separate twin. It's just not fair to expect anyone - even a teenager - to sleep on a sofa or camp bed for a fortnight.

That's coming out at £8400 for a fortnight, we'd have to fly from Manchester but that's not the end of the world.

Yeah the last time we took the teen away he (very politely) suggested I sleep on the sofa bed for a night, which means I'm now firmly Team Proper Beds for All.
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RaspberryCoulis · 22/04/2021 16:15

It's fine when they're little. Last time we were away on this type of holiday the smallest had just turned 11, he was still very much a little boy and was fine on the camp bed while the other two had the proper beds. But by the time we go away next year he'll be 14, and he's as tall as me already.

It really is tricky when you have more than 2 children unless you want to self-cater or have three separate rooms which isn't ideal either.

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minniemomo · 22/04/2021 16:16

We stayed in a place on Rhodes which had three bedrooms but you could upgrade to ai

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rookiemere · 22/04/2021 16:34

We just have the one, but had to insist to DH that it wasn't fair to expect a privacy loving 5ft 10 15 year old to sleep on a pull out trundle bed for a week in the shared living room/kitchen area.

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Mumdiva99 · 22/04/2021 16:45

@rookiemere

We just have the one, but had to insist to DH that it wasn't fair to expect a privacy loving 5ft 10 15 year old to sleep on a pull out trundle bed for a week in the shared living room/kitchen area.

Ha ha - the last time we stayed in a 2 bed it was me that ended up in the living room on the sofa bed...... We haven't done that again as it's not plesant!! We've had interconnecting rooms or an entire house!!

I always think we have to book about 12 months in advance to get a reasonable deal with space for all of us comfortably - because set ups for 5 are like gold dust.
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sandycloud · 22/04/2021 16:51

We went to mark warner in Greece with 2 teenagers. It was right on the beach. There was a teens club but this included sailing lessons. Free kayaks on the beach too. You could do half board or all inclusive. It is expensive. We managed to go last week of the summer holidays when most schools had gone back so it was much cheaper.

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Wegobshite · 22/04/2021 16:52

Have you thought about booking as two separate booking as single parents so that you get two rooms and the discounts
Ive done this with Tui before and it can works out loads cheaper

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sandycloud · 22/04/2021 16:52

Forgot to say we had adjoining rooms. There were sofa beds so 3 would easily fit one room.

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Turmerictolly · 22/04/2021 17:02

@Wegobshite

Have you thought about booking as two separate booking as single parents so that you get two rooms and the discounts
Ive done this with Tui before and it can works out loads cheaper




A very good idea.

Shocked at £8400!
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SuziQuatrosFatNan · 22/04/2021 17:12

If you're a single parent your child counts as an adult. I guess you'd get a discount for the second child in the second room.

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Wegobshite · 22/04/2021 17:21

I’m off to Turkey next year - I know the OP said that she didn’t want turkey
I’m taking my niece and with the discounts and SP discount I’m paying £950 for 2 weeks AI
My sister is taking the other two kid and she is paying £1250
We have been to the hotel before so we knows it’s great for the kids
We will email the hotel a few weeks before and ask if we can have rooms close to each other .
Most likely we will put all the kids in one room and me and my DS share 😂
I use to do this with my DH and my son and the SDC when they were little - saved a fortune 😂

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