Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Family friendly foreign holidays which are also a bit luxurious for parents?
Drivingslowtosavefuel · 15/11/2021 17:40
Just got back from a Tui Blue for Families 3* package holiday to Lanzarote. We chose a family friendly resort because we have a 19 month old toddler who is still learning table manners and we didn’t want the stress of trying to manage her making a mess and noise in a classy quiet hotel restaurant. For that it was perfect - dinner started at 6pm, high chairs and children of all ages everywhere throwing food around. Also had baby club, an apartment with terrace so we would have somewhere to hang out after DC had gone to bed etc. There were also a few adult activities such as yoga on the rooftop with sea view which I partook in.
Overall happy with the resort but would like a bit more luxury next time, and happy to pay more for that if it exists, while still being designed around kids.
Would like better beds (am pregnant and the bed gave me pins and needles on whatever side of my body I lay on), better food, an extractor fan for the bathroom, would like the swimming pools to be heated (baby pools in particular were too cold to be used) and not to have to stand in an hour long queue at check in on the Lanzarote side because Tui had 4 flights leaving for the Uk within 50 mins of each other!
Aside from trying to find a 4* Tui Blue for families resort next time, what other travel companies have people found to be tailored to children (especially babies and toddlers) yet also have the levels of luxury we crave (we are not spring chickens, at 39 and 47, and have got a bit spoilt with better hotels and restaurants in the past when travelling without children)? Would love recommendations please!
Thanks
minipie · 16/11/2021 09:13
Have a look at Tots Too, they specialise in this. Range of prices from expensive to insane. They offer lots of the hotels mentioned above plus others.
I-escape for Kids is also worth a look especially if you like smaller/quirkier places
Ktay · 16/11/2021 16:09
@Lovesicecreams
Yes although it obviously helps if you like mountain walks etc! The prices are a lot lower and some resorts put lots on in the way of summer entertainment/free lift access. Some of the hotels have outdoor pools; pretty sure the Serfaus one did and it had flumes (and a soft play).
mumsiedarlingrevolta · 16/11/2021 16:14
@incognitodorrito
was coming on to say Forte Village as well-spent many a happy holiday there when DC were little.
Fantastic staff and facilities and very family friendly.
I remember picking DC up from "Funny Joe's" (is that still what they call the kids club?) And DS had just done a huge poo-the lovely girl working there was fighting DH to take DS and change nappy!!!
Quartz2208 · 16/11/2021 16:18
www.feuerstein.info/en/ is good and I agree with Kinderhotels - we had some lovely times at some. The mountain resorts do a lot in the summer, lots of activities and plenty of childcare options depending on what you want (dont always speak perfect english)
Drivingslowtosavefuel · 17/11/2021 16:40
Thanks everyone - can’t wait to google all your suggestions! (Currently in the post-holiday hell of catching up on work and washing but the mere thought of another break is keeping me going in this chilly week after holiday!)
TizerorFizz · 18/11/2021 16:54
Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda. Or get a crewed yacht! Just wonderful for families.
allfurcoatnoknickers · 19/11/2021 15:04
If it doesn't have to be Europe, Paradisus La Esmerelda in Playa del Carmen is AMAZING. Especially if you spring for the family concierge rooms. It's not cheap, but it is worth every penny. We took DS for his first overseas holiday when he was 9 months old and we all loved it. laesmeraldaresort.com
I went before kids (was pregnant though), but the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman was really child friendly and also luxurious for adults. Lot of families about - I believe they supplied beach toys and things. There was also a very popular ice cream cart. Bonkers expensive though - we paid for it on credit cards points, but I know that's frowned upon on Mumsnet.
BunsyGirl · 19/11/2021 16:58
@allfurcoatnoknickers love a points holiday! We stayed five nights at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills for free with Hilton credit card points. Next year we are staying at a Conrad in New York for free!
allfurcoatnoknickers · 19/11/2021 17:02
@BunsyGirl I live in NY and once spent a week "living" at the Conrad on points when our renovation went awry. It's lovely! You're going to have so much fun. I still think of the beds sometimes...
We have a travel points card and hoard them for nice holidays. I got shouted at on a thread though for saying I put all my expenses on a credit card for the points 
. Apparently that's the way debt and ruin lies, even if you pay the card of every month...
BunsyGirl · 19/11/2021 17:32
@allfurcoatnoknickers that’s great to hear re the Conrad. More fool people if they are willing to pay for something they can get for free 
GoingBacktoSchool123 · 19/11/2021 17:36
Any of the Ikos resorts
Costa Navarino in Greece
Any of the Sani resorts
Sensatori Aphrodite Hills (less luxurious than the others)
Pine Cliffs in the Algarve
popflos · 20/11/2021 17:13
Caserio del Mirador, between alicante and valencia, meant to be specially for pre schoolers but most of them seem to go there for about 10 years running so actually bigger kids not out of place in school hols. Communal adult meals, wine flows, one of iescapes top picks.
voxnihili · 20/11/2021 20:18
We book through TUI but try to stick to the platinum hotels. I work in a school and the last thing I want is to feel like I’m in abuse school canteen. We used to do adults only but now need the family friendly ones and have been really happy.
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