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
Where would you go with a £3-4K budget in April?
beckyohecky · 13/01/2022 10:25
I’m getting overwhelmed with options to the point of thinking ‘sod it’ and booking another trip to Center Parcs.
Two adults and a toddler. I’m after sun and a pool. Oh and a beach. Between 7-10 nights.
Where would you go?! Please inspire me!
Movinghouseatlast · 13/01/2022 10:33
I've just booked Barbados for £1000 flights, £1000 an Air BnB apartment with access to a beach club with pool. Looking at food prices if you are careful where you go out can eat reasonably.
I was just saying to a friend that it is cheaper than you think. April is the beginning of the rainy season but from what I've read it only rains for a few minutes at a time, and often not at all.
You could also probably stay in a nice hotel in Cyprus for that.
Jsgdud · 13/01/2022 10:34
I would say the Maldives but then saw you have a toddler which might not be quite so relaxing for you! Kerala was also lovely.
beckyohecky · 13/01/2022 10:55
Thank you both! I hadn’t really considered anywhere as exotic as Barbados or the Maldives as I’d thought it would be too expensive, so I’ll look into that… Never been to Cyprus, I’ll see what the weather’s supposed to be like!
FingChristmasFamily · 13/01/2022 11:27
Somewhere in the Caribbean with that budget outside of the school holidays.
purpleboy · 13/01/2022 11:33
April is peak spring break time in USA and Caribbean, so choose wisely where you book!
shiningstar2 · 13/01/2022 11:50
I would go to the canaries for guaranteed sun without a long flight. Look up temperatures especially across the North and South areas of Tenerife as they can be very different. I wouldn't find the north warm enough in April. However the North is more beautiful than the South and less crowded. I don't think the temperatures are significantly different on the other islands. Barbados in March was lovely if you feel like going further afield but don't know about April.
zafferana · 13/01/2022 11:51
I wouldn't want to take a toddler on a long haul flight. Mauritius is 12 hours, I think, and the Caribbean is 9 or 10. I'd go for a really nice hotel in the Canaries.
emmathedilemma · 13/01/2022 15:30
I was going to suggest Dubai but might be a bit warm for a toddler?
beckyohecky · 13/01/2022 16:00
Thank you for all of your ideas!
I think one issue is that pre-child we’d always book an Air BnB type thing, with separate flights, and our focus would be on the local area, food spots, etc.
Now with a toddler, I’m exploring resorts and package holidays (because I think that will be easier - right?) but they all look the blooming same! What do I need to look out for? Other than somewhere that’s close to a beach and has a decent pool?
Is all inclusive a good idea? Or do you (general ‘you’) end up buying lunch and dinners outside of the hotel anyway?
I’ve mainly been searching on Tui but open to suggestions!
emmathedilemma · 13/01/2022 16:18
If you're going AI with a toddler I would check:
- flight times (some package deals have very unsociable timed flights)
- transfer time from airport
- accommodation with a balcony or patio area so you can put them to bed and sit out in an evening
- a fridge in your room might be useful
- meal times
- if drinks are included
- kids club / baby sitting service if you might want to use it
The price of all inclusive is usually such that you can probably still be quids in if you buy lunch or dinner out a couple of times.
emmathedilemma · 13/01/2022 16:19
oh, and a shallow kids pool for the toddler to splash around in!
dickiedavisthunderthighs · 13/01/2022 16:24
Take a look at Malta OP. Short flight and a really lovely island. The temp is around 20-22 from memory at that time and it rarely rains.
The two 'DB' hotels, DB San Antonio and DB Seabank are fantastic and very family friendly. They're All Inclusive but also have a number of a la carte restaurants (included in the price) which means you're not tied to the same buffet every night. I've also heard things about the Dolmen but not stayed there myself.
TakeMeToYourLiar · 13/01/2022 16:25
We're going to Mexico, kid friendly hotel. 2 week AI, £3k
zafferana · 13/01/2022 18:17
Now with a toddler, I’m exploring resorts and package holidays (because I think that will be easier - right?) but they all look the blooming same! What do I need to look out for? Other than somewhere that’s close to a beach and has a decent pool?
- it's handy to have a separate bedroom aka one-bedroom suite, so you can put the toddler to bed and watch telly, chat, have a drink, etc
- toddler pool or children's pool (pref. heated)
- playroom and playground either on site or nearby
- gently shelving beach with sand, not stones
- and yes, suitable flight times, short transfer both ends and suitable meal times.
Playa Blanca in Lanzarote has several nice family-friendly AI hotels. We stayed at the Sandos Papagayo, which was great and people also talk about the Princess Yaiza.
StrifeOfBath · 13/01/2022 18:34
OP, we always did villa or AirBnB with toddlers / small children as we found it easier to have a proper kitchen, be as flexible as we liked with food snd drink / meal times etc,
beckyohecky · 13/01/2022 20:06
Thanks again everyone! I’m noting all of this down.
Has anyone been to Cape Verde?
StruggleStreet · 13/01/2022 20:08
Here! Lovely resort and perfect for kids. Should be within your budget for 7 days outside of school holidays, sani-resort.com/
TheNinjaWife · 13/01/2022 20:16
I was just coming on to say Cape Verde. Very good value for money. We stayed at the Rui palace on Boa Vista this October. There were quite a few families with young children.
We have also stayed on the island of Sal before at the Melia Llana.
We actually love the Maldives, but Cape Verde is half the price. And flying time is not too bad. Beautiful beaches, but sea in most parts too rough to swim. However we were able to snorkel in front of the Melia Lhana due to wave breaks.
Also the people on Cape Verde are lovely.
Tal45 · 13/01/2022 20:25
We stayed at Tui Blue at Flamingo beach in Lanzarote, it was very cheap in October to stay, the pretty cove beach is right there, there's a nice restaurant on the beach, a couple of little shops and it's not horribly touristy (like Playa Blanca or Puerto del carmen). It's small, quiet and felt safe and very family orientated.
TheNinjaWife · 13/01/2022 20:29
Sorry I just realised that the Melia one is adults only, however there are other family resorts in the same area.
When we stayed at the Rui Palace on Boa Vista we had a pool villa (which you could not have with a toddler, however all rooms similar with terrace or balcony). We spent a lot of our holiday in our room, as we had the pool, sun loungers and chairs, optics in the room and bar fridge. When we went out to the restaurants they were 90% open air, so felt very safe with the covid situation.
HelloDulling · 13/01/2022 20:31
The Princess Yaiza hotel in Lanzarote. The weather will be perfect then. Go half board and go out for lunch. With a toddler you won’t be drinking masses of booze (I am assuming this !) so AI not really worth it, and the food with AI is rarely very good.
BarbaraofSeville · 14/01/2022 07:31
Look at the Canaries with Jet2holidays. it's quite likely to be no more expensive to get a package than booking separately, and you get more protection. Also generally good flight times and you can filter for hotels with splash parks for the toddler, family friendly, you might even get something in the 'family luxe' range if you go outside the Easter holidays.
I'd not go for AI unless you value convenience over food quality and experience. If you're used to Center Parcs, you'll know if SC works for you, ie your partner shares the load and you can minimise work to essentials only. Too many mothers complain that SC isn't a holiday to them, but then they go on to say that they're doing daft things like cleaning and tidying and running round after everyone when 90% of what they do really isn't necessary and can be shared with partners and older DCs.
Unless you spend a lot, AI is likely to be mediocre food and queuing up for a buffet, plus it ties you to the hotel unless you're prepared to spend even more on eating out. I don't mind a buffet breakfast but don't want one for lunch and dinner.
We sometimes do B&B but always have accommodation with kitchen facilities that is walking distance to a supermarket/decent convenience store and restaurants and beach and eat out at least once a day. We generally have cooked breakfast in the accommodation and sometimes have a 'Spanish time' lunch so about 4 pm and then snacks in the evening, or maybe just an ice cream or snack in the daytime and then eat out or BBQ in the evening. Costs about the same as mid range AI, but a nicer experience.
Impatientwino · 14/01/2022 07:38
We've chosen Cyprus for April as it should be 23 average according to our friends who live there and that's perfect for us as we have two very fair skinned children including a redhead.
Jet2 have lots of options if you're looking for a package
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.