Please recommend and give advice on first holiday with the kids.

[mindermummy]

1.Which is best to stay in abroad, self catering or hotels.

1. Recommendations of places to go from stanstead.
2. Any advie in general to do with traveling with 3 and 1 year old.

$, prices in septemeber, do they go down once kids are at school.

1. is it best to book now or is it cheaper to get last min bargains.

tahnks

Self catering can be easier with small children but if you can find a big family room that may be better if you prefer to get your meals cooked and your room cleaned for you. Some self-catering apartments on a complex have cleaning included in the price.
Anywhere in Spain, Italy or France is good with small children and the flights aren't too long. Your children will be treated like royalty in Italy and ours love it there.
Prices go down massively from about the second week in September and most mediterranean destinations will still be warm enough then.
In my experience last minute bargains are a thing of the past. We've tried it before and there's only the crap left if you leave it too late. Book now and you'll have your pick. there'll also be kids go free offers around now.
Hope this helps.

I know you want to go abroad so this probably is not relevant but we went to 'Butlins' for ds first holiday..... cheap,tacky but totally child orientated (esp now they have banned smoking) and had a fab time.... maybe not everyone cup of tea and you would not have seen me there 3 years ago but really it was great!.... not sure i would reccommend it to older kids because of the amount of slot machine things they had there.

first hol i ever took ds on (10mths) was Majorca and we were self catering as he was still having bottl;es so thought it was easier. Hol was great went in June, very hot, no problems. Short flight.

Since then we have been away every year and have done the lot SC, HB, AI. All have advantages and disadvantages. Depends what your kids are like eating. Think ALL INCLUSIVE is great because you can be flexible with mealtimes and there are always snacks available and ice cream unlimited drinks. However, quality of food not always as good as when you go to restaurants.

Think Majorca is a good family destination if you havent taken kids away before.

Dont think last min deals are always all they are cracked up to be. We usually book main hol in advance as like to know whats what. Last min good if flexible and dont mind where you go, but your children are quite little.

We always book flights and hotel independently as confident in the places we go. I would say if first hol dont wait till last min. If you book early you have plenty of time to pay and you may get free child place for 3yr old.

OUR DS1 is 8 and has been everywhere with us. We have always been well prepared. Loads of toys in suitcase (his little action figures etc) useful by playing with while you sit by the pool or are getting ready in room. Books and colouring books for plane to keep them occupied. We have always done this and every year i am surprised at the number of children on hol who seem to have brought nothing from home.
many parents have commented that it is agood idea and they wish they had brought stuff when Ds has a crowd of kids round him wanting to play with his spiderman, or now hw is older psp etc!

1. I prefer apartments, mainly because you have your own bedroom and dont have to share with the kids. Plus you have a fridge, kettle etc so can eat cheaply in daytime and can keep milk/water in fridge for little ones.
2. I love Menorca very family friendly island
3. No advice as mine are 3 and 12
4. Yes go down massively after about 4th Sep
5. Late deals a bit of a myth, book now and get free child places, also haggle with you travel agent for internet prices

Agree that some form of self catering is nicer when they are v young, so that you don't have to all go to bed at the same time. I like some time to sip a glass of wine and read a book.

Don't expect it to be like the 'holidays' were Before Kids (obvious I know but it is worth reminding yourself). Pace yourself, and factor in lots of extra time to get to places.

PS children do not expire if they spend 2 weeks eating little else by ceriel and hamn sandwitches.....I know because ds did this on many a holiday when he was younger!

Sorry to hijack but mosschops do you have any recommendations on where to go in menorca and how to book it for the best? Want to take dds on first abroad holiday but feeling a bit dithery about booking. Thanks

Thanks all. good advice. I think we have decided on self catering and either majorca or minorca (is that the same as menorca; or is there a MINorca and a Menorca; sorry im thick!!).

menorca and minorca same thing lol

can I recommend the viva menorca apts in Cala N Bosch, we have stayed here twice and took friends of our last year who also loved it.
Its a great resort for families without having that tacky family holiday thing going on.
Lovely restaurants to eat out, apts are great for kids, safe, clean etc.

Cant recommend it enough

Try the pousadas (google it) in Portugal if you are going with little ones. Really comfortable accommodation, really family friendly but no horrible "entertainment". Also beautiful places and extremely good value for money. They are hotels, often with a pool.

never tried Menorca or Minorca!!!Always thought too quiet maybe a pensioners place??

i agree hols different with kids, but not that different. Im a firm believer that kids should fit in with you lifesstyle to a degree not other way round. We used still have quite late nights in bar with ds1 when he was little. HE would happily sleep in buggy. Did go to rowdy places, just bars or hotel entertainment if at a big hotel , which we often were.

Ive never found it a problem taking kids abroad.

We ahve also had a villa which was lovely but maybe better with more than one child cos one child a bit boring without interaction of other cildren. You have two though so shouldnt be a problem.

1. The best package I have found is half board, most kids will eat something from the hotel breakfast and there are usually enough options at dinner and you can also cater for them by getting lunch. Also, makes it a holiday for you as not cooking every night

1. Not flown from Stanstead but Costa del Sol First Choice Benalmedena is good, Corfu was lovely.

1. The only advice I would give you is that it is like everything with kids, the thought is worse than the reality 0 it will be fine!

1. Yes, usually cheaper in term time.

We went to Corfu half bpard in Oct half term and was £800 for 2 adults to kids booked last minute.

1. If you are booking a hotel package it usually works out cheaper if you do it last minute and if you are going to book independant with Easyjet/Ryanair etc it usually is cheaper to book it in advance. Or atleast that is what i've found.