Help me find our first fly and flop holiday….please

[MegCleary]

My brain is fried trying to figure it out any hotel that looks nice in the picture the trip advisor review are fierce.
We would like shortish transfer from airport. May half term, me and DH and two DDs 11 & 14. If possible two rooms or akin as DH snores like a demon.
We were looking at Spain Catalonia area la Pineda but some reviews have made me worried the pools will be cold. This is our first holiday in years (like lots of people!!)
I really want to get this right for the family and the mumsnet hive mind has always been great.

Have a look via TUI at the Golden Taurus Park in Pineda, you can get a 2 bedroom suite. Loads going on, so not exactly a quiet or cultured holiday! Easy train ride into Barcelona.

Lovely will peek now it doesn’t have too be in that area, if people have a got too place they recommend open to all ideas. As I say brain fried

We've been to Crete in May, similar weather to La Pineda. The kids never went in the pools as they were so cold, needed a sweatshirt on at night.I think you'll find this in most European resorts.
Rhodes get the warmest at that time of year
The only guaranteed perfect weather/pools etc is longhaul, Caribbean etc

Wow thanks, that is my concern, it will be too cold to swim in the pools. Are there places with heated pools??

The Canary Islands resorts stay open all-year round, so many of these have heated pools

I was going to say Tenerife. Don't know your budget but Costa Adeje is a nice resort. Most places have heated pools but not all heated all year round so check that is the case especially if you're going between April - October.

We have just come back from the Canaries. The pools were too cool for me but lots of children were hardier than I and were happily playing. It was hot enough to sunbathe during the day but cool enough for a cardigan/jumper in the evening. By May half term I would expect it to be plenty warm enough.

La Pineda is lovely, we normally stay in Estival Park hotel in October half term (DS is autistic and he loves it there.) It's a short walk to the beach, waterpark and not far from Portaventura. Also handy if you want a day in Barcelona.
Highly recommend it - it's cheap as chips and a quick transfer from the airport.

What about a villa in Lanzarote?

We've done villa before in Malta and Portugal but I just want to not cook of shop just perhaps an all inclusive lying down holiday….

What's your budget? And does it have to be short haul or would you consider long haul?

Budget probably up to £3.5k at a push, doubt we would manage longhaul for just the week

Not so!

I guessed at the dates, obviously, but put in the costing for 2 rooms.

West Coast of Barbados £3219

When I said manage I kind of meant a long flight not worth it for a week, thought Europe easier.

We are doing all inclusive in Cape Verdes in April, looks to be warm. About a 6 hr flight

Look at TUI magic life in fuerterentura - completely hassle free, coaches met us at the airport, took an hour ish to the hotel, quick check, really all inclusive, no bill at all at the end. One pool is heated, kids clubs for all ages, sports etc. buffet and 4 other restaurants included

Agree with previous poster. Tui magic life at fuerteventura is fab. We've been at May half term and pool was fine

Magic life fully booked on tui

Booo

What about the tui magic life in Rhodes? We are going to crete at May half term, pools might not be as warm as Canaries but I'm chancing it, plus many of the Greek Islands imo are much prettier than the canaries. Im looking forward to a strolling round Chania(which is lovely). The weather will likely be late 20's.

The tui magic in Rhodes is put of our reach sadly

Any other tips still struggling. I have looked at about a million hotels it feels but the trip advisor review horrific especially on the jet 2 hotels!

Go to the canaries maybe. You will need a well heated pool definitely. Ours in May all we're unused.

Would you do Turkey?
We do it most May half terms it's hot great for that age kids.
We've stayed at the delphin imperial in Antalya a few times I would recommend its got loads for kids and is very secure (as in you can just let them go off to the water slides and wander round) food is very good (AI) freshly cooked meat and fish.

Would be a bit too nervous sadly to go the canaries at the moment, now tell me about the Canaries.