Holiday panic! Any advice for quite beach holidays with 2 yr old and 1 yr old?

[muumi]

There's going to be loads of time to go on rowdy kids holidays when they're older so I'd really, really appreciate any advice on where to go with the kiddies to have a not-too-expensive-but-not-too-steak-and-chips holiday with them now.

We really wanted to get a villa as we'll defo need 2 bedrooms, but it turns out that we'd have to re-mortgage our house to afford that in June, so we need a big plan B.

Any ideas hugely appreciated. After being used to independant travelling pre-kiddies all this feels like a bit of a shock!

Stay in the uk, much easier with little ones and not too expensive in June, although we always go in May as the weather is pretty good and its cheaper still. How about Devon,Cornwall, or South Wales? You could get a good 2 bed cottage in May for £250-£350, (I know I've just booked ours, although we're going to Yorshire this year) probably a bit more in June, but at least its out of school hols.

How about somewhere like this

Flights to and from malaga are cheap enough, sleasyjet jet2.com and monarch all fly there regularly and Nerja was recommended yesterday as a nice town on the spanish coast.

If you can go mid may then it'd be even cheaper.

If you go whilst schools are still in session and durng the summer months then Caribbean holidays can be v. cheap. Especially all inclusive hotel ones, and it isn't rowdy hotels; it's quiet lazing on the beach type of places. Antigua St. James Club or most all inclusive hotels in Antigua have shallow calm water and of course great weather. You'll be surprised-the expensive season for Antigua is November till May. Summer can be cheap as it's hurricane seasonin the summer months!! Don't let that put you off as it's only as likely as if you go to Florida, basically they maybe have one every seven years if that. Don't need a visa or any jabs and they all speak English.

What's your budget? Really hard to advise without any idea.

We went to Portugal when my daughter was nine months and stayed in Pousadas (google it) - very comfortable and very child friendly.

Thanks for all your suggestions. mrspnut, that looks absolutely perfect - have you been? I've heard really good things about Nerja and that's a pretty good price too... I really don't know about a budget Anna8888. I was just shocked when a villa that we rented in a lovely bit of Majorca a few years back for £500 a week was quoting £1380 for a week in June - total madness!

Have any of you done hotels or small self catering appartments with 2 small ones? I just wondered how that would work with only having one bedroom and still having a bit of fun after 7pm when they've gone to bed?

Backpacking round india anyone? Those were the days!!

We've done hotels and self catering with one small one and one older one and it's hell on earth.

Definitely get an apartment or villa with a second bedroom, just so you don't have to be quiet so you don't disturb them.

The first hotel I took the littlest one to was a twin bedded tiny room in London. I went down with the kids and met up with my mum for some shopping and sightseeing and it was murder. L/O didn't got go sleep until about 11pm.

We haven't been to Nerja before but we're planning to go this summer (Hiring a villa with my SIL and her daughter) and I've had it recommended.

We always went to France in June with small kids. Prices for holiday homes are much cheaper in June than July/August and places are quieter. You can still do fairly low key bucket and spade type holidays in France with great food and cheap wine thrown in to boot. Find somewhere with a nice garden you can sit out in after the kids are gone to bed and it's as realaxing as a holiday with small kids can be Try sites like welcomeholidays - ironically the one time we thought we'd like a weekend in the UK at Easter time it turned out to be cheaper to take the ferry to France for a week instead!

We went to Lassi in Kefalonia inSeptember with a 13 month old and a 2.9 year old. OIt was brill, the kids loved it. It was quiet and Lassi is a good base to go exploring Kefalonia (Botrh DSs loved the buses) as you are only a 10 mion drive from the main town where there are excellent resturants etc.

SheikYerbouti, that sounds great too, I really like the idea of Greece. Where did you stay? Any good recommendations?

I've had a good look around the Owners Direct website that Mrspnut posted about and it looks like there are some nice places on there that we might be able to stretch to at a push.

I think I'll need a holiday to get over booking the holiday though!

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That looks amazing Trolleydolly71! I'll defo find out more about that one. Hurrah! My problem may be solved. Thanks everyone for your help.

Trolleydolly71, I just wanted to check which place you stayed at? Piscina Rei or Rei Marina? They both look lovely but I wondered if one is more suitable than the other?

Thanks again.

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Thank you, thank you! Fabby advice. I've emailed them so will see what availability they have. Yey!

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Just a pity it is so much in August....

"How about here"

Trolleydolly71 - that looks good, I'm certainly going to save your link.

we stayed here in the Pelion once (mainland greece), when our ds was 18 months. gorgeous and friendly village, great self catering villa right on the beach, you fly to Volos (which is a nice place to visit if you need some city life occasionally) and lots of lovely hill top villages to visit. very different from typical greece, and v child friendly.

unfortunately the website is flakey and i can't find any prices, but i know it was really really cheap when we booked it back in 2001!