Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

1 2

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Holidays

Hotel suggestions for a young family

27 replies

TheMindfulMum · 25/05/2022 23:39

We are hoping to go abroad next summer for the first time with our children who will be 5 & 7.

IMO our want list isn't big...
Europe
All inclusive
On (or very near to) the beach
Decent size kids splash pool/splash pad (suitable for 5 & 7 years - not too big/deep but not too small either where they get bored after half an hour if there's only one slide)

However, the choices after entering those search parameters are minimal! I'm shocked to the point where I actually feel the filters on my searches aren't doing the job correctly and I'm missing out on loads of options.

Unless I scroll through hundreds of hotels to read the text or swipe through photos, I don't appear to be offered more than the one or two hotels my searching have so far produced.

The only hotel that really seems to fit the bill is the TUI Aura Blue hotel in Ibiza but it seems the kids splash pool is shoved at the back of the hotel :( so our vision of relaxing on a lounger whilst the kids play safely in shallow waters isn't as appealing knowing we'd have brick buildings stacked around us rather than a nice pool or sea view. Maybe I'm expecting too much?!

Can anyone suggest a hotel they've visited that would fit the bill? The kids pool ideally needs to have a reasonable amount to keep them occupied - a few small slides, water jets, tilt buckets etc.

OP posts:

Thanks

Share

Report

Fivemoreminutes1 · 26/05/2022 05:38

Estival El Dorado Resort Cambrils and Insotel Cala Mandia Resort

Thanks

zoopigi · 26/05/2022 05:45

Plenty of all inclusive beach front hotels in Cyprus :)

Thanks

alicewasahorse · 26/05/2022 05:45

The holiday village in Ibiza (Seaview) has a good albeit small water park attached. Easy to get a seat (not a lounger more like a deck chair) round the edge so you can keep watch. It has water jets, tip buckets, a couple of small slides too.

It's literally 2 minutes from the beach too.

Thanks

BinBandit · 26/05/2022 12:19

It's not Europe obviously, but Turkey fulfils all the rest of those criteria.

Thanks

TheMindfulMum · 26/05/2022 12:26

alicewasahorse · 26/05/2022 05:45

The holiday village in Ibiza (Seaview) has a good albeit small water park attached. Easy to get a seat (not a lounger more like a deck chair) round the edge so you can keep watch. It has water jets, tip buckets, a couple of small slides too.

It's literally 2 minutes from the beach too.

This hotel's splash park is actually the one that Blue Aura uses. The hotels are next to one another but we're leaning towards the Aura hotel to stay at as the whole hotel was refurbed in 2019.

Interesting you say it's a small splash park as the picture make it look a reasonable size where the kids will be entertained for a good long while. But it doesn't look deep or a risk of them going out of their depth whilst they play.

Did you feel like you were in a back yard? This is the concern I have with this hotel... they whilst we're sat (not lounging :( ) whilst the kids play the view doesn't look that great?

OP posts:

Thanks

TheMindfulMum · 26/05/2022 12:28

BinBandit · 26/05/2022 12:19

It's not Europe obviously, but Turkey fulfils all the rest of those criteria.

Any hotels you can recommend though with the splash park requirement? I can find countries easily but I can't find hotels that have the splash park suitable for my requirements given the children's ages as well as the hotel being on or very close to a beach.

OP posts:

Thanks

TheMindfulMum · 26/05/2022 12:30

zoopigi · 26/05/2022 05:45

Plenty of all inclusive beach front hotels in Cyprus :)

But possibly too hot in august for a young family? I don't want it to be so hot that I'm worried about the kids not enjoying it because of the heat

OP posts:

Thanks

Mac89 · 26/05/2022 12:31

HYB Eurocalas Aparthotel in Majorca.

Beach is 10 mins away but the hotel provides a free shuttle every half an hour. Had 2 wonderful holidays there before covid hit!

Thanks

BinBandit · 26/05/2022 12:41

TheMindfulMum · 26/05/2022 12:28

Any hotels you can recommend though with the splash park requirement? I can find countries easily but I can't find hotels that have the splash park suitable for my requirements given the children's ages as well as the hotel being on or very close to a beach.

Show quote history

I like the Antalya/Lara beach/Belek area for All Inclusive as short transfers and pretty much all the all inclusive are right along the beach. They will have have some sort of splash park/waterslides but it really depends on the swimming level of your DC as to which might be the best. My Dc always prefer the sea and jumping into it from the pier so didn't bother much with the slides after the first few days and they were also very strong swimmers (and maybe a little older than yours) so weren't bothered with splash park. We stayed in the Paloma Grida in Belek which I think had quite a few slides and then a couple of different hotels in Lara Beach but can't remember the names/water park status but were on the beach and definitely had pool slides etc.

My favourite destination is Dalyan but that meets none of your criteria - no AI at all I don't think and isn't directly on the beach.

Thanks

BinBandit · 26/05/2022 12:43

I tend to just get the map on satellite view and you can get a good idea of which hotels might suit and then check them out on the website.

www.google.com/maps/place/Lara+Beach/@36.8546241,30.8805923,781m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x14c39cc84c9f6227:0x2530b612152e2b04!8m2!3d36.8510917!4d30.8509053

Thanks

alicewasahorse · 26/05/2022 15:22

The waterpark views weren't picturesque it was really just a view of the slides etc.
I say it's small but it's only small in comparison to an off site dedicated water park. For an on site park it's great.

The holiday village wasn't perfect but we've booked to go back as it ticked most of our boxes and was great for our 5 year old,

If you go for either of these Ibiza options the benefit Is you are right at the beach and there is also an hourly bus to San Antonio or the water taxi.

You should join the holiday village Ibiza Facebook page, lots of candid photos and info

Thanks

TheMindfulMum · 26/05/2022 18:24

Fivemoreminutes1 · 26/05/2022 05:38

Estival El Dorado Resort Cambrils and Insotel Cala Mandia Resort

Thank you for your suggestions. I'll look at both of these tonight.

OP posts:

Thanks

TheMindfulMum · 26/05/2022 18:25

Mac89 · 26/05/2022 12:31

HYB Eurocalas Aparthotel in Majorca.

Beach is 10 mins away but the hotel provides a free shuttle every half an hour. Had 2 wonderful holidays there before covid hit!

Thank you. I'll look it up :)

OP posts:

Thanks

TheMindfulMum · 26/05/2022 18:25

BinBandit · 26/05/2022 12:43

I tend to just get the map on satellite view and you can get a good idea of which hotels might suit and then check them out on the website.

www.google.com/maps/place/Lara+Beach/@36.8546241,30.8805923,781m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x14c39cc84c9f6227:0x2530b612152e2b04!8m2!3d36.8510917!4d30.8509053

I didn't know you could do this! Thanks for the great tip :)

OP posts:

Thanks

TheMindfulMum · 26/05/2022 18:26

alicewasahorse · 26/05/2022 15:22

The waterpark views weren't picturesque it was really just a view of the slides etc.
I say it's small but it's only small in comparison to an off site dedicated water park. For an on site park it's great.

The holiday village wasn't perfect but we've booked to go back as it ticked most of our boxes and was great for our 5 year old,

If you go for either of these Ibiza options the benefit Is you are right at the beach and there is also an hourly bus to San Antonio or the water taxi.

You should join the holiday village Ibiza Facebook page, lots of candid photos and info

Thanks for all your knowledge and suggestions x

OP posts:

Thanks

Afterfire · 26/05/2022 18:28

Tui magic life hotels are really geared up for young families. The Cala pada in Ibiza has great reviews and is well placed for exploring nearby areas.

Thanks

CoolShoeshine · 26/05/2022 20:50

The protour Cala bona Mallorca is pretty popular for families with small children, I saw it recommended on here

Thanks

hilbil21 · 26/05/2022 20:54

Hilton Dalaman is good and fits the bill

Thanks

BinBandit · 26/05/2022 21:19

There is also the Estival Park hotel which is right on the beach and is basically a group of 3 hotels. You can use the facilities and pools of all 3 during your stay so would help to stop the DC getting bored. It has fairly decent AI but I don't think most AI in Europe is as good as that in Turkey.

Thanks

MissCalamity · 26/05/2022 21:55

Los Patos Park in Benelmadena.

5 mins from the beach, 3 pools, one with 5 slides, a more toddler based splash park with smaller slides, buckets etc and a standard swimming pool.

We went went the kids were 7 & 3 in 2017, they had an absolute blast, we're going again in August as we had such a great time.

Thanks

TheNinny · 12/06/2022 13:59

Playa Mar in Porto pollensa Majorca. Amazing kids pool with sun loungers all around. Bigger pool next to it. All inclusive. 2 Km from beach (small though). Very kid focused but rooms are nice enough and quite big with options for separate beds from living space for kids. Just back from a weeke there and it was brilliant. First time all inclusive for
me so maybe I’m easily impressed 😂

Thanks

TheNinny · 12/06/2022 14:00

Should say I booked via Tui

Thanks

Hollipolly · 12/06/2022 14:01

Stella villiage in Greece. Here now and it's fab!

Thanks

Montague57 · 12/06/2022 14:07

Have a look at Zafiro hotels in the Balearics.

Thanks

scintilla87 · 12/06/2022 14:10

Martinhal Sagres in Portugal is ideal for that age! The Cascais one is also great but no directly on the beach.

Thanks

Flip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.