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Holidays

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

Original poster

Luxury resort with toddler childcare??

61 replies

Dreamhouseorstay · 05/03/2023 23:38

I would love some recommendations on this! We are currently planning our family holiday. We’re looking at going in September, but would be happy with October if we were confident it would still be warm.

Very open on location - not opposed to a long flight/somewhere further afield if it means we get more for our money.

We did Mark Warner last year; and loved the childcare - especially the evening childcare/film nights so we could enjoy an adult dinner. However, the accommodation was quite basic, and neither of us are sporty, so it feels like we’re paying for facilities we don’t want to use.

We just want somewhere hot, where we can take our 2 year old swimming at the beach/pool, and have a couple of hours a day to read/destress while she enjoys some time at the kids club. No other facilities really required! I would ideally like childcare staff with uk qualifications/ratios etc.

The dream would be great childcare and a more luxury feel.

Our budget is £5k including flights for 10-14 nights, at least half board. We are happy to pay extra for childcare on top.

We are not looking for full days of childcare etc - some half days and a couple of evenings would be perfect as we want it to be a family holiday and spend time with her of course, but also have a real holiday and feel relaxed at the end of it!

Can anywhere recommend somewhere like this? I’ve spent hours and hours looking at different places and would love some opinions from people who have actually been to the places 😊 Am I expecting too much at this price? I’m not sure if it’s because we’re now a three, or Covid etc but everything seems so much more expensive than a couple of years ago!

Thank you in advance!

OP posts:
FlyingCherries · 06/03/2023 14:31

I agree about looking at a cruise. There are some really good deals on the Disney transatlantic cruise in September and the childcare is amazing.

DappledOliveGroves · 06/03/2023 14:31

We have similar criteria - we're doing 11 days for our honeymoon and DD will be 21 months and we want somewhere with childcare. We've decided on Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. The childcare looks amazing. We're off at the end of the year. I think they had some options for flights and all inclusive around the £5k - £6k for 10 or 11 nights with TUI or BA holidays. Hope you find something you like!

BIWI · 06/03/2023 14:37

How about Barbados?

I've never stayed in this hotel, but for 10 days in early September (I put dates in at random - other dates might end up cheaper) it's just under £5k.

CupEmpty · 06/03/2023 14:39

Your budget for 2 weeks isn’t going to get you much luxury I’m afraid.

BIWI · 06/03/2023 14:41

Sorry @Dreamhouseorstay just seen that you wanted half board. In which case, have a look at this hotel

(I also realised that I didn't put the age of your child in the search for the first hotel, which would bring the price down a bit)

Wtafis · 06/03/2023 14:43

We stayed at the sensatori in Ibiza a few years ago. DS was 1 and could go to the childcare for a
small
fee including one evening slot a week

OdeToBarney · 06/03/2023 14:49

I hope you don't mind op but I'm following as you're getting some great suggestions on this thread and I'm desperate for a similar holiday!

Bells3032 · 06/03/2023 15:20

Cruises are great with kids but the only lines that have proper daytime childcare for under 3s are Royal carribean and Disney and even then its not every ship and its extra. Msc do have daytime childcare but it's only for a couple of hours.

Other lines may have babysitting etc in the evening when they're asleep but nothing during the day.

Also you can't take non toilet trained children into the pools on most ships. Therre are some thst have designated water play areas for younger kids but they're not allowed in the main pools.

Bells3032 · 06/03/2023 15:23

Ps check out aphrodite hills in cyrpus or other sensetori hotels. If off season you may get a good deal on sani. Club Med is also an option though when we looked we found the childcare was v expensive and had to be booked in advance.

Verite1 · 06/03/2023 19:33

Honestly - check prices for sani in early October. I think you would get 10 days and flights half board for your budget. October is loads cheaper. It’s just that the weather is not guaranteed (though we had glorious weather).

dew141 · 06/03/2023 19:52

CheshGirl · 06/03/2023 14:27

Ikos - is AMAZING
But your budget may be tricky, unless you can go in term time

Truly amazing and I'm quite hard to please.

GratitudeGoddess · 06/03/2023 19:52

Verite1 · 06/03/2023 19:33

Honestly - check prices for sani in early October. I think you would get 10 days and flights half board for your budget. October is loads cheaper. It’s just that the weather is not guaranteed (though we had glorious weather).

I agree Sani in October for 10 days. You would need to pay extra for your 2 year old to go to the kids club and for evening babysitting. The weather at that time was lovely last year.

Oriunda · 06/03/2023 20:02

Have a look at the Sensatori brand. We stayed at one in Tenerife when DS was 2. Put him in the nursery for a couple of hours each day and it was great. Not mega luxury, but not that expensive.

ChestyLaRue21 · 06/03/2023 20:03

Check out the H10 Rubicon Palace in Lanzarote. Free childcare from age 1 and you can book a babysitter through the hotel for evenings.

fruitandfibreg · 06/03/2023 21:30

We're going to Sani on the 1st oct- first week after peak and it wasn't too bad price wise!

swimymummy · 06/03/2023 21:45

I’d second Neilson, we’ve done a lot of them pre kids, and took our two year old to Levante, Rhodes last year (end of September). Facilities were brilliant (better than any other Neilson we’ve done), kids club was good, mix of days and afternoons into evenings/sleep club. Yes it’s sporty, but you can do as much or as little as you want. Same with the kids club. You also don’t get all your evening meals, which gives chance to explore a bit. Kids tea at 1700 too, if they won’t last until the evening. We’d eat on our balcony (one of us plated up meals) if they were too tired to make the evening meal.
I’d recommend a suite as there is a dividing door to pull between you.

Fedupofballs · 06/03/2023 21:49

I would suggest Mauritius, should be great weather towards the end of September and you’ll get a good choice of hotels (have a look at Beachcomber resorts) and the childcare was fantastic when we went. Obviously a longer flight but for 2 weeks worth it. Shandrani resort is within your budget half board and is very close to the airport.

PotterLottery · 06/03/2023 23:03

Try tui Sensatori in Cyprus (aphrodite Hills). They had a creche run by tui with nursery nurses with UK qualifications. My daughter went there and loved it.

PenguinLove1 · 06/03/2023 23:16

Have you considered a cruise?

Some have great kids facilities and babysitting at night, some even have a night nursery where they will put them down for a sleep while you have dinner and watch a show - the night service is extra but daytime is included

Ovaloffice · 06/03/2023 23:24

For that budget maybe Martinhal or monte de Quinta.

I’ve found childcare on holidays very sub standard though. I don’t mind them doing an activity when they are older but younger kids I think really don’t fare as well in these set ups.
I would always suggest that time
spent on holidays is with kids and then maybe doing a long weekend yourselves if you have someone to leave them with.

DibbleDooDah · 06/03/2023 23:26

The Heritage Awali in Mauritius would be perfect. Not sure how old your toddler is but just did a quick quote on Best At Travel for two adults and one two year old departing first weekend in October. Comes in at £5,739 for ten nights all inclusive, five star.

We stayed there a few years ago and had a fabulous holiday. The kids club was absolutely fabulous (goes from babies upwards). Weather would be spot on that time of year.

JW13 · 06/03/2023 23:33

Was just going to recommend heritage awali in Mauritius as well @DibbleDooDah

We went for a week when DC was about 18 months old and the kids club was good for a few hours while we relaxed by the pool plus they have evening babysitting. Restaurants were great and I think it would be affordable on your budget during term time.

We're now confined to school holidays and going to Ikos (one of the halkidiki ones) at Easter and to an all inclusive called Euphoria in Crete in the summer. I would have thought Ikos might be affordable in September/October term time - we're paying under £3k for a week at Easter (although conscious it may not be that hot).

Longbin · 06/03/2023 23:39

We paid about £1800 for 5 days at Sani last October but with an 18 month old and we didn't use childcare. It should be within your budget if you go for a cheaper room option

donutosaurus · 07/03/2023 10:48

Luxury resorts with good childcare:

  • Ikos is obvious and Sani if you don't mind not being AI
  • Laura Barut
  • Voyage Belek
  • Middle East offers luxury and sunshine in October but depends on your views

Childcare can be tricky if under 4 but some resorts (above) cater for this age group too but may charge extra.

IMHO Neilson isn't luxury - we've done 4 separate Neilson holidays and the rooms are very basic. It's a good holiday if you're sporty but we're not doing it until our kids are a little older and more able to utilise the kids clubs. Very few Neilson hotels heat their pools so when we have been during the summer, the pools were freezing, like actually really cold meaning my children couldn't swim for long.

Check with whichever hotel you choose that the pool will be heated in October.

We are trying liberty Fabay in Turkey during the summer as it's not as expensive as Ikos/Sani/Barut hotels but seems to offer just as much (although no creche). Might be worth a look.

Gl

Toffeebythesea · 07/03/2023 11:21

Really recommend any of the Tui sensatori resorts. They have a baby club for kids under 3 which is an extra charge. Not luxury on the same level as the Sani resorts but very nice and realistic with your budget