Resort ideas with toddlers

[Fretfulmum]

I need some help finding our next holiday as I’m been searching for days! I’m looking for a resort suitable for a family with 2 toddlers, max 4 hour flight from the UK. It has to feel quiet but provide good amenities for children, preferably a private pool of a decent size. Food and service excellent. We are looking in March/April so needs to be somewhere with good Spring sun. We love Zighy Bay in Oman, One and Only in Mauritius, to give ideas of our style. Happy to leave the resort for dinner daily too as well as consider half board. I saw the Lopesan Baobab and this may be suitable? Thanks

What’s your budget? When are you hoping to go?

From the hotels you’ve said you like I’m getting understated luxury, beautiful landscapes, lots of natural materials and not too over developed, privacy but also beautiful public spaces. Serenity, relaxation, could be in a Bond film kind of vibes?

You’d probably need to go to the Canaries for sun at that time of year to keep it within 4 hours.

I’m not sure about hotels that meet your criteria. The Iberostar Anthelia in Tenerife was absolutely great for my kids at a similar age but it hasn’t got private pools and it wouldn’t be as full on luxury as you’re used to. It’s probably more fun for kids because of the disco and activities.

Just realised you said March/April - yes probably the Canaries is your best best. I’ll have a think about specific resort recs

@cherryassam thank you. I like quiet but it doesn’t have to be secluded. I just don’t want to trek to a pool to find no available sun loungers, 50 people around it, and even more children splashing everywhere. I was thinking of Lopesan Baobab in Gran Canaria but undecided as yet. Maybe what I’m looking for doesn’t exist in that side of Europe in early Spring ?

None of these feel like a spot on recommendation to be honest, but might be some places to start - I think Lopesan. Baobab would also be on this list if you hadn’t already found it.

A lot of the hotels I would usually recommend with the sort of vibe I think you like are adults only which does limit things rather.

And I don’t think that really there is anything that absolutely fits what you want in the Canaries - I can think of places elsewhere which I might recommend but in March and April they are unlikely to be guaranteed warm enough / sunny enough for you. With the below, I’d be checking if pools are heated as well.

Tenerife:
Las Villas Bahia del Duque
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
Gran Tacande
Hotel Suite Villa Maria
Baobab Suites
Ritz Carlton Abama

Lanzarote:
Kamezi Boutique Villas

Gran Canaria:
Cordial Santa Agueda
Abora Catarina by Lopesan

Thank you SO much @cherryassam ! I’ll look through them all tomorrow. I’ve come to the conclusion that this will be a different kind of holiday and I’m ok with that. Just wanted something closer this time and wanted to travel in those months !

That makes a lot of sense - I only included options where there were villas / suites with private pools or at a minimum swim up rooms. If you want some options that don’t have those room types, there are more resorts you could consider

Lopesan Baoab is lovely. The only issue with it is the normal rooms aren't very sound proofed. But if you can afford a suite they are fabulous and obviously much more spacious. It is a great experience for kids with the animals around the estate and very atmospheric.

You probably want to be more mid April to be getting good weather.

Also consider-

Gran Meliá Palacio D'Isadora - Tenerife

The Crane - Barbados

Tamarind - Barbados

Sorry just saw you said max 4 hour flight! But definitely look at the tenerife one.

Sorry OP but I'm hanging on to your post as we love the hotels you mentioned but have also struggled to find anything short haul that fits our requirements. X

I’ve been to Lopesan Boabab. Amenities are great. Lovely Pools - we loved the lazy river. Food was buffet but nice buffet (sushi, seafood etc). We ate out a few times though just cos i get bored. It was very easy with kids. I have been twice - second time was because DD was only 6 months and I wanted somewhere as easy as possible. I wouldn’t go if I didn’t have young children but that’s mainly because I’m not a huge canaries fan. Only issue is it might not be that warm in March/April as Maspalomas has a famous breeze all the year round. If you want more guaranteed sun, look at Mogan. It’s a very pretty Harbour which is sheltered so is warm most of the year. We stayed in the cordial playa which was nice, but I think a few more hotels have now opened up. Pools weren’t as good as boabab but I much preferred the location.

We had a lovely time in Gran Canaria in April. Costa Rica was a great area and I would take my son there. I cannot vouch for a hotel as we stayed in an adults only one.

IKOS resorts? Lots of facilities for kids, good quality, all inc, great choice of a la carte restaurants, can book private bungalows with pool.

Is that particular Lopesan child friendly? Been looking a few hotels by that chain they look fab. Have you looked at Splash world hotels by TUI?

@Roselilly36 I did look at Ikos and Sani, but their locations in Early Spring are not ideal weather. I want it warm enough to use outdoor pools, otherwise I would have booked one of them. I also found the Cullinan Belek which looks fabulous so that’s on the shortlist too.

@Verite1 thank you, that’s so helpful. I’ll take a look at Mogen. Would you recommend half board at Baobab or are restaurants plentiful and an easy walk outside the hotel?

Yes lopesan boabab is v v child friendly. There is one 5 mins away which is much more adult orientated. Might even have minimum age I can’t remember.

I would have also recommended Ikos or Sani if it were not for the time of year. Though pools are heated in Sani certainly (some more than others). You could be lucky with weather in April. We went in October on an absolute bargain and had glorious weather. But we were very lucky. You could look at ikos aria. That’s in kos so you might be ok late April. But still a bit of a gamble.

There are plenty of restaurants. The nicest ones are about 10-15 minute walk away from memory (along the beach promenade). Quite expensive though as Maspalomas generally is. I think when we went, the only option was half board. I normally prefer b and b, but as I say, we just skipped a few meals and went out anyway.
Cordial Playa was also half board, but you could chose to use it at lunch and then go out to the restaurants at the harbour at night.

Check out the Domes Hotels and resorts. 5 star. Lovely. Small but on a large site. Very family friendly. There are some in Greece and one in Portugal

@Verite1 thank you I'm going to check it out.

If you're considering Turkey then also try Voyage Belek, they have heated pools in March and April which can make a huge difference at that time of year. They have lagoon villas available. We went in April this year x