Please help us decide!

[girlyjim]

Looking for some recommendations and your opinion on what would be best because we can't decide!

DH and I want to go away in the Easter holidays, taking our 5yo. He's never been on a plane before and keeps asking to go on one so that's the main reason for going tbh.

We want a short flight just in case he doesn't like it.

We've considered Spain, Portugal, Italy, etc. The standard all inclusive resort holiday but DH isn't as keen. He's quite unsociable and doesn't like people

We also considered a city break, maybe to Dublin or Edinburgh. But we worry if the weather is rubbish, we won't have much to do.

I looked at villas last night to solve DH's unsociableness but there's something making me hesitate about booking and I don't know what it is

So any suggestions or advice? I don't know why we can't just decide!😩🤦‍♀️

I would be asking DH for his thoughts.
Whats acceptable for him, then if it’s too limiting in your opinion, ‘negotiate’ widening the scope.

Dont book a holiday for the 5 year old but spend a week being miserable with DH in a mood all the time.

As he’s putting restrictions in place , it’s for him to suggest what he’d be happy with.

Yeah I agree. When I ask him, he just says he doesn't know. We don't go on holiday much for this reason. 😒

How about a holiday park where people out get a lodge or mobile home? Tend to be more laid back than ai's though with ai' if you choose to eat early with a little one it's quieter than waiting until 7.30/8 when those without children or older ones eat.

I can’t see why the alternative is ‘all inclusive’ or villa? Isn’t there a middle ground of small hotel or aparthotel? So not too large for unsociable DH but things to do for DS?

How about an apartment with a balcony and a kitchen on a resort? Plenty of privacy but access to a pool, children’s play areas and restaurants. I can recommend the Marriott Marbella Beach resort and Marriott Playa Andalucia. They are both practically on the beach and close to supermarkets and plenty of restaurants.

My DH is very unsociable especially on holiday and we always go self-catering for that reason. However, I have done all inclusive with DD and have to say that it is up to you if you want to be sociable or not. You can always get drinks from the bar in the evening and go and sit on your own balcony.

Would you consider going without DH?

If so, Consider Mallorca/Majorca, and for example the resorts along Alcudia bay.
Everyone has their own favourite place in Majorca , we happen to like the north end at Port D’alcudia. The beach is clean, very shallow and miles long.
We go Jet2.

Yeah I hadn't thought of that tbh! He'll probably still moan about people but at least there'll be less of them. Thanks

Thanks for all the replies, I'll have a look at everything and hopefully DH will like something!🤞

Yes I think this sort of thing is the answer.

We loved Hotel Cala d’or Playa when DS was that age. Chilled resort, little splash park and self-catering. DH can go and chill on the balcony if it’s too much!

Your 5 year old will occupy themselves happily for a day if they have beach, park & pool but I would look for a heated or indoor pool at Easter. If there is a kids club your will get 2 hrs to yourselves to read/sleep in peace.

Your DH may be surprised. I thought I hated that type of holiday until I had young kids!

Stayed in a lovely S/C apartment in a small block in Cyprus last Easter. Supermarket within walking distance and easy driving if you want to hire a car (and escape people). Only caution would be that the weather was still a bit iffy as it’s not quite in the main season but then that also helped with escaping people 😁

Okay, so you want a short flight, warm weather, things that will appeal to a 5-year-old and not too many people for your grumpy DH?

I'd fly to Valencia and rent an apartment. There is a beach there, a park along the old riverbed with playgrounds and where you can rent bikes, a beach with some nice restaurants by it, the City of the Sciences, which has a lovely aquarium, and a nice old city for a wander. It should be warm and sunny. We went in Feb a few years back and it was great to escape the gloomy English winter. Our kids were probably 8 and 11 and they loved it.

Alternatives - fly to Alicante and go to Javea, fly to Malaga and stay either in the city or in one of the nearby beach towns such as Nerja, Benalmadena or Fuengirola. There are hotels of all sizes in all those places too.

Why does DH also look for something he might like that will also suit you and 5, year old...

He has been but has lost the motivation because he can't find the exact thing he wants. It's a regular issue in our lives😒

God I hate self catering. It's like all the domestic drudge but in another country.

Just book a hotel that works for your DC. My kid loves the Ibiza Sensatori. It was my idea of hell but she had a great time there. Sometimes it's about our kids.

Alternatively self-catering means a choice of any restaurant in your resort town, much more space to relax and not having to fit in with other people's timetables . You don't actually need to cook!

All lovely choices (although I wouldn't pick Fuengirola)

We've been to the Marriott Marbella quite a number of times now! OP I would really recommend it. It's quiet and the apartment is soooo spacious. It's a lovely place and doesn't feel overrun with people ever. You can have a proper holiday there.

@SnakesAndArrows have you ever found anywhere else like this in Europe? My DS who is 13 is obsessed with table tennis - and they have three tables there plus a stead supply of other enthusiastic players of various levels so he's never short of someone to play with.

I'm looking for this spacious combination of apartment plus beach plus ease of everything elsewhere as honestly we are getting a bit bored with the food and repeat visits. Anywhere else like this and any tips would be greatly appreciated!

I find myself on booking.com going through places for HOURS trying to find the ideal combination of a resort plus apartment as we do like to have our own food but restaurant and breakfast options of all the facilities on site of a 4 or 5 star hotel.

No, but we haven’t really looked. The Playa Andalucia has more in the way of games etc., I think.

We’ve stayed at the Four Seasons Fairways and Four Seasons Country club in Quinta do Lago near Faro, but they just have tennis and bikes if I recall. There’s another Marriott resort near Palma, Mallorca, but it’s not on the beach.