May half term sunny holiday help!

[UnePersonne]

I'm going round in circles trying to find a holiday for the may half term, and I wondered if any of you lovely people had any suggestions. We've done all sorts of different holidays but a classic sun/pool/beach trip is getting the better of me 🤦‍♀️ Any hotel recommendations would be much appreciated..!
Requirements -

Nice enough hotel. Doesn't need to be super fancy, but decent facilities for a nice chilled week. Two children 13 and 5.

Not long haul. I can't be doing with big time differences with a 5 year old for a week..

Warm enough for easy swimming. This is where I'm struggling. Even delving into reviews for some Canaries hotels I've found people saying the pools are cold in May. So, heated pools or genuinely warm enough.

At least some children's entertainment.

Preferably within visiting distance of at least something outside the hotel - towns/attractions etc.

I've never done AI before but it would probably fit the bill here. So decent food.

And that's it really, just a nice fun and chilled family week in the sun before it gets tooo hot and busy in the summer.

Any suggestions appreciated! Thank you x

Malta? I've actually never been, so not a recommendation as such, but I've heard people say nice things, and surely the weather would be warm enough to swim by late May/early June? Tbh I'd say anywhere in southern Europe would be warm enough by then (eg Crete, Sicily, southern Spain), but then my heat tolerance is lower than most...

You will not find many heated outdoor pools in the Med. In the middle of summer people sometimes complain that the pool is too warm.

A place with a spa area might have an indoor pool, but they might not allow children in there.

Two places in Majorca that claim to have heated pools are Protur Sa Coma Playa Hotel & Spa (at least for the swim-up rooms) and Grupotel Mallorca Mar in Cala Bona.

We had a similar issue with pools and unfortunately even places with heated pools (like the canaries) generally turn them off around April, sorry to be the bearer of not great news.

Ahhh, thank you, yes this is what I'm coming to realise 😩 I'm thinking the warmer spots - so Canaries really - may well be fine, but the idea really was to let the children potter in the pools and break up lazy days with a few trips and wanders. If the pools are going to be a quick dip and out affair for them then I can think of more interesting places than the Canaries to visit. I thought this way would be easier than risking another European heatwave or trying to find cooler places in the summer (we are a very pasty lot!), but maybe not!

I stayed at Los Alisos in Los Christianos last summer, pool isn't heated but it was warm enough.. lots of kids in there.
I'd recommend self catering though, I heard others saying the all inclusive was crap but there are hundreds of restaurants within walking distance and 5 minute walk to the beach.

Turkey 🇹🇷 Not many heated pools but will be nice and warm in May, so would that matter so much?

What about Sharm el Sheik or Hurgadah? Super warm at this time of year and loads to do.

Cyprus is probably a good option

Honestly my kids jump in the sea in the uk all year round. You'll be fine in the canaries op!

We were in Crete at May half term two years ago and it was 28-30C and lovely for sea and pool swimming. Last year for May half term we went to Paris for a few days and it was 27C. I'd say Greece/Cyprus should be reliably hot and sunny for swimming at May half term. We're off to southern Italy and expecting to swim in sea/pool (fingers crossed). I think it's the best time of year for a European holiday if you have to travel in school hols.

We went to Menorca last May. It rained most of the week, proper thunderstorms, which was pretty frustrating. Especially when everyone said 'this is once in a lifetime weather' but it's happened to me twice and I'm not that old! However the hotel had a splash pool with slides/spray jets and the kids were happy in there in the rain in their shortie wetsuits. So might be worth getting, at least for the younger one. And presumably Menorca is a safe bet this May, as it's a once in a lifetime event apparently 😜

I got married in Cyprus in May half term and it was lovely and hot. The sea and pools were perfect!

The sea in January for the last 2 years in Tenerife was warm enough to enjoy spending time in for us so probably DC will be fine. Days running spent on the beach as it was so warm

May in the canaries is lovely

https://www.jet2holidays.com/canary-islands/tenerife/costa-adeje/iberostar-bouganville-playa

You haven't mentioned budget, but if you are considering an AI , we went here last year in June and it was a fab hotel. Plenty of entertainment day and night, warm pools, waterslides, really good food (and I'm fussy) Close to the beach , restaurants, bars and amenities.

Cyprus is good for May (although I found the pools too cold - children found them ok. Or rent a villa and pay for heating the pool)

Or Dubai - no jet lag but it will be starting to get very hot and more £

Depends on your budget

Not sure on budget but Dubai for May half term would fit the bill. It’s not really long haul.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'll have another look.

I'd say a fairly decent budget. I want to keep it under 5k but closer to 4k would be better. But I just want somewhere nice without feeling like we've overpaid for a week.

I've never fancied Dubai at all but I've just had a look out of interest and seen how widely hotel prices vary, wow! There are some things in budget but it's too hot by May and I'm not really up for going there.

I'll have a look at Cyprus, I went once years ago and it was lovely. Can I ask which hotel you stayed at @WhatHaveIDone21 ?

I'd seen that hotel browsing @Catsandcuddles , I'll have another look thanks for the recommendation 😊

If you are looking at Mallorca then the Club Mediterraneo in Sa Coma is great for kids...it has a v shallow kids pool with slides (the shallow pool may get warm enough) and there's a splash pad type thing where there's water jets etc but not in a pool if that makes sense. Also it is right on the beach which is really lovely. Good luck!

Having said all that May in Mallorca could be very hit or miss, Canaries probably a better option

I was in lanzarote last may half term and the pools were fine, kids certainly spent all day in them. I found them a bit chilly for long periods when they were in shade in the late afternoon but otherwise fine.

If you like Cyprus have a look at The Elysium Hotel Paphos. I stayed here for a fortnight and it's a lovely hotel.

May half term is really varied. We’ve gone away every May half term for a few years - last couple were heatwaves across most of Europe but the years before that the weather was cooler. So you might find an unheated pool is fine, or not!

Shallow pools heat up a lot faster than deep pools so maybe look for places with shelving style pools?

I believe the Almyra in Cyprus has a heated pool but in general heated outdoor hotel pools are a) rare as so expensive to run and b) often not actually that warm (have read reviews saying heated pool was barely any warmer than non heated).

It’s a lot easier to find a villa with a private pool that can be heated (but you pay extra for the heating). Would that be of interest? Appreciate it is harder work than a hotel.