Any recommendations for a special AI holiday with 16 & 18 year old?

[llynnnn]

Hi

We are looking for something great for next summer for myself, dh and dd's 16 &18. We would like an all inclusive resort, on the beach, with pools, activities, a swim up bar, entertainment in the evening, maybe even a swim up room?

We would prefer a 2 bedroomed room so the girls can have their own sleeping space, or we could book 2 adjacent rooms (budget allowing!)

We don't want to go to Canaries, Cyprus or Turkey as done those recently, open to longer haul like Mexico, or stay within Europe. Would be first two weeks of July and ideally temps high 20's...

Any recommendations would be gratefully received to entertain our teens and be the right balance of fun & chill!

Thanks :)

Atlantica Dreams in Rhodes and Atlantica Aegan Blue would meet your criteria. We love the Atlantica chain - great service and everything is such good quality.

Agree with the Atlantica hotels and also the Mitsis chain, the Mitsis Renela in Crete is amazing.

Excellent, thank you I will look at both of those chains.

We normally do villas instead of hotels but I have two sets of friends who love Sani resort in Greece.

What’s your budget? I think for teens Mexico would definitely have more of a “wow” factor than somewhere in Europe. Have you considered a cruise as an alternative?

Thanks, our budget is probably 10-15k all in, for the right place and the 'wow'. Just been looking at the Planet Hollywood hotel in Cancun which ticks a lot of the boxes...

Definitely not in the market for a cruise, although I kind of like the idea, it just isn't for us unfortunately!

We did Hyatt Ziva Cancun which was fab with three teens and luxurious!
currently in the Maldives staying at Lux South Ari Atoll which is stunning, lots to do for 3 teens, however probably wouldn’t work in the summer as it’s the rainy season here then.

I'd go to the Carribbean. My children loved the DR and Barbados

With that budget I’d definitely go for Mexico, all the usual water sports, great all inclusive hotels and lots of culture and things to do. Your teens will be impressed with a “Caribbean” trip as opposed to Europe.

Can I ask why you think a cruise isn’t for you? They get an underserved bad rep IMO. A Royal Caribbean cruise on one of the new ships would be a teenagers dream and would also tick all your boxes with the added bonus of visiting multiple stops. I’d suggest potentially going from Miami and doing a few days there beforehand which I’m sure teens would also love.

Liberty Lykia on Olu Deniz. I’ve been been all over the Caribbean and Europe and I’d go back in a heartbeat

Riu Palace Mexico which is in Playacar. By going to a Palace you are able to use all the other Riu's in the area (4 of them) and they are all very good. The food is outstanding and the entertainment very, very good. There is a weekly white party, rave, neon party and singers/bands every night.

You can walk to Playa del Carmen centre which has tons of bars/restaurants and entertainment and you could spend days at the X parks which are eco friendly water parks, adventure parks and so much more.

We took our DD as a 'final' holiday with us (as she'd turned 18) and she loved every minute.

Ikos does AI like nobody else.

Do your research about seaweed if you want to go to Mexico in the summer.

Liberty Lykia was a winner for us too, but may be better suited to younger kids than older teens

Any of the Royalton hotels in the Caribbean would be great.

My 2 loved Mexico, DS was 15 and DD 18 when we went.
We were AI but went out a bit too, boat trips, Tuluum, Crocodile sanctuary.
We had 2 adjoining rooms with a door between

We stayed in Tulum for £4 a night on the beach in beach huts. Those were the days!

Sorry not helpful just reminiscing and thinking about how money can't buy happiness. Never been so happy as those days

I loved Caribbean cruises when I was a teenager. The Royal Caribbean ports in Florida are great take you to multiple ports like Bahamas, Mexico, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, St Thomas…

The teenagers would just make friends and disappear together on sea days and the parents left us to it as knew we couldn’t leave the boat. Occasionally we’d walk by them drinking cocktails and would pretend we didn’t know them 😂

Things to be aware of in July in Mexico - the sargassum and the heat/humidity. I actually fainted twice. 😬