Nielsen Holiday in Paklenica - Alana Beach Club - Worth it

[SurvivingSuburbia]

Hi all,
We're thinking of booking a Nielsen Holiday in Paklenica at the Alana Beach Club next year. But have some questions/concerns to understand if worth the money. I just need to understand if its the right thing for us.

• Is the main area of the resort Toddler-friendly? Our daughter is 2 and we wouldn't want to leave her at the kids club all day, maybe an hour or two max. Can we spend quality time together during the day? Ie will she be allowed in the pool / to hang out with us? Or do most parents leave their kids in the club all day?
• Activities: Can we participate in activities with our toddler? Or will they restrict adults if children are present? I dont mean take her windsurfing obviously haha but could my husband and I take turns on an activity for example and she can watch or even participate in a paddleboard thing?
• Pool: is it heated or is there a kids pool?
• Honest Reviews: I've only seen glowing reviews online. Has anyone had any negative experiences?

Any advice or insights from fellow mums who've been would be greatly appreciated! Im just a bit skeptical at the moment - almost seems too good to be true.

appreciate any views from anyone who has been on a nielsen holiday too even if you havent been to that particular hotel.

thanks

I haven't been to that location but Neilson holidays are really great. For older kids though. I wouldn't go with a 2 year old personally as I don't see the point of going on and paying for activity based holidays that you can't participate in.

I've been there and it was great. But to get max value for money you'd put kid in childcare for most of the time, but if you are happy with not making max value for money it is very kid friendly. Fine to take it in turns I would say and you can take kid out on boats. It's pretty flexible in taking out windsurfers and boats when you like. Not sure if pools are heated but it's so hot it doesn't matter! You can take kids in the pool.
Just to point out it's not luxury and accommodation was quite basic. So if you aren't going to make most of activities might be better value for money to go to a fancy ai for the same money?
Also the wind was rubbish so it was a bit crap for sailing/windsurfing.

Hmm. We went in a Neilsen when the kids were 9, 7 and 3. It was very much geared to putting the 3 year old in childcare. We didn't and it was hard to organise the activities. The other families definitely didn't want little kids around - some had nanny arrange for their younger ones. Most just used the kids clubs.

But the funny looks did not make for a relaxing holiday...

Not been to Alana but used lots of the other resorts. They're great. No one will care if you only use kids club some of the time. You can take kids out on paddle board or kayak or boat easily (if the kid is willing!!) and they have lots of suitable life jackets. They have kids food at mealtimes and a kids tea earlier in the afternoon at about 5, which is genius. The nannies who run the kids clubs have always been good.

Yes accommodation isn't luxe, but it's always been fine wherever we've been.

I think Alana has quite light winds so just be aware of that. Windsurfing likely to be rather dull.

Haven’t been to that resort but have done a very similar Mark Warner.

Most of the adults activities on offer are not really things you can do with a 2 year old in tow. Bike rides, tennis, exercise classes, windsurfing not possible. Kayak, paddleboard and sailboat maybe but only if she can be trusted to sit still and stay put - unlikely at age 2, unless you have a magical compliant 2 year old.

You could take turns doing activities as you suggest but that’s going to lead to quite a lot of time separate from your DP. The activities aren’t really “watch from the side” except tennis.

I think your child would be perfectly welcome in the resort and you’d have a nice time but you’d be paying a huge premium for activities and childcare that you mostly wouldn’t use?