Self catering in Portugal

[DanceTheDevilBackIntoHisHole]

Help! I've never really booked a family/package holiday and am totally overwhelmed with how to do it. Can any help?

We're looking for Portugal (or possibly Canaries) in April for 7 days for 4 of us (DH and I and two boys aged 9 and 11).

We'd like a resort or somewhere with good pool facilities and ideally close to town and/or beach. We won't have access to a car.
We need self catering as all-inclusives aren't great at catering to food allergies and are pricey.
We also want 2 bedrooms so DH and I aren't relegated to sofa bed!
Flying from London (Gatwick preferably).

Anyone have any recommendations or even any good sites for finding this kind of holiday? They seem to make it so hard to add preferences like self catering and two bedrooms!

I would just get an Airbnb and book flights separately if you want self catering, there are loads of apartment complexes all over Portugal with communal pools.

Jet2 Holidays do packages with transfers from the airport and the holiday description will state which facilities are included at the resorts and also how far they are from any shops, restaurants and beaches.

You have the option to select self-catering or any other type of board and it also usually gives you options for the size of apartment you want.

Depending where you are in Portugal the weather in April can be hit or miss so you might want to check if any pool is heated. However I love Portugal so would thoroughly recommend it.

Best of luck.

Whilst I won't have a word said against Portugal (as I enter my 18th year of living here) you're probably better off opting for the Canaries if you want guaranteed pool weather. Even the Algarve can be chilly in April.

Thanks all. Jet2 annoyingly only fly from Luton or Stansted which are an absolute area to get to from here.

Definitely thinking Canaries might be better for weather. DH cannot cope with proper her so won't go in the summer. June half term would be great but obviously shorter and also DS probably away with Scouts.

Finding Air BNB hard to find good places as they tend to be self contained houses as opposed to being on a resort but I'll go back and hunt some more!

It would be too cold for a beach holiday in Portugal in April and the weather can be variable then in the Canaries too. Some years it's lovely, others it's grey and windy.