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Original poster

Help - where to go at New Year?!

27 replies

kiwiblue · 22/04/2025 19:39

We want to get away over New Year for about a week to escape winter. We have two children (8 and 6). Just so stuck as to where to go. Was thinking Cape Verde but the thread on here put me off! I don't think Tenerife is for me from what I've read on here too - the thread said it was a bit concrete and Brits abroad. Before kids we never did resorts and travelled a lot, since kids I'm up for something more family friendly but we do try to experience a place rather than just stay by the pool. Any ideas/help much appreciated!!

OP posts:
samarrange · 22/04/2025 19:56

I don't think Tenerife is for me from what I've read on here too - the thread said it was a bit concrete and Brits abroad.

Apologies if this seems blunt, but: Nowhere's going to be perfect. You're looking for a week in the sun with the kids, not a journey of personal enlightenment. Maybe Tenerife is a bit "Brits abroad" (although the Canaries all-told offer a wide range of places), but, well, you are also Brits (I assume) and you are going abroad, so you may occasionally have to spend a few moments with that section of your compatriots who wear football shirts and like their Full English. Your DC certainly won't judge you if you take them to a place that has chicken nuggets 😉

Further afield there's the Caribbean, or Thailand, or (my personal discovery of this year) Goa. But in both cases you're looking at long flights and multiple time zone changes. Or South Africa, an even longer flight but no time zone change.

Original poster
kiwiblue · 22/04/2025 20:18

samarrange · 22/04/2025 19:56

I don't think Tenerife is for me from what I've read on here too - the thread said it was a bit concrete and Brits abroad.

Apologies if this seems blunt, but: Nowhere's going to be perfect. You're looking for a week in the sun with the kids, not a journey of personal enlightenment. Maybe Tenerife is a bit "Brits abroad" (although the Canaries all-told offer a wide range of places), but, well, you are also Brits (I assume) and you are going abroad, so you may occasionally have to spend a few moments with that section of your compatriots who wear football shirts and like their Full English. Your DC certainly won't judge you if you take them to a place that has chicken nuggets 😉

Further afield there's the Caribbean, or Thailand, or (my personal discovery of this year) Goa. But in both cases you're looking at long flights and multiple time zone changes. Or South Africa, an even longer flight but no time zone change.

Edited

Thanks for your reply. I do agree, definitely nowhere is perfect and I don't expect it to be, to be clear! I always find the positives in anywhere we go and am not negative about places. I guess I'm just worrying about where to go as I'm assuming most destinations will be expensive at that time of year so as it's just a week I'm overthinking probably! I think there probably is a part of the Canaries that would suit us so perhaps I should do some more research into that. As you say, otherwise it's long haul and that might be a bit much for just a week. Caribbean would be amazing but we'd want longer, I think.

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Littletreefrog · 22/04/2025 20:20

Do you definitely want sun? We went to Reykjavik this year and it was brilliant.

Original poster
kiwiblue · 22/04/2025 20:24

Littletreefrog · 22/04/2025 20:20

Do you definitely want sun? We went to Reykjavik this year and it was brilliant.

Oh interesting. We don't definitely need sun, although I would ideally like to escape the darkness/cold at that time. I've always wanted to go to Iceland though, and I did see it recommended on another thread.

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Lamelie · 22/04/2025 20:25

We went several years running for New Years with dc your age..
to Malta! Lots to see, one year was quite rainy but normally blue skies. Lovely to enjoy mid 20s temperatures, swim (indoors or swiftly in the sea) etc. Foods not amazing so either sc and be prepared to cook or go ai

Original poster
kiwiblue · 22/04/2025 20:34

Lamelie · 22/04/2025 20:25

We went several years running for New Years with dc your age..
to Malta! Lots to see, one year was quite rainy but normally blue skies. Lovely to enjoy mid 20s temperatures, swim (indoors or swiftly in the sea) etc. Foods not amazing so either sc and be prepared to cook or go ai

Thank you! We've been twice, stayed on Gozo and we did really like it, but that was pre kids so good idea, I'd be happy to go back.

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Bicog · 22/04/2025 20:41

Madeira's another option. Low/mid 20's at that time of year and they have rocky beaches for a wander, a cable car which takes you up to the botanical gardens and you can toboggan down again. There also Eonaldo's house and museum as well as a harbour. It's got a nice feel to it and the Christmas lights and decs are great.

Bicog · 22/04/2025 20:41

Ronaldo*

Original poster
kiwiblue · 22/04/2025 21:04

Bicog · 22/04/2025 20:41

Madeira's another option. Low/mid 20's at that time of year and they have rocky beaches for a wander, a cable car which takes you up to the botanical gardens and you can toboggan down again. There also Eonaldo's house and museum as well as a harbour. It's got a nice feel to it and the Christmas lights and decs are great.

Ah great, I've actually always wanted to go there! Thank you

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Twilightstarbright · 23/04/2025 15:30

I wasn’t a huge fan of Tenerife and much prefer Lanzarote- they don’t allow high rises so it looks very different to Tenerife. We like Matagorda- hotels, seafront promenade with restaurants and shops and a cycle path that goes all the way to the capital or to PDC.

We did the Maldives for NYE which was fab with 7yo DC. How well do you handle time zone changes?

CanOfMangoTango · 23/04/2025 15:54

If you want warm weather, how about Morocco? We've been there over Xmas a few times now.

You could try marrakech, there's resort hotels in the outskirts which will have kids clubs etc and obviously there's plenty of stuff to go and see as well. It's very popular with French people that time of year, our hotel was packed.

We're thinking of tunisia this year, for a change.

slamdunk66 · 23/04/2025 15:57

I would go to Gran Canaria, Puerto de Mogan or Puerto Rico. Lots to do, fab beaches and lovely hotels. Weather is usually pretty consistent in los 20’s.

Original poster
kiwiblue · 23/04/2025 19:21

Twilightstarbright · 23/04/2025 15:30

I wasn’t a huge fan of Tenerife and much prefer Lanzarote- they don’t allow high rises so it looks very different to Tenerife. We like Matagorda- hotels, seafront promenade with restaurants and shops and a cycle path that goes all the way to the capital or to PDC.

We did the Maldives for NYE which was fab with 7yo DC. How well do you handle time zone changes?

We're used to flying back and forth to NZ so time zones don't bother us too much, although we always go for a few weeks and we are only going away for one this time. Thank you, the Maldives is somewhere we've always wanted to go, so that's definitely on the list for some point!

OP posts:
Original poster
kiwiblue · 23/04/2025 19:23

CanOfMangoTango · 23/04/2025 15:54

If you want warm weather, how about Morocco? We've been there over Xmas a few times now.

You could try marrakech, there's resort hotels in the outskirts which will have kids clubs etc and obviously there's plenty of stuff to go and see as well. It's very popular with French people that time of year, our hotel was packed.

We're thinking of tunisia this year, for a change.

I was keen on the idea of Morocco. We've been to Marrakech but I really want to go to Essaouira. The weather in Essaouira doesn't look the best at that time though so I think we might do that in a shoulder season. Marrakech would be perfect weather though!

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Twilightstarbright · 24/04/2025 13:37

The right resort in the Maldives can be great for families, we found the time
difference fine but are used to it.

BG2015 · 24/04/2025 16:08

We went to Morroco this last December.Flew out on Boxing Day and stayed near Agadir. Weather was very chilly at the start and end of the day. But warmed up by 10am. We had a couple of cloudy days. We stayed near a main surfing beach and there's a cable car close by. We stayed in a lovely adults only hotel but it was totally lacking in atmosphere.

The year before we went to Tenerife for the whole of Christmas and New Year. Typical Brits abroad holiday, great atmosphere loads going on in you had kids. Weather was amazing everyday.

TheWeeDonkeyFella · 28/04/2025 15:16

kiwiblue · 22/04/2025 20:24

Oh interesting. We don't definitely need sun, although I would ideally like to escape the darkness/cold at that time. I've always wanted to go to Iceland though, and I did see it recommended on another thread.

Show quote history

Reykjavik is great at NY, with bonfires and fireworks however... days are very short in late December, getting light about 10.30am and going dark again about 4pm which does impact sightseeing, which wouldn't be ideal for a first visit.

minipie · 28/04/2025 18:57

Mauritius is good for a winter sun fly and flop. 12 hr flight but direct and overnight so no time lost (or all day if you can’t face that). And only 3 hrs ahead which is perfect as they can stay up for dinner and then hopefully sleep in. The kids clubs are good, watersports available, look at Beachcomber hotels which are very family friendly.

We have also tried the Maldives with kids but found the journey and jetlag made it more of a slog - if you go I’d definitely suggest a resort which is a short boat ride from Male rather than a seaplane. Also it is hugely £££ over new year.

Original poster
kiwiblue · 28/04/2025 20:55

minipie · 28/04/2025 18:57

Mauritius is good for a winter sun fly and flop. 12 hr flight but direct and overnight so no time lost (or all day if you can’t face that). And only 3 hrs ahead which is perfect as they can stay up for dinner and then hopefully sleep in. The kids clubs are good, watersports available, look at Beachcomber hotels which are very family friendly.

We have also tried the Maldives with kids but found the journey and jetlag made it more of a slog - if you go I’d definitely suggest a resort which is a short boat ride from Male rather than a seaplane. Also it is hugely £££ over new year.

That's really helpful info, thank you!

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minipie · 28/04/2025 21:04

By the way if you find NY prices eye watering (they generally are) then the week before Christmas is often cheaper if you can get away then. Peak prices seem to kick in around the 23rd Dec.

Another suggestion totally different - Marrakech - not hot but usually blue skies, chilly morning and evening but early 20s in the day. Lots to see and do. There are resorts outside the medina which are more peaceful, then you can do short trips to the souks and elsewhere. But better chance of good weather December rather than New Year.

JazzyBBBG · 28/04/2025 21:13

If you go to one of the more luxurious Tenerife 5 stars (eg Gran Melia) they are fabulous at Christmas plus you also get Saints Day which is like another Christmas.

Madeira lights are meant to be fab and I nearly went last year however it did turn out to be very wet so I was glad I didn't!

Somuchfree · 28/04/2025 21:17

We went to Mauritius for New Year a few years ago. The small time difference was a godsend when we were going straight back for school!

BastilleBastille · 28/04/2025 21:19

Another vote for Madeira for New Years! It’s fabulous

Original poster
kiwiblue · 28/04/2025 21:33

Ooh well update, I decided on Madeira after someone suggested it upthread! So glad to hear you liked it @BastilleBastille. I've always wanted to go and it sounds like there's actually a lot the kids will enjoy.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, it's been very helpful!

OP posts:
BastilleBastille · 28/04/2025 22:32

kiwiblue · 28/04/2025 21:33

Ooh well update, I decided on Madeira after someone suggested it upthread! So glad to hear you liked it @BastilleBastille. I've always wanted to go and it sounds like there's actually a lot the kids will enjoy.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, it's been very helpful!

Ah so glad to hear you’ve settled on Madeira!! My brother in law is from Madeira so we’ve been quite a few times around Christmas/NY with kids and it’s always been a blast. The food is so so good on the island too. Would recommend staying in a hotel along the sea front for an amazing view of the fireworks on NYE. Somewhere near the cliff bay hotel or Reid’s palace! Also make sure you visit the lido for some really good restaurants!