Europe Easter holiday for the clueless

[TweeBee]

Hi all,
we are currently on a UK break, as all but one of our family holidays have been. Of course we are very lucky to be able to get away but I’m yearning for a holiday abroad like colleagues have - mainly to not have to clean or cook!
DH and I both come from families that couldn’t afford regular holidays and certainly not trips abroad. We’ve only managed one big trip abroad and that was using a windfall.
But I’m thinking that renting a cottage isn’t cheap and then there’s the cost of days out and food on top. So maybe it wouldn’t cost much more to go abroad? We have some savings and I would be prepared to use a small amount of them to cover the additional expense.
it would need to be in school holidays and not too hot (DH and I were both ginger once upon a time and don’t fare well in heat!) but ideally still able to splash in the sea and use an outdoor pool (if there is one).
Due to lack of experience we would both be nervous abroad so if English is commonly spoken that would be ideal, but we would like a bit of local culture too!
Could anyone recommend somewhere?
Thank you.

Don’t sweat the sun cream, it takes minutes!! For the first time, Go old school and use a high street travel agent, (Hayes travel maybe?). Choose Spain coast and go with a package holiday (flight, transfers, hotel and rep) with jet2. Don’t go less than a week, you’ll need time to unwind, adjust and chill!

choose somewhere with a transfer time (airport to resort) of less than an hour and a flying time under 3 hours. Choose a hotel of at least 3 star with a pool and easy walk to beach and town.

get a room with a balcony and nice view, so you can relax there too.

given your apprehensions I think half board at least, so you’re not worrying about finding nice restaurants. All inclusive is good if your children want constant snacks and you drink a lot of alcohol. If not it can feel restrictive.

if your kids are sporty an entertainment programme could be good. Alternatively a good beach for surfing / swimming / relaxing is great.

Further to my post above, just checked and Jet2 have a few all inclusive weeks in Lanzarote in Easter 2026 for under £3k utilising free child places and early booking discounts. Including the place we stayed. It won't be the highest quality all inclusive for that price, but if you are like us and usually send catering in this country, you'll probably be like us and appreciate the break enough not to be fussy. We loved the buffets!

Check out this Holiday: Relaxia Olivina at Playa De Los Pocillos (Puerto Del Carmen), Lanzarote www.jet2holidays.com/beach/canary-islands/lanzarote/playa-de-los-pocillos-puerto-del-carmen/relaxia-olivina?holiday%3D83%26duration%3D7%26airport%3D118%26date%3D31-03-2026%26occupancy%3Dr2c16_11%26board%3D5%26iflight%3D1292436%26oflight%3D1292433%26rooms%3D31173%26utm_medium%3Dreferral%26utm_source%3Dshare_link

I'd recommend Greece at May half term. It'll be mid to late 20's and the sea is cold at first but fine once you are in. Book a package through Easy jet.

There is so many places you could go with that budget, we went to Fuerteventura in the Easter Holidays this year, flights were £60 odd each and lovely apartment in Caleta was £330 for the week. Previous Easter we went to Gran Canaria which was much warmer than this year but still shorts and t shirt weather with swimming in the sea/pool and visiting the Waterpark. Have also visited Egypt but that was a lot more expensive in April. Turkey, Cyprus etc you may get lucky in April but their main season is May to October.

Yeah have a look on Jet 2, we have used them a few times and never any problems. They do hotel type accommodation or villas.
A package would give you confidence the first few times you go.

At Easter I would say the Canary Islands (I like Lanzarote personally), or Cyprus perhaps.

Do make sure you book somewhere with a heated pool though because it’s a bit too cold for unheated at that time of the year.

We’ve booked a week in May half term next year for 2 adults 2 children half board to Lanzarote in a 4* hotel for £2,800 with easyJet. Maybe take a look with them?

OP, I think you are over worrying about the suncream. I use P20 (factor 50) on my three year old, you only need to apply it once and it lasts 8 hours and withstands something like three of those hours being in water. We were recently in Majorca, it was 36 degrees, and she didn't burn once xx

Thank you so much everyone. I do really appreciate all the helpful advice and will have a good look through it all later.

I went to Crete this year at Easter and it was a lovely holiday but not a beach holiday. It rained nearly all day one day and the temperature went down to 14c. The next day was overcast and a similar temperature. That said, it was low 20s in the other days and I did get a little bit of a tan.

Luckily, we booked a hotel with heated outdoor pools and plenty of sunbeds. We laid in the beach but not in our swimwear!

The holiday price did reflect the weather and I’ve rebooked the same hotel for the same week next year.

If you expect a summer holiday, you will be disappointed. If you are happy with spring in Europe, you’ll have a lovely time.

We’ve also been to Kassiopi in Corfu in May half term. We’re going to Sardinia (Alghero) for the next one.

Do make sure you book somewhere with a heated pool though because it’s a bit too cold for unheated at that time of the year

And search "heated pool" on the trip advisor reviews because some hotels say they are heated but then the actual.reviews say otherwise
You can also filter trip advisor reviews by month so can read ones for this year for the time you are planning to go. Helpful for any time.specific tips (e.g. No kids club in Feb half term because it starts in march)

For Easter you will need the Carnaries. Europe, including Turkey will be too cold for an out door pool unless it’s heated. If you go some where with a heated pool you will need to check it’s heated at the time you are there.

@Simplelobsterhat i second the point about swimming pools - check if an outdoor pool is heated AND check the hotel turns the heating on during the dates of your stay (just contact them and ask). Swimming in an unheated pool is hardly bearable for kids for more than a few minutes and will spoil the fun.