Holiday with young childcare

[Pleaseletmevent]

For my 30th birthday my parents have generously offered to pay for an all inclusive family holiday which is unbelievable and I’ve never been in this position before!

As we live over 200 miles from my family and it’s my 30th birthday they want not only for the kids to have the best holiday but that we get a little bit of relaxation time and want us to find somewhere where we have the option to use childcare.

Me and my partner have (at the time of the holiday) a 1yo, 3yo and 11yo and I’ve noticed a lot of the kids clubs start at age 4 so I guess I’m just looking for recommendations as we will never be in a position to afford something like this again ❤️

We had a great time here OP

https://kanikahotels.com/olympic-lagoon-resorts-paphos/

you can book AI directly or with flights from TUI

Princesa Yaiza in Lanzarote would be perfect for your dc because the 1yo and 3yo could stay together in the crèche and the 11yo would be in a group for 9-13 year olds. At lots of other hotels we’ve found that often there’s one large kids club for children 4-12 and it’s too babyish for an 11yo. Alternatively, depending on the time of year, there’s a football academy and craft workshops.

I wouldn't personally make the crèche/younger kids club a main criteria, you may find that none of them want to go to the club and then you'd have picked something based on that.

Edited to add: what time of year will you be going? Take care with the potential heat for the little ones, or you might be restricted further

Best Kids clubs that offer younger childcare is via Scott Dunn. Used them for years when Dd was younger and as a lone parent wanted a few hours of quiet as well. She had a blast.

Did TUI one year would not do it again. You had to book them in daily and hover over the app at 6pm the night before for a slot. Scott Dunn you can come and go as you please.

The challenge is just as much finding something that the 11 yo will be happy with, as finding somewhere that takes the little ones. As a pp said you need something with divided age groups else your eldest could end up with a load of 5-7 year olds and will be unimpressed.

Mark Warner are known for their childcare divvied up into age ranges - your eldest would do watersports etc. Think Neilson the same. They are quite activity-centric though so if the adults just want to relax it may not be the best fit.

Otherwise I agree with pp, look at Scott Dunn for notably good kids clubs.

It also depends on your children, as my elder child would NOT have been happy about staying in the creche aged 3, the younger one might aged 1. I would probably have prioritised other aspects like:

• a resort where you can get a family suite or villa that has separate rooms for you and the kids, ideally with access to a balcony from your room, and
• an evening babysitting service.

That way even if the daytime childcare options don't work out, you can get room service, have a drink on your balcony, or get a babysitter when the little ones are in bed and the 11 yo is relaxing and go out for nice romantic dinners.