Where to holiday with kids?

[unsellable]

Hi all,

looking for a holiday next year for two adults and two children ages 5 and 8.

we’ve been to salou, palma nova in Majorca and Gran Canaria and wanted to go somewhere different. We love Spanish holidays however but would like to try Greece or turkey next year. We love the look of side in turkey or hersonissos in Crete but the weather in turkey looks unbearable in August. I loved the august weather we had in Salou - anything beyond that is too much as we like to sight see too and get at least a day of something for the adults (the rest of the holiday is all for the kids!). We loved that in Salou we could go to Barcelona for the day, and in Majorca we loved palma for the day too!

where can we go? I’m back looking at Spanish resorts now (Benidorm, Lanzarote etc). Currently set on Costa Teguise in Lanzarote as it stands.

it’s so frustrating limiting to the school holidays!

our wish list is Somewhere warm, affordable, child friendly etc and calm beaches as the kids love to swim in the sea.

we need to keep it under 4000 for the holiday and hopefully all inclusive too.

just to add we would book turkey in May - so May is out of the question as I have to save for the holiday over the months and may wouldn’t be affordable for us next year. Our only option really is July, August or even October.

thank you so much

That is a tight budget for a family of 4 during peak school holidays and AI, presuming you want something decent

October you’d get more for your money
but you risk the weather

we would consider a lower star resort providing they have good reviews and aimed towards kids. I’ve stayed in some amazing 3 stars before and they’ve been perfect!
we would consider self catering too
would perhaps up the budget by 500ish for the right holiday
money is very tight right now and we can’t book out of the school holidays as we went to Disneyland this year and got fined! Apparently if we take another holiday during school time we will get a bigger fine.
i feel like at this rate we won’t be going on holiday abroad as everything is 4800 plus at least. Costa teguise seems to fit our budget though with some all inclusive apartments/hotels. Has anyone been? Is it good for kids?

I think all inclusive is going to be too expensive

How about the Austrian/ Italian/ Slovenian Alps? Stay at a nice 2 bed apartment or cottage near a lake. The lakes are great with kids, most have beach areas, play areas etc. combined with mountains trips, daytrips to tree top climb/ attractions/ castles/ animal parks etc. self cater and combine with a few nights eating out, if you get somewhere with terrace or small garden you can bbq also.

You can combine with an extra night or two in the city on way back to airport if you want to do city based stuff also.

@Caspianbergi love that idea! We’ve done center parcs a few times and had just as much fun as a beach holiday so I’ll definitely have a look! The kids are outdoorsey so it would be a new experience for them, for sure!

This is a great idea. You could also consider French alps which might be nearer if you drive.

We saw some places in Italy on jet2 which aren’t the typical holidays we’d normally book. They’re more like the euro camp around lake Garda so I’m wondering if that would be an option to look at also? Can definitely visit a city in Italy that way too. They look fun for kids and are definitely cheaper than a package holiday to Spain and beyond.

prices always seem cheaper on the on the beach holiday websites etc. I always book the full package deals with tui and jet2 as I worry that those other websites don’t fully cover any issues. So not sure if I should maybe try look at different websites to book too?

@unsellable - honestly they will love it. I have a 5 year old, and we live in one of those areas and he doesn’t miss the ‘beach’ at all. The lakes also shallow areas for kids and no large choppy seas.

If yours are active then these type holidays are ideal as they might get bored by day 2 in just a fixed stay on site type all inclusive.

and that way you can make it as cheap or expensive yourself by picking and choosing

@unsellable - not sure. I always just book accommodation and flights separately. Not through a travel company. Booking.com is good for looking at accommodation

@Caspianbergaww how wonderful that you live in one of those areas! I bet it’s a beautiful upbringing for your 5 year old. Thanks for the idea. Already looking now! Haha!

Op I was on your other thread!! Did you sell in the end?

@Byekavitawhat like coincidentally you’ve just come across this post and realised you’d been on my other post? Or you’ve come to this post to ask? 🤣

yeah I changed estate agents. Viewings came in slower but each one placed an offer!! So I sold very easily then.

If you can hack driving across Europe I would investigate pra del torri camp site in Italy, have a choice of accommodation from bring your own to a hotel, we stayed in a caravan. Stop twice each way and see parts of Europe you otherwise wouldn’t see (lots of cheap hotel options and Germany is economical for most things except petrol, fill up before going over the border, ideally if you go that way in Luxembourg). Anyway the site has lots of pools, kids programmes, right next to the beach and a short drive to a proper supermarket. There’s a couple of restaurants on site (on site shop was expensive). Very different to an ai but can work out much more reasonable.

@mamagogo1thanks for this. I’ll take a look. Not sure I want to drive though, but you never know!
I’ve been looking at Bella italia complex in Italy (lake Garda), so it’s good to have some other options!

found an ai in canaries for only £100 more than Bella italia though. 3.2k. Though, I had it in my head I wanted to try somewhere different this time, I feel like Italy, or as above alps would be a good choice for somewhere different for a change! And all still fall below budget so it’s a win!

i was on your big thread
your name was memorable and tbe thread was memorable because you just couldn’t grasp that lack of viewings was because of price!

anyway great it sold

@Byekavitaah so you stumbled across this post on the off chance! It’s a small world, or forum lol.

well, price didn’t play a part. I wasn’t lacking viewings either (had like 25 or something) just no offers with the first agent. I’m not sure what the logistics are, but I changed agent, kept the price the same as it was, and had a handful of viewings. But each viewer placed an offer and it went over asking price! I guess agent does play a part. I suppose the new agent must have marketed it better/had better photos so those that came to view were more serious about the house.

worked out great in the end I guess. And I suppose if anybody stumbles across a holiday post and is funnily enough trying to sell their house, then my advice is change agent before reducing 😁

Put it like this…. Your stance on that thread was memorable!

@Byekavitamemorable? im getting the impression you’re having a bit of a dig? I sold my house and moved out long enough ago to not be pondering over the heartache of the selling journey, though it worked out well in the end anyway.

Now if you don’t mind, this thread is about holidays and I’d like to get back to the purpose of the post.

Have you ever done a 3 star AI?

Honestly, I think too much of a risk

fine for b&b but anything more than that…. Risky.

and I think 3 star AI is what’s feasible with a max of £4k in peak time for 4 people.

I would consider an alternative holiday entirely as above

ps dare I say it but I also remember your thread 😧

Costs teguise is lovely, feels more upmarket that some of the other resorts in lanzarote. Puerto Mogan/ Puerto Rico in GC is lovely too.

@Ploptwerpwe may just have to forsake an all inclusive this time round. I’ve been looking at the European places as suggested above and were really considering it! it’s been a great idea.

well, im glad ive been able to provide a memorable impression in the Mumsnet community. Not sure how I’ve managed to rattle so many people asking a question about why my house wasn’t selling.

Not sure what’s so ‘memorable’ about it to be honest? I’d love to actually know…

@indoorplantqueenwe did mogan in gc and it was stunning! We went to Tenerife as well but wouldn’t rush back there!
is Costa teguise as windy as they say? I went to puerto del carmen pre children and don’t remember any wind but maybe it’s different on different parts of the island?

“Rattle” ? Yes a holiday would do you good

@Ploptwerpwhat do you mean?

@Ploptwerpive been a few times, once early April and it was windy. A bit windy in August but it was welcome with the heat.