Football pitch and decent slides...can it be that hard!?!? Canaries conundrum!

[28Spring]

So every Feb half term, more or less, we end up reverting back to the Canary islands for short haul, guaranteed sun (mid 20's temps). After hours of trawling Jet2.com and TripAdvisor we still don't always get it right and last year was a definite fail at the Hard Rock Hotel.
My 9yo DS just wants somewhere he can make a friend or two, play football/tennis etc and there's some decent slides at the pool - can anyone recommend anywhere please? Any Mum's of only children who also love sports and slides and have found a fabulous hotel somewhere that's not long haul and is mid 20's in Feb? That would be the jackpot! Ideally looking for 5* bed and breakfast so doesn't need to be all inclusive. We loved the GF Victoria in Costa Adeje but its already sold out. Also open to different countries so doesn't have to be Canaries...Thank you!!!

Bit risky in Feb!!! No way would I chance with the weather

@Dreamtitchy we must have got lucky as we've been a few times to Lanzarote and Tenerife in Feb half term and it's been lovely - admittedly the pools are cold but it's always been mid 20's...where would you go?

Caribbean!

Hotel GF fanabe in tenerife, has 2 pools, and kids activities (table tennis, football, basket ball etc) 2 pools but no slides, but the package we had gave us unlimited access to siam water park which saved us a fortune and we spent several days there.

@ThatGreenFawn that sounds great I will check it out, much appreciated!

We only get one week for Feb half term and we’re based up North near Leeds Bradford airport so a big hassle trying to do the Caribbean unfortunately, maybe we’ll go over Christmas one year though…

We have the same problem. Morocco and Egypt have some amazing waterslides but I think they are only about 20° in Feb. Mexico, Middle East etc are £££.

My colleague highly recommends Oman but not for football pitches and waterslides. And it is Ramadan next Feb half term.

In the end we have given up on the idea of sunshine and we are going to some freezing cold European cities instead.

If you leave on the Friday night and then fly back on Saturday night…. That is long enough for…. DR? Only 7.5 hours, guaranteed sun and heat, and all you want.

although what’s your budget?

It’s not 5 star but the game academy run football camps at a THB aparthotel in Playa Blanca, I reckon you could stay nearby and take him for the camp? Or just accept it’s not 5 star? The reviews aren’t great but mainly for the food so I can contemplating going self
catering as I am in the same boat- 9yo only child who loves football and needs some child company on holiday.

Football Escapes run something in Dubai in feb but it’ll be £20k…

We stayed in Tenerife at the Landmar Costa Gigantes hotel. That had football pitches and a good ‘vibe’ for kids of that age. Activities run during the day and evening entertainment. We went through TUI all inclusive for October half term.

We stayed at THB in playa blanca in April and pools were actually ice ( I exaggerate) to the point the kids couldn't swim at all so I wouldn't recommend

Thank you, that sounds good, it doesn’t have to be 5*, if it ticks all the other boxes, Obviously theres no guarantee my DS will find someone to hang out with but it makes it soooo much easier when there’s plenty of things going on so they have more chances to meet new mates, we stayed at the Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park a couple of years ago and it was great as there was an informal footy meet up organised by some Dads at the multi purpose court every day at 10am and 5pm and the kids loved it, that kind of thing is great as my son has never loved the kids clubs unfortunately!

well if you can’t beat em join em! We toyed with the idea of our first ski/snow holiday but by February I am desperately seeking sunshine! Hope you have a fab time wherever you end up!

What is your budget?

I would go further afield. We have done 8 nights in Caribbean before and the time difference isn’t too bad and SO worth it for the weather and facilities at that time of year.

canaries + Feb = high chance that weather won’t be conducive with a pool / beach / outdoor activity kind of hol!

What your budget? If it’s £££, then there’s a company which runs a football camp in Dubai and the hotel it is based at also has one of the massive water parks onsite to which you get free entry.

Cape Verde. The RIU resorts have slides and loads going on for kids. 6 hour flight though.

I can also vote for GF Fanabe in Tenerife. We went in Oct Half Term and it was lovely. Ticks your boxes apart from its a 4 star and nowhere near a 5 star but lovely all the same. We have also done Spring Bitacora and Bouganville Playa, both with slides but cant remember re sports pitch. My advice would be to make sure you choose one with a heated pool, most do. Whilst the weather was glorious, an unheated pool is grim in Feb!

Winter sun on an average holiday budget you cant really beat Costa Adeje or Playa D'Americas. I wouldn't even chance anywhere else unless my budget was £7k plus for the week. We get lovely winter sun weeks easily for 3k

I’ve been to canaries the past few February half terms and the weather has been fantastic. Have you looked at TUI holiday villages or magic life?

We went Easter and it was hot and pools ok. Footy pitch is small but kids enjoyed the daily sessions which were busy
We self catered on the complex