Destination Recommendations

[OhPickle]

Looking for next years holiday. We went to Salou this year, weather was brilliant, short flight and our 4 year old loved it, there was so much to do for his age. But want to go somewhere different next year.

Is the canaries worth the 4+ hour flight with what will be a 5 and 2 year old?

I know weather is never guaranteed but would like somewhere that’s generally dry and hot. We will be going June/July/August. We’ve been to Majorca before but start of Sept and the weather was rubbish which has really put us off.

Recommendations for good family hotels also welcome ☺️ I don’t want something extortionately priced but we always go 4*. Don’t mind what board, as we tend to eat out even when we are half board or all inclusive.

Benalmedena is a great town for families. There’s loads to do and some lovely sandy beaches. It’s mainland Spain and not far from Malaga airport. Regarding hotels, Benalmedena Palace is very family-friendly.

Menorca was a favourite for my DC

I second Menorca. Lots to see and do.

Such a shame you had rubbish weather @OhPickle - Majorca is beautiful and fab for kids!

I haven’t been to the canaries since having DC but the thing that always disappointed me whenever DH and I went was the flight times from our local airport. Flights out were always in the evening and same coming home, so we’d be arriving late at night and then hanging about the whole last day waiting for our flight.
I think it is slightly better now but I have a friend heading Gran Canaria in July with DC and she was saying the earliest flight she could get was 4pm for the day they needed to travel.

Definitely worth checking these kinds of things out before getting too set on a destination IMO. But, we have particularly early risers and I’d have to have mine out of the house for the day to stop them trashing the place from all the excitement before we head to the airport 😅 I book 7am flights 🤣

There's quite often a storm that affects the Mediterranean in mid/late September but I do remember a recent year where it was early, so perhaps that was the rubbish weather you remember - poor weather in early September isn't typical, but the weather should be better in September in the areas around Malaga or Alicante airports.

Fuengirola is down the coast from Malaga that's probably good. As well as a beach and good choice of restaurants and hotels, there's a water park, castle and lots of parks and green areas. There's a direct train from the airport and you could have a great holiday without hiring a car as the train also goes into Malaga city and stops at lots of other places in between. Also good buses to other local places of interest such as the white village of Mijas.

I agree with PPs Menorca is beautiful and one of our favourite beach holidays! We go to the Canaries fairly frequently but only during the winter. IMO the long flight time is not worth it during the summer months when you can travel less far and go somewhere just as nice if not nicer.