First abroad holiday with Children

[Postitnoteme]

We’ve 2 children age 5 and 9. We would like to book a first abroad holiday for 2027. Safety of the country is a top priority for us and not too far flight wise (up to 4 hours).

Something child friendly but also fairly luxurious.

Please send recommendations ☺️

Mallorca is a good shout, flight around 2.5 hours I think, very safe, lots of nice areas

Dependant on budget, but we find Ikos AI resorts work for us with young kids.
excellent restaurants, pools with room service and kids club included

Thanks both, will check these out!

Villa or apartment Puerto Pollensa Mallorca. Google photos of it ( safest most beautiful bay I’ve ever seen). Look at old town Pollensa and old town Alcudia for beautiful authentic places to visit. Upmarket but expensive. I like the north of the island as it’s quite breezy and green even in summer.

Alternatively look at Menorca. Quieter but lovely. I like old capital Ciudella but many beautiful resorts.

The Barcelo hotel chain was a bit of a favourite with us when kids were young. Often good suites or two bedroom family rooms and good facilities.

Why not search these places on mumsnet for tips.

If budget an issue, what about one of those nicer holiday camp places in Italy Netherlands or France. Lots of columns on here about those near lovely parks like Efteling.

Check out the Valamar hotels in Croatia. They have excellent kids clubs.

Malta. Honestly I love this island. Not too long a flight, easy to get around, very family friendly and they speak English.

On kids clubs …. be careful. Those who carefully review potential childcare at home and visit unexpectedly to check care out when they’re not expecting you etc seem to develop a blind spot abroad. You may prefer to spend the time with your kids enjoying new experiences anyway but if using them, especially for youngest, look at qualifications carefully and ensure kids know how to reach you.

There was a scary documentary a few years back where an undercover journalist recruited with no safeguarding checks at a ‘reputable’ holiday group broke cover as she was appalled at small children being taken out in small boats with no life jackets and inadequate numbers of adults.

I was just thinking the same about kids clubs. I'd stay where you can watch them, after the stories I've heard from friends who were put in kids clubs as children.

We’d never use kids clubs.

What is your budget ish. Makes a huge difference to suggestions. For smaller budgets I’d suggest driving to France and booking a campsite with chalets/fixed caravans near the beach with kids activities eg Brittany taking the ferry from Portsmouth to st malo or Plymouth to roscoff to minimise driving.

for mid range hassle free I’d look at family hotels via a package eg TUI blue, they arrange everything, flights, transfers and ai in the hotel which has kids activities so you can know what it will cost, kids happy etc.

for higher end there’s more expensive ai options, or other more specific options like Neilsson if water sports are your thing, or just book flights and accommodation separately along with a rental car.

you mentioned safety concerns so i would avoid African resorts (I’ve been to some without issue but you need to be more on guard outside of the hotels) and perhaps bigger cities like Barcelona are a bit more crime prone, again no issues myself but pickpockets are rife. One thought would be the Italian lakes, more gentle than Spain for sure

Remember kids activities don’t always mean without you btw

we would like a package holiday with tui or similar I think. All inclusive. Thinking budget is 3-4k.

Assuming you’re going in school hols you will find something reasonable but not luxurious in that price range.

Ikos which is always recommended on here, costs tens of thousands

I’d maybe think about a cruise. I’ve not worried about clubs for dc. My dc really enjoyed them. Life is not meant to be about watching dc all the time. Clubs all give dc a chance to be with other dc and be independent from parents. If you don’t do loads of expensive shore trips, the budget should be ok.