Holidays with kids' clubs...

[Willow2]

Following on from my best holidays ever thread, your mission, dear mumsnutters, is for the good of all parentkind. So, which holidays have you taken where there was a kids club or similar so that you could get a bit of time to yourself? And of these, which ones would you recommend and which ones would you avoid - and why?

We've been on a couple of Sunsails - one to Antigua and one to Turkey - which I would recommend. The accommodation and food aren't the greatest, although perfectly OK, but the kids are so well looked after that you can completely relax. Better if you're the kind of person who doesn't mind making friends, joining in a bit as the atmosphere is quite clubby. Also one of the few places that will take babies. Lots of kids clubs are only for over 4s.
I've been to a couple of hotels (one in Barbados, one in Egypt) that have advertised kids clubs but been really disappointed when we got there as the clubs weren't used at all and no child wants to be the only one there.
We're looking for somewhere with a kids club for this summer - possibly Mauritius or Maldives - so I will watch this with interest.

Sponge - thinking along similar lines - but am concerned we'll find better weather in the med'. That said, I really want to visit both!

We've done Mark Warner, Sunsail, and Simply Travel - all with kids clubs. Downside of MW was that you get the kids back for a couple of hours at lunch, so can't plan a day away without booking a babysitter for the lunch period and so are pretty much tied to the site. On the plus side the babylistening at night was pretty rigorous where we were, with a nanny seated in each hallway listening out. Sunsail take them for the whole day, and did slightly less rigorous baby listening rounds every 15 mins or so. But for older children they offer some evening video clubs where the kids can be monitored while you have dinner. Simply Travel (in Lefkas - Mousses villas) have a fab creche and kids club but the price is extra, as opposed to the inclusive prices for Sunsail and MW kids clubs (over a certain age). No night time listening or activities though. Hope this helps?

Willow2 we're keen divers hence the desire to find somewhere with great diving and good childcare.
I'm looking into options for both so I'll let you know if we find anything promising.
When were you planning to go?

We've been away with Scott Dunn and used their nanny service, whichi found excellent. My two are too young for kids clubs, but other friends who have used SD find the clubs to be great. Not sure they operate in countries with good diving tho - mainly skiing in winter and med villas in summer. here

Sponge - early August. Janinlondon - tried to get in to Mousses (went last year) but booked for when we want to go.

Willow2 - what about the Periyali villas in Zakynthos with Simply Travel? They have their own creche too.

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Not a kids club, but FDR in Jamaica has Vacation Nannies who look after your children and keep them occupied. They take them to the resort-run activities, or bring them to you when you want them.

Jan - done Zakynthos twice! Willhave a look at that link Aimsmum. What's weather like in Jamaica in August? So many questions...

we did sunsail last year in greece, childcare was excelelnt, dd did not miss on day at the club!

Accomodation adequate, but we didn't muc more as we only used the room to sleep in. Food definitely less than adequate most of the times!!!

Also childrens tea at 5pm might be ok on cold winter day in teh uk, but in the mediterranean sun, it felt really stupid and dd ended up eating with us most of the time as she wasn't keen to eat at 5pm! (far too hot!)

Just seen this in the latest Sunsail e-brochure:
Our baby listening and baby sitting service will be replaced with a Night Crèche for all Minnow (4 months to 2 years) and Snapper (2 to 4 years) aged children and will run on 'free' evenings from 6.30pm until midnight. On the same principle the After 7s Club, will operate for 5 to 12 year olds*. Qualified staff will entertain your kids with activities such as organised beach games and quizzes for the older children and quiet games and story time for the younger ones. Sleeping mats and blankets will be provided until you come and collect them to tuck them up into their own beds.

Not saying I think its good or bad - just for info!

Our Sunsail experience wasn't good - but that particular resort disappeared from the brochure the following year, so maybe that says something?

We are staying in the Iberostar Cozumelwhich has a kids club from 4 years in June. I am hoping it lives up to the reviews in the brochures!

I've finally got around to looking into ours. Still looking into Mauritius or Maldives.
Have you sorted anything yet?
I'll let you know what recommendations we get if not.
Roughly how much do you want to spend?

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it...

Have just booked Mousses in Lefkas for two weeks in August. I tried to book it earlier in the year but it was already fully booked.

It's exactly where we went last year - which might sound a bit boring but we only did a week and it was so lovely we wanted to go back for two, so were gutted that we couldn't go again this year. Anyway, last night I got the urge to check on the website and someone must have just cancelled as two weeks were free, in the same little house we had last year - which is one of two detached ones (the rest are semi's) and the best placed one for sitting out and having a drink in the evening while ds snores away oblivious inside! Yippee.

Thought a link to the kidsclubholidays website might be useful

can anyone do a link for mousses please? sounds lovely.

Go to here and search for Mousses in Lefkas

Now I am really hacked off. Discover that actually there has been an administrative/internet/computer xxxx up and we haven't actually got our holiday booked as the place is still fully booked, nobody has cancelled and the system just let me double book. F'ing great.