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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

sunshine at Easter. I saw Canary Islands, DH says Dubai.

15 replies

mckenzie · 29/03/2010 16:47

We would like to get some sunshine and chill out with the DCs (age 8 and 5). I chose Canary Islands for sunshine but short-ish flight and lots to do.
DH is a snob so he is choosing Dubai.

WWYD?
Is Dubai really going to be so great? i know it will cost more, the flight is longer and personally, I'd like a villa holiday but I'm under the impression that Dubai will be a hotel.

TIA

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geordieminx · 29/03/2010 21:25

Dubai sounds nice, but things to consider:

flights
cost
perhaps not as "child friendly" as canaries?
too hot?

The main thing I would think about is, that if you go to Dubai, you will be in a hotel room - either pay for 2 ajoining hotel rooms, or have all 4 of you in 1 room... then what will you and dh do once kids are in bed? Sit in dark watching sky news?

I've not been to Dubai, and would love to go, but not sure whether you could just go for a wander on a night time and find a nice family friendly restuarant/bar the same way you could in the canaries.

I can recomend some fab hotels in Canaries that might persuade your dh

tenerife - miles away from tourist zones stayed here last April - tis fab - 5* all inc, all suite hotel so seperate bedroom/living room. Great kids club.

lanzarote - fantastic location

staying here this year Los Cristianos, have suite booked, gets good reviews, walkable distance to loads of attractions to keep ds occupied.

HTH

mckenzie · 30/03/2010 09:21

thank you SO much Geordiemix. I'm going to look at those links right now.

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mckenzie · 30/03/2010 09:22

btw, what was the weather like when you were there in April as that is one of DH's reasons for pushing for Dubai?

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VotingBlue · 30/03/2010 09:26

Dubai ? Personally I couldnt think of anything worse.

isnt Dubai a bit ..... common ?

Definitely the Canaries for me

Portofino · 30/03/2010 09:28

I would refuse to go to Dubai on principle. Whole place is built on the proceeds of crime and exploitation of workers. That's just me though.....

AttilaTheMeerkat · 30/03/2010 09:28

mckenzie

For a family holiday I'd choose the Canary Islands over Dubai.

My brother has recently returned from Dubai and described it as cross between desert and Canary Wharf with shops. Its was also very hot of a day and not a very child friendly place at all.

mckenzie · 30/03/2010 13:10

thanks guys

I shall show/relay these comments to DH though no doubt he will just say something like "of course Mumsnetters will agree with you". .

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geordieminx · 30/03/2010 13:59

Weather has always been fab when we are there - usually last week in April/first in May - there are some pics on my profile of me sitting on a blue and yellow sofa with ds, judge the tan for yourself

I know some people hate the canaries too, and there are some really "british" resorts, but if you pick your resort/hotel carefully then you can have a really fab holiday.

At least you will have the choice of going all inc in Canaries too - I should imagine your kids would constantly want drinks/ice cream - would cost £££ in Dubai.

Tripadvisor is a useful website for getting truthful reviews on hotels.

rinol · 31/03/2010 14:35

Georgieminx....Wanted to ask you about the resort you stayed at last April in Tenerife..Luabay....looks absolutely gorgeous!....Having never been before...what's the nearest airport?What airline did you book via?Did you leave the resort at all?what was the weather like?I will be going with my 2 girls aged 5,10.I'm hoping to book to go in a few weeks!!!!.

cathers · 31/03/2010 16:20

Been to both. Canaries without a doubt.
There are some really beautiful places in the Canaries. We love playa blanca in Lanz. Very child friendly, clean and safe. The Princess Yaiza hotel is fab.

Wouldn't return to Dubai. Was too hot, too commericalised and felt 'restrained' in public places.

geordieminx · 31/03/2010 19:25

Rinol - what's the nearest airport - we fly into Tenerife South Airport, which is the main one. We hired a car from there, it took us about 40 mins to drive, mainly motorway, easy to find. There are lots of companies that do independent transfers though, either coach/mini bus or car - in hindsight we would probably do private transfer if we went again as although we had planned to go here there and everywhere the car stayed in the hotel car park all week - which was free btw.

What airline did you book via? We booked hotel through lowcostholidays.com, got a great deal, also cashback via quidco. We flew with Globespan who unfortunately out of business now, although we are going back to Tenerife in May with RyanAir, Easyjet also fly.

Did you leave the resort at all? The hotel is in a small fishing town, little beach, nice restuarants, few wee shops, its not a metropolis, but nice for a wee afternoon stroll - to be honest that was that much going on in the hotel, 5 pools, kids club, huge softplay, spa, etc we didnt really leave very often.

what was the weather like? Between 27 and 30, no rain, no wind, just perfect.

I will be going with my 2 girls aged 5,10. - They would love it - ds was only 2 at time so a bit young for some of activites but the girls would love all the kids activities - they even have a huge waterslide!

mckenzie · 31/03/2010 21:56

thanks for all the messages but it looks like we might have left it too late for easter! I've sent Princess Yaiza an e mail on the off chance but every company i have tried for availability have said no (the Yaiza is the one hotel in the Canaries that so far, DH has given the go ahead to). I'm going to get back on the case tomorrow. I tried the website you used Geordieminx for the Luabay but they are also showing no availability.

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Kiwinyc · 01/04/2010 13:43

Might be a bit late but for hotels similiar to Princess Yaiza you could also try the Abama Hotel Resort Tenerife and the Sheraton Resort in Tenerife which are also supposed to be good?

mckenzie · 01/04/2010 18:21

thanks kiwinny. Yaiza have just come back saying they have a suite! not ideal as tad small but.... Now though i'm being warned about the winds on lanzarote at this time of year?? Off to check out those other two you gave me in the meantime.

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CharlieBoo · 01/04/2010 18:57

Ooh can I jump on this thread please? We going on Wednesday to fuetraventura, the club princess jandia all inclusive. Has great reviews. Anyone been? X

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