La Manga - any tips

[jambomum]

Thinking of going to La Manga this summer with DS 5 years and DD 1 year (oh and DH too !) Any tips on which villas to avoid, or to go for and tips on how the place works as we've never been before.
Thanks

Hi there we went a couple of years ago. The apartment was fab, do check out the complex layout before you go as La Manga is huge and if you want to be within walking distance of specific things i.e. tennis courts or spa complex then you need to check that. Also some have outdoor heated pools, some aren't - hopefully won't be an issue in summer.

There are a large selection of restaurants, they are expensive and there isn't much outside the complex.

Oh if you want to use the kids club it is v expensive was around 65 euros a day when we were there 2 years ago. You may be able to sign up your DS to tennis or football training, they seemed lots of fun.

Scottish rugby club were in training there the week we went, which was a bonus !

Lived in Cartegena with my husband's work for a while. La Manga was nearby. Other than driving on the right, you wouldn't know it was in Spain - everything in English, English papers available etc. If that's your bag then it should be fine and you won't need to leave the complex but don't go if you are expecting anything Spanish! Murcia is nice but might be too hot for trapising around with littlies in summer. Restaurants in La Manga are expensive. There's a few nice places in Cartegena but you will need car to get there. The actual 'La Manga' strip (not the club) is a concrete jungle and Mar Menor (little sea) is quite nice but how much sewage from the concrete jungle goes into the little sea (which doesn't get flushed out as it has such little access to the Med) is debatable. If you're happy to not leave the English orientated club and its pools and , then you'll have a good time but as rookiemater said, check the map as the club is very spread out and some apartments are up quite steep hills.

I haven't been there since having DD, but had a great time there and used Design Holidays to book house through, very helpful and they know the place inside out so good at recommending. I did tennis coaching, so if you want lessons for anyone, worth booking before you go, as gets busy.

Have fun!

I was there for a week this time last year and stayed in friend's villa. Agree with other comments about the layout of the complex. The spa which was advertised as part of the complex was actually a 30 minute uphill walk out of the complex. Not a major problem though it was the only indoor pool and with three babies it wasn't warm enough to swim outside so walked up there and paid eq to £30 for me and dd to swim for fifteen minutes.

The most important thing imo is how expensive everything is. We live in London so are used to higher prices and we weren't watching every penny we spent but it was really dear. If you're thinking you'll buy food and cook in even that was expensive as unless you hire a car the supermarkets on the complex aren't cheap.

And yes, 'tis very English indeed. I'd never been anywhere like it.

Most of the complexes within La Manga have their own community pool in addition to the main pool, located near the tennis courts.

For you, I would recommend Los Molinos. You have a wonderful pool (for Los Molinos residents only), which has a children's pool attached to it. Also, you can get lunch by the pool. For the children's naps, you are a very short walk back to the town house (max 3 mins). The town houses are very cool (temperature cool) inside. Most have terraces with BBQs. The supermarket down the road is very well equipped, so don't waste precious baggage allowance with non-essentials.

Murcia airport is only 20 mins away and with most commercial care hire companies, you can pre-book at car seat.

Feel free to ask anything else!

Hello, I'm new to mumsnet and need some advice re first holiday with our baby who will be 5 months by the time we travel.

We're thinking of Menorca, Barcelo Pueblo Hotel seems quite nice and the flight times seems ok and should fit in nicely with baby's feeding routine.

Ok so far but what on earth do you do about pram? We have a bugaboo chameleon, can we take the carry cot part with us or is this too big? What about taxi transfer from the airport, does baby travel on lap? or we need to take our own car seat?

Travel cots? Do we take one away with us so baby can sit in this while we're down at the pool/beach?

Sorry for such a ranting first post but I've persuaded my hubby that taking baby abroad is fine but now I'm not so sure!!

Thanks in advance,

Claire

So sorry, posted in wrong place! Meant to create my own thread... good start eh!