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Family Holidays.

DTS

The Business
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
16,175
Location
In a world of my own.
Ladies and Gents.

Just starting to work on our family plans for a summer holiday. I need to start thinking about this as my son turns two in mid July and so it makes sense to get back before then rather than pay two kids prices.

I have been a bit surprised by the costs and options on offer at the moment. Short of Tunisia which really dosent appeal I'm looking at £1600 for two adults and three year old and a one year old which I think it a fair bit. Add to that the £1600 does not even get you decent flight times or an amazing hotel.

We don't care where we go as ling as it's Europe ad ideally All Inclusive as its easier with the kids.

My question to the parents out there is do you usually wait until nearer the time and just book two weeks before or do you bite the bullet and cough up the. £1600 etc that the current Market dictates?

I have looked qt planning my own trip booking flights and hotels separately and that too seems an option?

Any comments welcomed.
 
Thought about Menorca?
A villa's always a better deal than a hotel with a young family,IMO .

Destination wise happy anywhere with pool,sun and fairly non lively for us as a family.

Villa docent appeal at the moment as don't think we want hassles of cooking, washing up, food shopping etc.
 
When I won the holiday from the club it was at a Marriott complex which was self catering but with a handful of restaurants and bars on site so you got the best of both worlds. At the time I didn't had kids but my friends who came had a 3 year old daughter and 6 month son and it worked really well as there was plenty of space as well as the option to cook breakfast or lunch if preferred. We all ate out each night.
 
Were returning to Alykanas on Zante this summer, been there twice before & it is a wonderfully relaxed, family friendly resort. Have booked it already because I know the hotel I want is popular & will be full if I leave it too late.

Alykanas is not loud & is extremely family friendly. It neighbours another resort, Alykes, and between them both resorts offer great bar's & restaurants without hoardes of singles groups.

The beach itself is a narrow long strip that even in Mid - August is never packed. The sea has one of the gentlest shelves Ive ever known, I reckon you can do 200 yards before it hits your neck & I'm a short arse..:smile:

Waters are always calm & very warm & very safe for kids. Zante itself is not the most action packed islands, but there are several trips & waterparks etc if thats what you want. Were staying at a place called Alykanas Beach Apart-Hotel booked through Thomas Cook & looking on there for you I get £1280 for a studio, 2 weeks, £1326 1 week, departing Stansted 1 July @ 05:40, but it is SC. This hotel has a lovely pool, is central in the resort but is set on the beachfront, so if the kids are bored around the pool, walk them down to the beach..:smile:

There is another couple of options in Alykanas a bit cheaper, Letsos & Ioannis and Dannys. Letsos is very well placed in the resort but has mixed reviews, Danny's gets very good reviews, but is a little more out the way, although not much.

If you want anymore info on the area, I know it very well, drop me a line..:thumbsup:
 
we used to go cruises mate, bit more but kids fully looked after, great food and see lots of countries - at that age the youngest should be free, also you and your missus can dress up for the evenings... try it!
 
Dave, Center Parcs have European villages, they're run to the same spec as the UK ones and definitely worth a look.
 
I never ever book with a tour operator, i book a flight and use a company called Alpha rooms who are very reliable.They have a good selection of all inclusive hotel rooms.For my holiday at end of April for 10days to Turkey it has cost me a total of £280 all inclusive, a tour operator would have cost me £475.
 
Along the same theme as OBL try Durinell in Holland, has a good website, has a water park & theme park. Relaxing & family friendly as parks shut at 5pm so people on site (right next door) can go eat & put kids to bed etc (www.durinell.com & book direct then phone them with card deposit as its cheaper).

Week in August, chalet (all mod cons) with food on site (takeaway & restaurants), with a supermarket also on site & an Aldi a mile away (if you need food), with fuel & ferry is about a grand. Ferry usually Dover-Dunkirk with 3 & a half hour drive & you can book it all yourself etc...

Or even try Disneyland Paris?
 
I wouldn't try that in the summer....it's full of foreigners!!! And what's worse, European foreigners who don't know how to queue!!!
It will test your patience mate!! We did disney, and it was similar to your budget for just 3 nights all inclusive - crap food, shabby park that's falling apart, awful hotel, rude staff. Kids enjoyed it though :)
 
Dave,
Don't shoot me down here but have you considered a 7 day cruise? Seriously there are some great bargains to be had at the moment and it is not as expensive as people think.
All the big cruise ships have brilliant child care facilities and they are entertained from early morning till late night. The babysitting club stays open till around 2am which gives the parents a break as well. Everything is done for you and all entertainment is provided food is plentiful 24hrs a day and they even have a kids menu. In fact the last few ships we have been on we actually went on a pub crawl around the ship (13 in total) and even better you dont have to fight to get to the bar - just raise your hand and the waiter will bring it over. There is lots to do onboard ie gym, sauna, casino, shops.
Worth considering and you get to go to different places each day
 
Thanks to all for the advice here. Some quite interesting things I hadn't considered. Will them them by the boss when she wakes up.
 
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