First ever holiday abroad and don't know where to go !

Becles

Olu Deniz in Turkey ticks all your boxes, apart from the transfer time, and it gets very hot in the summer holiday months. We went in May last year and the heat was fine for 1 year old baby. Although the transfer time seems long (about an hour to 90 mins), the journey is beautiful. You go through some amazing scenery so it doesn't seem as long as it really is.

If you are keen on Majorca, Cala D'Or ticks all your boxes apart from the transfer. It takes about 45 mins to an hour, but it's worth it as the resort is very family friendly. There's no noisy nightclubs there, so you don't get the young groups wanting to party. It's mainly just families and couples looking for a quiet, relaxed holiday.

I'd rather use an hour of my holiday sitting on a bus to get to a beautiful resort, than go to a less attractive resort just because it's close to the airport. If you're going to be there for 7 or 14 days, you want it to be perfect not second best

busiscoming2

Depending on what you call a 'reasonably short transfer time' I would say Alcudia, majorca, If it is a package transfer bus they take more than an hour, but resorthoppa it is less.. If you go nearer the Port d'Alcudia end, in my opinion it is the nicer and slightly less lively end. The sandy beach in total is 7kms long and you get plenty of room on the beach, I can't stand crowded beaches. Lots of choice of places to eat and although it is busy at night I have never seen rowdy/drunk people. It can be very hot in July/August but then so are most med destinations. There is a water park in Alcudia although we have never been. It is a lovely place to hire a car and explore, this I wouldn't prebook as there are plenty of car hire places with v. good offers.
Good luck with your hunt!

MidlandsMum

I would say Corfu, but it really depends what time of year you are going. Even the Costa Brava will be hot in August!

ChasingButterflies

Hi,

Sorry not much help on the location front... however as a Mum to fair skinned little people my best bit of advice would be to get a couple of UV t-shirts for when they are in the pool... (I remember getting burnt shoulders when I was a kid and having to wear a cotton t-shirt so I should have know better :rolleyes: It really does take no time) I promise there is nothing worse than telling them they can't go outside until after 4:o I bought a UV alarm in the sales last year so *fingers crossed* for this year.

We go to the Portugal every year - if you were going to look there I would say look up by Guia. My Mum stayed there one year and loved the beaches. You would be close to a couple of waterparks and ZooMarine (which is fantastic!) Although Guia (and surrounding area) has become more developed over the past few years I haven't seen any high rises (but please check as things change!) They have also (a couple of years ago) upgraded the road between Faro and Guia (well it goes further than Guia) so a journey that used to take over an hour coule take about 40 mins now (by car)

Whereever you go I hope you all have a fantastic time!

mum2one

If u went to Tunisa - try Hannamet, the transfer is about 90mins, but it flys by, they have a water park in Hammamet, theres a walk around safari park just outside Portau Kentoi (not spel right sorry), the beaches are golden, its a very child friendly resort, the old resort is Hammement, very tradational buildings some lovely hotels, they built a new resort Yassime Hamment, bout 5 miles away, its nice but u have to walk to get to the beaches, but there is a ice skateing rink, wvwn if you stayed in Hannamet its about £3.00 in a taxi.

The xchange rate is good, as its a closed currency, and the exchange rate is done by the goverment, so when u use the hotel exchnge facility, ur not loosing out x

Voyager2002

This point about transfer times: consider a place where the journey from airport to resort is interesting, and could be part of the holiday. Switzerland for example, where you would be sitting in a comfortable train (with a refreshment service) being wheeled through spectacular mountain scenery.

karenmay33

salou would be great with port adventura (like alton towers) and waterworld your boys are at the right age to enjoy it. have you priced up florida??

karenmay33

i stayed here last april 2008, my son loved it evening entertainment was great had a good laugh the staff are nice, apatments are spotless, cleaners in every day.. the bus stops outside the hotel and a 10 min walk from salou along the beach paths. http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/holidays/costa-dorada-holidays/cap-salou/sunclub-salou-apartments/