Some help choosing birthday holiday

Na1play

It's my 30th birthday in March 2010, and would love to go somewhere hot and lovely. I'm swaying towards caribbean, possibly Barbados but would really appreciate any tips.
There will be me and hubby, and my two lively boys (they will be 9 and 6), and we have to go in Easter hols, so that's around Saturday 3rd April. 2 WEEKS!!
Apart from a weeend in France last year, we haven't been abroad with the boys, so really excited.
Would love all inclusive, decent food, and something for the boys to do, however they would spend all day in the pool if they could.
Many thanks to all that reply.

casevlloyds

Where would you be flying from and what is your budget?

Na1play

ooh, closest airport is Bristol but would fly from any London airport. Haven't got an actual budget, obviously not near £10,000 but closer to £5000. However, have been reminded we need boiler, so may have to give and take on budget.

casevlloyds

Barbados is a beautiful island ad very good for kids. Having said that though with your dates being Easter I think your budget is going to determine where you go.

If you want an All Inclusive and are likely to spend most tof the holiday in the hotel then a long as you choose a nice hotel with good facilities it doesn't make a lot of difference.

Having had a very quick look you will struggle with £5k for Barbados. The cheaper hotels like Escape at the Gap (3*) are coming in around the £6k mark all inclusive. The decent 4* family orientated resorts - eg Almond Beach Village are more like £9k+.

To be honest if your budget only allows a standard 3* resort in Barbados you'd be better off going to somewhere like Cuba where you could have a good 4/5* fr the same money or probably less.

Have a look at Virgins website to get an idea of prices etc.

HTH

Jokaty82

Na1play wrote: »

It's my 30th birthday in March 2010, and would love to go somewhere hot and lovely. I'm swaying towards caribbean, possibly Barbados but would really appreciate any tips.
There will be me and hubby, and my two lively boys (they will be 9 and 6), and we have to go in Easter hols, so that's around Saturday 3rd April. 2 WEEKS!!
Apart from a weeend in France last year, we haven't been abroad with the boys, so really excited.
Would love all inclusive, decent food, and something for the boys to do, however they would spend all day in the pool if they could.
Many thanks to all that reply.

Just a thought, how do you think your kids will cope on a long haul flight? Just wondering, if they have only ever been to France, then 10,11,12 hours on a plane can be exciting at first but then very boring!!

If you can afford long haul have you thought about Jamaica, that has some very family friendly hotels.

If not, why dont you think of somewhere like Egypt or Turkey, some lovely 5 star hotels which might fit in your budget (all inclusive), you will be a bit closer to home, but wont be giving on the luxury side.

Some of the Turkish and Egyptian hotels have vitual water parks on site, would keep your 2 boys happy for hours!

Na1play

Thanks for help, yes it is quite far for flying, my other idea, if I wasn't going to the caribbean would be renting a villa with a pool instead. Must be cheaper. Definitely can't afford £9000. Hubby and boys are water babies and I love the heat and reading.
Any ideas anyone? Somewhere hot that time of year, that someone could recommend. Many thanks.

Horace

Spain is getting warm this time of year as is Southern Italy - neither of these places are too far. I have heard that James Villa holidays are pretty good although I havent tried one.

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

a cruise ?
i am looking at a med cruise with p&o next easter 4th april for 13 nights , goes from southampton - great entertainment and kids clubs along with a few trips to different places along the way

Na1play

Have been looking at Virgins website and WOW, have I been living under a rock or are all travel agents that expensive? That's what you get for camping all these years!! I so wanted to go somewhere with beautiful sands and crystal waters, just a fantasy I suppose. I may have to wait til the boys have left home to afford that.

Okay, anyone know of good travel agents to go with? Is it worth booking a villa and flights separately for caribbean, perhaps that would help? This is very disheartening, lol.

Na1play

Ha ha, should have said, if I look at a boat I'll be sick.

Jokaty82

Na1play wrote: »

Have been looking at Virgins website and WOW, have I been living under a rock or are all travel agents that expensive? That's what you get for camping all these years!! I so wanted to go somewhere with beautiful sands and crystal waters, just a fantasy I suppose. I may have to wait til the boys have left home to afford that.

Okay, anyone know of good travel agents to go with? Is it worth booking a villa and flights separately for caribbean, perhaps that would help? This is very disheartening, lol.

have you had a look at the Thomson Villa with Pools brochure or look at them online, they have some reasonable villas. 6 friends are getting one in Cyprus for a week, costing themm £100 each. obviously a lot of these villas are the more people the cheaper they are, but thomson ones seem to be quite cheap. i like the idea of a villa, but not of the driving - way too much like hard work on holiday :rotfl:

3rd april - you may be finding it hard with the weather, spain etc will only just be warming up and could be hit and miss!!

my advice would be florida maybe???

but honestly, egypt in april will be glorious weather - you will get to sip cocktails by the pool, the kids can play in the water plus your guaranteed the weather. have a look at holiday village red sea (first choice), reef oasis blue bay (thomson/portland), plus some of the others have water parks on site (park inn and aqua park i think)