Ideas for holidays abroad with kids

wonka

Our kids are 2 and 4, and haven't yet been abroad - we usually drive to a holiday park in the UK.

Can anyone recommend holiday destinations around Europe that would be ideal to take kids. A place that caters for kids, in a resort that has plenty of attractions for days out without needing a car?

Somewhere that is:
1) Sunny (!)
2) Not too long a flight
3) On (or near) the coast
4) Doesn't cost an arm and a leg!

Ta!

hollydays

Menorca-very family friendly

ysoskint

Main land Spain is ideal for kids. Beaches are clean so book close to one. We 2 are blessed with 2 little ones 2 & 4. So i know the hard work of taking them away!!! My tips are:
Short flight
P20 Sun block - a must!
Research your hotel - it must be child friendly or you'll have a week from hell!

We did 2 weeks last year in Costa Dorada. Hotel was perfect, great evening entertainment, lovely food. Boys were 1 & 3. It was too long for us. Just one week would have done. You forget how when your away routines go out the window, You go to bed later, but they are still up early! They eat more E no's then you would usually let them!

We put the children in the kids clubs, but as ours were so little (and i'm a worrier), i used to sit opposite and watch them.
Next month we're off to Costa Brava, we booked through Travelman, recommended by people on this site. It saved us hundreds and was stressfree. I know we haven't had the holiday yet, but so many MSE can't be wrong about him!
Have a nice time were ever you go.

wonka

hollydays wrote:

Menorca-very family friendly

Any particular resort?

wonka

ysoskint wrote:

...We did 2 weeks last year in Costa Dorada...

Would you recommend your hotel? What was it called? I'd really like to research the hotel on t'internet before booking.

Thanks.

Rachie_B

we go to the costa del sol

very child friendly, they love kids and make a fuss of them whereveryou go

ysoskint

We stayed at the Estival Park Hotel II. It was all inclusive. But so worth it with the kids. They could have drinks and icecream/snacks all day. It was lovely. Only across the road to the beach.

http://www.holidaywatchdog.com/12180-La_Pineda-Estival_Park_Apartments-Holiday-Review.html
other good sites are
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk

http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/

This year we're off to HTOP Amaika Hotel costa brava!

plane_boy2000

Mallorca (Majorca) is also pretty child friendly - we took our little one there when he was about 10 months and had no problems. We stayed in porte polensa in the north of the island. Generally the north is a bit quieter and more friendly than the south. Eating out in the evening was no problem. Flights from all over the UK - duration about 1:45. lots of sun, because its an island loads of beaches. We booked our own flights and acomodation, and hire car. Car is not essential, but is a nice to have, and driving there is very easy. Also Alcudia is a nice area.

crazyhazel

http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/sun/?GC=2467

The Benalmadena one!!

I haven't been here but I used to live in Spain and have watched it being built. It is a superb complex and very very child friendly - all inclusive but you can get out and about to sample the local fayre its not too expensive. Just about everyone on the Costa del Sol speaks English so not too much hassle if you need help in an emergency and only 2.5 hours on a plane!!! simple !! The reports from people I know who have been there are all positive as well, but just for peace of mind you should find a website where people actually report their likes and dislikes of a place - would be useful to find a link to it.