Advice needed! 1st family holiday - Spain or Greece?

JoJo3

Advice needed please. For the very first time, we can afford a holiday abroad with our two children (3 and 6). I'm in desperate need of a sunshine break as I haven't been to a sunny spot abroad for the last 7 years!!! so I want it to be a success! We're planning to go next year during Whitsun week which automatically puts prices up, but I teach so this is unavoidable. We're therefore a bit limited if we want to keep the price down so have decided to plump for Spain or one of the Greek islands. In your vast experience, can anyone make suggestions as to which would be better? and possible resorts? We're looking for somewhere away from the usual noisy nightclubs with a safe beach (with soft sand, gently sloping water and shade if needed). Not sure how the kids will be on a long journey so we're looking to keep travelling to a minimum and therefore would rule out anywhere with an excessive transfer time from airport to destination. Thank-you in anticipation of your response. Feel cheeky for asking but we really don't have any experience of this kind of thing!

apt

I would think about the east coast of Mallorca, especially Pollensa. Menorca also has good beaches and isn't brash. Corfu and Crete would be fine as well, providing you choose the right resort, but the flight is much longer.

Oldernotwiser

I'd agree that the quieter areas of the Balearics would be a good bet. Flights to Greece will take longer and the weather may be too hot there for young children who've never been abroad before.

creased-leach

I was about so suggest puerto pollensa too- I've never been, but bessie mate is a travel consultant- a very well travelled one- but still goes back there every time she can- apparantly it has everything.

Thassos in Greece is amazing for kids, but no direct flights. We went to Paleo in Corfu in September- and it was stunning, but I wouldn't really reccommend it for small kiddies- and none of the other resorts we saw could hold a candle to it.

teagan1966

hi i went to menorca with my two would realy recommend it

nmbash

Just a thought - are you and your kids okay around cats?
If not, then I would go to Spain. There are many cats (wild) in most of the Greek islands. They love coming near you when you are trying to eat.

JoJo3

Thank-you for all your ideas so far, (and yes, we're fine around cats). Will now look into the Pollensa idea.

ailuro2

Be aware that most folks coming back from a holiday in the Eurozone are complaining about how much prices have risen, ok with two kids you're not going to be worried that a Blue WKD costs 5 euros, but apparently everything is terribly expensive, food from shops, eating out etc.

Janeyjaz

Hi, I would recommend Spain for a family with small children, as Greece is fantastic but Spain has better hygiene, (that sounds awful) but you are more likely to get better accomodation in Spain - been to Majorca in whit week before and the weather was very iffy - quite a bit of rain and not so hot - why not look at main land Spain and maybe Nerja which is a lovely town and has some nice beaches and is not as expensive as the islands.We stayed last year at the Hotel Plaza Caverna in the middle of Nerja nad it was brilliant and only a couple of minutes to the beach.

morocha

Hi,,, we've never been in GReece but go to Spain every year.. it is an excellent place.. specially Malaga... torremolinos.. i am telling is heaven !! no wild parties or anythings.. it is very cosy place... you can take a taxi from Malaga aiport for 20 euros or take the train and it cost around 2.00 i think... it is 40 minutres from malaga city and u can go there if you want to... we are always happy there.. our 2 yo loves it there.

kazmeister

Hi

I guess it depends on how much you want to spend and what type of holiday you want.

For the last 3 years we have gone to Duquesa on the Costa del sol. Its aout halfway between Marbella and Gibraltar.

We have hired a car at the airport and have flown into Jerez (inland to the north) and Malaga but its also only 30 mins from Gib. The airport there is next to the border so you can walk across and pick up a hire car in La Linea. Malaga and Jerez are about 90 mins transfer by car.

We rented an apartment in the Marina Real block through Duquesa.net and have loved it. The apt we had was on the ground floor and had patio doors onto a small terrace straight onto the garden where the pool was. The garden gate opened onto the promenade which went directly onto the beach so very safe as no cars to worry about.

There is a lovely little marina surrounded by bars and restaurants and lovely beaches and the apartment block has 2 pools. There are several beach bars !!! restaurants and Sabinallas (the nearest town) is only a short walk along the prom. There are several supermarkets here and we usually go and stock up on groceries and beer for the apartment.

I would happily go back again next year (but hubby wants to take the caravan to France ) and can understand why my parents bought a timeshare there 25 years ago (although its grown quite a lot since then)