Advice needed on family package holiday...

maf20

After several years of good, UK based holidays, we're looking to head overseas, next summer. I have a few dilemma, though. I'm not sure wether or not to book early, or not. We have some flexibilty, over the school holidays. But, we must go within that 6 week period, at some point. We're not too fussed where we head to, but we're keen on this order of preference: -

1. Menorca
2. Majorca
3. Portugal
4. Malta

Only requirement we have is that it must be at least 'four star' accommodation.

Any advice welcome.

Thanks

wallbash

Sorry but you have No flexibilty , you have to go within those six weeks , the 'high' season. Married to a teacher I also have no choice, therefore I always book early. After which I never look at the prices , they can go up or down , but at the time I booked I was happy.

I have visited / holidayed in all four of your choices , but perhaps if you gave a little more info on your family ( ages / likes) some readers may well give ideas.

maf20

Thanks for that. I must admit, I was hurrying to finish off the post as the laptop battery was about to go!

Me and the wife just the wrong side if mid-thirties. Two kids. One will be three, the other will be nine.

I did read somewhere that providing we have a three week window, we should be able to go last minute(ish). No?

As for the destination, to be honest, and not to sound stuck-up, I'm more concerned about the company we'll be keeping than the country/resort.

Current paying a fortune for Childcare so we're limited to an absolute max of £2k for the week. Don't want all inclusive, though. Want to get out and about to local restaurants and eat. Like I said, want a 4* minimum.

Thanks again.

meer53

maf20 wrote: »

Thanks for that. I must admit, I was hurrying to finish off the post as the laptop battery was about to go!

Me and the wife just the wrong side if mid-thirties. Two kids. One will be three, the other will be nine.

I did read somewhere that providing we have a three week window, we should be able to go last minute(ish). No?

As for the destination, to be honest, and not to sound stuck-up, I'm more concerned about the company we'll be keeping than the country/resort.

Current paying a fortune for Childcare so we're limited to an absolute max of £2k for the week. Don't want all inclusive, though. Want to get out and about to local restaurants and eat. Like I said, want a 4* minimum.

Thanks again.

Last minute holidays dont exist anymore really. Well they do, but you will pay more, the prices now go up nearer the time rather than down. I've already booked our holiday for the school holidays 2013.

You'll need to do your homework regarding where you stay but be prepared to pay for the priviledge of going "upmarket".

Just had a quick google at Thomsons for Menorca for next August for you, prices start at about £2k and go up from there. You might just do it for £2k. The more upmarket ones look to be around £3k for a week.

mum2one

ditto to the last minute bargains, a friend of mine is a travel agent( I use where he works about 90% of the time) he has said that last minute are getting fewer, and literally like looking for needle in a haystack, and that companies are literally buying less hotels.
Personally as its school holidays I would book asap, as early booking offers around.
As others have said the price may go up, may go down, but with this economy more likely to go up.
I booked for next July, back in May this yr, but then I wanted a certain region and 1 hotel only. x

maf20

Thanks, guys.

I had a feeling £2k was going to be a bit tight.

We've never been abroad on a 'beach' family holiday. I've given into the kids who want what all their mates have!!!

With this in mind, and also the fact that it's important who else will be in our resort(!), are there any tour operators we should use/avoid? My wife had a very quick look at Co op travel, earlier, and said their prices looked good.

Thanks, again.

meer53

maf20 wrote: »

Thanks, guys.

I had a feeling £2k was going to be a bit tight.

We've never been abroad on a 'beach' family holiday. I've given into the kids who want what all their mates have!!!

With this in mind, and also the fact that it's important who else will be in our resort(!), are there any tour operators we should use/avoid? My wife had a very quick look at Co op travel, earlier, and said their prices looked good.

Thanks, again.

In my experience, you can't always gauge what type of people stay in certain hotels. TripAdvisor is good for reviews but without a personal recommendation i wouldn't have a clue where to stay either, thats why we book a villa in Florida. No one to spoil our holiday ! I'm sure someone on the forum will have a suggestion for you soon. Maybe booking a villa would be better for you ?

We've had a couple of beachy holidays, in Majorca, one in Alcudia which didn't impress me but Puerto Pollensa was a nice resort, slightly more upmarket than Alcudia which i really didn't like. Think McDonalds, Burger King, all you can eat buffet type places. Not my cup of tea.

maf20

meer53 wrote: »

Think McDonalds, Burger King, all you can eat buffet type places. Not my cup of tea.

That's exactly what I'm trying to a avoid!!! I'd be devastated if I stumbled upon a McDonald's craphole, or similar!

To be honest, that's the last type of thing I'd have expected to see! I haven't been to a beach resort since 1993, would you believe. I won't bore anyone with the details as to why.

I think there'll be a fair bit of geographical research going on over the weekend!

Cheers

wallbash

I will give the argument against a Villa holiday for you . Your kids have a 'large' age gap , I'm thinking the eldest needs some holiday friends . You need a large hotel.

Think McDonalds, Burger King, all you can eat buffet type places. Not my cup of tea.

Nor mine , but we are not nine years old . Smart restaurants are not always best for kids , certainly not mine at that age. Also getting the eldest to try something different in the food line could be an experience.

My two would try new ideas , but having a familiar eating hole is a good insurance.

maf20

Thanks Wallbash. Get your points.

The kids are fine with foods. I'm fortunate that my eight year old barely knows what McDonald's is. I do get your drift about making sure the kids are catered for, too. However, I don't want it to be like home, but hot!!

Also agree about the villa. It wouldn't suit us, at the minute.

Really appreciating the feedback, all. Keep it coming!

meer53

wallbash wrote: »

I will give the argument against a Villa holiday for you . Your kids have a 'large' age gap , I'm thinking the eldest needs some holiday friends . You need a large hotel.



Nor mine , but we are not nine years old . Smart restaurants are not always best for kids , certainly not mine at that age. Also getting the eldest to try something different in the food line could be an experience.

My two would try new ideas , but having a familiar eating hole is a good insurance.

I agree to a certain extent, i have a 13 year gap between my kids !

Other peoples kids on holiday are sometimes a good idea, but sometimes, depending on their parents, they can be quite hard to get rid of ! I think this is why the OP is concerned about the company he will be in.

Some parents think once their kids have made new friends they can abandon them whilst THEY lounge around, drinking, enjoying THEIR holiday, whilst yours is spent looking after someone elses obnoxious child ! I speak from experience and can understand 100% where the OP is coming from if thats their concern.

We've always managed to find somewhere to eat without having to resort to McD's. Most restaurants will do things like pizza or spag bol for kids these days. The restaurants in Puerto Pollensa were really good. My daughter and son will eat most things, it depends on the child doesn't it ? My daughters favourite place is Yo Sushi, she's 12.