First Family Holiday... Help/Advice/Reassurance... Ryanair-Malta-May/June14 SC

moneysaver599

Hi guys

I haven't been a poster on here for years but just figured out my old login details :-)

Anyway

I am in the process of booking our first family holiday and I am freaking out. Have not been on holiday since I was 16 and with my parents and neither has my OH.

We have a 1 year old and a 3 year old and a part of me is worrying this is turning out to be more work than holiday!!

We have been looking at holidays for next year. It has to be at the end of May or the last week in July/first week in August as my OH gets fixed holidays from work. Having figured out that the second dates are FAR too expensive we have decided to go away in May. Being sunseekers we have decided on Malta as a destination as it'll be warm/hot, english-speaking, short-haul and not too expensive.

Have found some pretty good flight deals with Ryanair for around £400 around 29th May for 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant with 1 suitcase (plenty for us). We are flying from Scotland and cannot see any cheaper flights from here or Newcastle. I can't find any good package deals (only lowcostholidays...onthebeach... holidaygems etc. all of which just book you a Ryanair flight and add charges anyway!

Accomodation-wise we are looking at self-catering. Mainly because we want to be in an apartment so that the kids can go to bed and myself and OH can chill out on the sofa/balcony for an hour ourselfs. Have also found some good deals with varying reviews. I would love to go all inclusive but cannot find something affordable/decent with a seperate bedroom for kids (I want them to be in the same place as us but seperate sleeping area)

I have loads of points below but just want to check I've covered everything!!

1) Flights - no seat for our youngest who will be almost 23months. Can imagine this being a handful but hoping both kids have a long sleep on the way to the airport and are in a good mood! Plan on taking colouring/books/tablets and arriving at the airport in good time for them to do lots of running about (somewhere safe). The return flight is around 8pm so a good time as I expect the kids will fall asleep

2) Baggage - 10kg hand luggage x 3 - seen some good "cabin luggage" bags/trolleys which will be perfect for our clothes. 1 15kg suitcase for extra.

3) Pushchair - we have a small double umbrella type pushchair which apparently we can take onboard and will get a sunshade for it. We also regularly use slings so will take these.

4) Budget/Food - hoping to budget £100 a day!?!?! This is for food but we eat simple things so really cereal/weetibix/milk/bread/crisps/snacks/pasta for the week from a supermarket. Or if we have extra room/weight in the suitcase just buy these cheaply from Aldi. Don't want to hire a car (hassle of carseats etc.) Probably we will eat a couple of times at McDonalds etc.

5) Activities - hoping to do waterpark/popeye/playmobile, visit all the island playparks, walking, beach

What else am I missing? I just want it to be safe, fun and relaxing.

Due to past financial problems we don't have a credit card or overdraft to use in an emergency so really need to be prepared. Of course I can always call Mum if I need to but really would like to avoid this.

Thanks ladies and gents

richardw

Perhaps also consider Spain's Costa Brava.

loopyloouk

hi,

we have booked to go malta in july.

we have booked our flights with ryanair from liverpool, 2 adults, 2 small children and have booked the seabank all inclusive hotel.

If you are looking at spending £100.00 a day that adds up over the holiday. We contacted the hotel direct and they have quoted us 1480 euros for 10 nights which is brilliant.

It may be worth you looking at all inclusive if you are looking at spending that much a day anyway.

Grumpelstiltskin

Much as I like Malta I would second Richard's suggestion of the Costa Brava.


Much shorter flight time than Malta, no problem with people speaking English and better playparks etc.


Popeye village is in the north of the island not particularly easy to get at by public transport, Playmobile I have never been to but I think it's in the south and again depending on where you stay it may involve 2 buses.

moneysaver599

We looked at Costa Brava and Costa Del Sol but they are a little chillier in the sea and windier in May. If it was end June I wouldn't have minded.

The mean reason for going all inclusive is because I want an apartment rather than a hotel room. But if I can find an apartment which is all inclusive I will definately consider it!!

We are not looking for anything fancy. Just a clean, basic apartment with a balcony. Pool or sandy beach nearby and I don't mind if it is out of the way or in the middle of the "action" - we are pretty easy going! Will keep looking.

Checking flight prices daily and they are staying the same. Can pay flights in full on Tuesday but wondering if I should wait and see if there is a Ryanair sale? But reading conflicting reports of flights getting more expensive in Jan as people start to book after Xmas.

moneysaver599

Just seen a third reply! Maybe I will be better looking at car hire then!

Grumpelstiltskin

One word about driving in Malta, well two be careful. Also be careful where you park, traffic wardens, the tow trucks love to tow away hire cars.


I don't want to put you off because as I have said I love Malta, but do as much research as you can before you go, be sure you are happy with where exactly you are staying, check out bus routes etc. online.

moneysaver599

Thanks very much

Beginning to re-think the car hire idea. Would need to take two large carseats (stage 2)

What is the beach like at Bugibba?

Grumpelstiltskin

It's a man made sandy beach.


Almost all of the beaches are rocky, the biggest sandy beach is at Mellieha Bay.


On the whole the beaches are not that good, doesn't bother me but with young children it's a different matter.

lea2012

The weather in Malta and Costa Brava should be pretty similar temp wise at that time of year, but as you have already mentioned Malta will have less chance of rain. Costa Brava and Costa Dorada both can be wet in May.

Costa del Sol would be far better temp wise than either Malta or Brava though as it's southern spain and often gets no rain from April onwards until at least Oct. (very short downpours if they do!) Beaches here are far better than Malta and there's plenty of decent accomm too. Malta accomm can be a bit hit and miss too.

My only suggestion for Malta would be to make sure you check TripAdv, holiday watchdog etc before you book as some of the cheaper hotels and apartments really do get a slating.

As you say anytime from Christmas onwards until around mid feb is traditionally 'peak booking period' for the travel industry and most airlines and travel companies will be expecting a lot of bookings so I doubt ryanair will hold a big sale during this period.

moneysaver599

Hi again

Have spent a good few hours everyday searching. Have now decided against Malta. It would be lovely for just me and OH but don't think there is enough for the kids to do!

Been looking at Costa Del Sol as it is slightly warmer and cheaper than Costa Brava.

Found some good package deals to Fuengirola with Jet2Holidays and Thomas Cook. Seems perfect for us as has zoo, sealife centre, theme park, beaches etc. And seems to have better kids facilities in the apartments I have looked at - with kids club and entertainment and even on site playpark. OH has been talking to work and they would let him take a Mon - Fri in June (so would have to fly Sat - Sat or Sun - Sun) which is a bit more expensive. Now just got to decide between SC or HB/AI. I would love HB or AI but I can only seem to find "rooms" rather than apartments with this and I don't want to be cooped up in a room with 2 kids, would rather be able to put them to bed and still enjoy a couple of hours with OH even just watching TV or on the on the balcony (keeping a close eye on the kids of course!!).

This morning the prices are more expensive than the same packages I was looking at yesterday and Friday!!