Holiday recommendation

[EDmummy]

Haven't booked summer holiday yet for various reasons but am now panicking! Can anyone recommend a small to medium size town, waterpark nearby (for 5 & 10 yr old), with a nearby beach (warm water!) and watersports. We are looking at Turkey but would also consider Spain (have been frightened of booking Spain without recommendations as am looking for something which is not full of all day breakfasts and lots of nightclubs). Budget is also important.

Anyone know that fab beach/town?

[EDmummy]

117 views and no recommendations! Anyone familiar enough with Spain to recommend a lovely location? Not looking for hotel recommendations as we prefer to rent an apartment through Holiday Lettings or similar.

[Norfolkvillas]

Hi there, I'm not sure about the waterpark element, but we went to Martinhal last year, which is extremely family friendly - it's a hybrid self-catering complex / hotel, so you can be as 'full-service' as you want. We went with our then 10 month old and stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment which couldn't have been better set up for families. They looked like they catered brilliantly for older kids too. The town of Sagres is a couple of mins away - we didn't actually go as we were only staying a couple of nights, but I doubt that its the kind of place you are trying to avoid. I doubt it's the cheapest option you'll find, but I thought it was really great value for money.... www.martinhal.com

Otherwise, in Spain, we stay inland, but the nearest coastal town is Salobrena which is a very Spanish beach town with a lovely old town on a hill, and definitely not touristy in a horrible way. It's about 1.5 hours from Malaga travelling east rather than west (so opposite direction from Costa del Sol which you sound like you'd probably want to steer clear of). Again I don't know about waterparks, but I know there are some bigger, more british touristy type towns along the same stretch of coast - eg Nerja, Motril - so I bet there would be those type of attractions there...

Hope this helps!

[LSB]

Try Conil on the Atlantic Coast of Spain (nearest airport - Seville). Mostly Spaniards, beautiful long sandy beach etc

[EDmummy]

Thanks Amberwood - I will have a look. LSB, did you find the Atlantic coast a little breezy and the water cold?

[Fudge]

Further to the review of Martinhal - yes there are some water parks along that coastline.(towards Faro). Also there is a place called Zoo Marine at Guia. Think the website is www.zoomarine.com (sorry typing quickly so haven't had a chance to check). Zoo Marine is a great day out with the kids with rides, dolphin shows etc and there is also a large swimming pool. Good to get there when it opens as does get busier in the afternoon. From memory the food was a bit poor there though - so would recommend taking your own picnic if you can be bothered with some pennies for an ice-cream. Salema is also a nice place on that coastline not far from Martinhal - small fishing village. There is a good beach there with lots of families and some nice places to eat. One restaurant (can't remember the name at the mo) is literally on the beach. Larger town of Lagos is good - can take a boat trip out to sea to spot Dolphins. We were unlucky the day we choose and didn't see anything, but I think that some of the companies who offer trips guarantee to see them, i.e. if you don't find them you can go out again with them another day for free.

Have fun deciding. Another great benefit of this area of the Algrave is that it is in the western corner, which most "Brits abroad - full English" etc don't get to. The really british resorts are in and around Faro airport - so worth travelling this little extra distance if you want to escape from this type of resort. Hence why the waterparks/zoo Marine are back nearer to Faro.

[mikeb]

We went to Lykia World near Oludeniz in Turkey last year (with 2 and 4 yr old) and loved it so much that we're going back this year - a top quality place. First time we've ever gone on holiday to same place.

I've just bought a sensible car as well - am I getting old?

[nicolemodesti]

Have you considered Cyprus? We had a fantastic holiday there last year with our boy who was nearly 2 and step son of 11. We stayed at Sandra Hotels, overlooking Protaras, which was so safe for swimming. There was a water park nearby although we didn't use it.Eating out in the evenings was very family oriented and some restaurants had bouncy castles or play house attached. The hotel had a good amenities and 2 separate pools, adult and child. Going back again this year!

Previous years we have holidayed in Menorca and Gran Canaria (Maspalamas).

http://www.sandrahotelapts.com/location.html

[Alan Medic]

My Spanish relations have been going to El Portil for years. They are from Seville but the place is not too far from Faro either if the flights are better. I once thought I was the only foreigner there but have met one or two since. Very Spanish resort.