Holiday destination ideas, please!

[srisky]

We are planning our first holiday abroad for the end of May with our daughter who will be 16 months at the time. Our wish list is as follows:

- relatively short flight (to maintain our sanity during the flight and avoid jet lag)

- near a sandy beach (a pool would be an added bonus)

- warm enough to enjoy the aforementioned sandy beach

- has accommodation where the bedroom is completely separated from the main living area so we don't have to sit in silent darkness from 7.30pm while our daughter sleeps

- not self catering (I do enough of that at home)

We're probably asking for too much, as we've not had much luck finding such a place but any tips would be very welcome!!

Thanks :)

[Norfolkvillas]

We went to Domes of Elounda in Crete last year with our then 20 month old. That would tick all of your boxes, and you get your own private plunge pool. If you search the forum I think I've given lengthier feedback on it in the past. Likewise with Martinhal in Portugal - the Ocean Houses are great for families and it's not really self catering unless you want it to be. Someone else on the forum has also been and enjoyed it. Other places to look at are Porto Sani Village (Greece) which friends have raved about, and for this year, I've also been looking at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia (from memory, I think its the grand suites which have two separate rooms) which looks beautiful but quite pricey, and I haven't been blown away by that part of Italy when I've visited previously... Hope this helps!

[srisky]

Brilliant, thank you, will look into those.

Another question, forumites - what did you do with your little ones during the transfer from airport to destination? Did they provide car seats or were they sitting on your laps? Thanks

[Ruffler]

Puerto Pollenca in Majorca has a very good reputation for family-friendly holidays with young children. Most of the main tour operators seem to offer holidays there. http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/europe/spain/majorca/puerto-pollensa/holidays-puerto-pollensa.html

[Norfolkvillas]

Both Martinhal and Domes can book airport transfers and you can specify a car seat. I think most dedicated family-friendly resorts would offer this service.

[ludoscotts]

Where we went last years meets all of your wish list! Hotel bougainvilla in sa coma Mallorca.

It was perfect with little children. 2 hrs 20 flight.

2 or 1 bed apartments or studios. Full board, all inclusive or self catering.

4 pools 2 perfect for toddlers 1 huge one with splash zone. 2 play parks with sand, slides swings etc.

Big top in evening with children's disco. Bouncy castles, horse riding.

Small train takes you down to beach but 15 min walk if you don't catch the train.

Lovely little beach and lovely walk along seafront to next headland. 10mins in taxi takes you to another resort with loads of shops and big outdoor rides.

Was lovely ad booked to go back ourselves at the end of may.

[bonaome]

We went to Punt Prima in Menorca - see here - and liked it so much we went back again. Would have gone back a third time but too expensive for us once we had to start paying for the child places (kids are free under 3 I think).

[snowboarder]

I'm searching for a similar type holiday (given up on the glamping idea!) but places like Martinhal and Domes of Elounda seem eye wateringly expensive!!. I've not been but this place in Majorca has caught my eye in my internet trawl - http://www.hotel-migjorn.com/family-breaks.htm

Anyone been? Nice?

[Bishberro]

Bonaome - we're off to Punta Prima in June - any tips? For some reason, the second week in June was an amazingly cheap offer - God knows why. I've looked into Martinhal and Domes of Elounda in the past and they look lovely but are unbelievably pricey even out of school holidays.

[uptowngirl]

I can highly recommend Amazones Village Suites in Piskopiano Crete. It's a hotel....not sure why it is called a village. But each room is very spacious with a separate sitting / dining area and large bedroom. All room also have a balcony. The rooms ARE self catering, however the hotel also does food on site and there are many local tavenas with very very good food.

Have a look at it http://www.amazonesclub.com/village_eng_about_us.htm

Very reasonable prices too. We usually fly with EasyJet and a taxi transfer is about 45 Euros.

Good luck

[JDR]

We have been twice to les sable des ollonnes. We drove but airports closish la rochelle I believe. Small well heeled French resort built around a fishing resort. Loads of restaurants and family orientated. Little zoo south end of town, on the Atlantic, place of the start of the vender boat race... Looking forward to going again in a few years. Good luck

[scareyt]

Hi I know this is an old thread but in case anyone is looking at it again - we stayed in Hotel Migjorn at the end of April two years ago and liked it. Nice set-up with loads of toys for babies / young toddlers, good food and friendly welcome. Only downsides were that its rural and really in the middle of nowhere so you have to drive to get to the beach or go out anywhere else in the evening so for us it was a slightly too quiet week.

I've been daydreaming about this place for this year but can't (yet!) persuade my husband that all the socialising involved is a good thing! http://www.caseriodelmirador.com/

If anyone knows of anywhere similar but walking distance to a beach and cafes please do tell.

[snowboarder]

Scareyt - I want to go there too!! I'm currently trawling owners direct trying to find an apartment in Puerto Pollensa - we're broke this year but want to make the most of our last chance af holiday-ing outside of school holidays. Our brief includes 2 bedrooms/kitchen/access to pool/close to beach....want much?!?

[Gooders79]

We went to memmo baleeira in the algarve last year, just down the road from the martinhal. We got a really great rate, easyjet flights into faro and hired our own car. Beaches were glorious, indoor and outdoor pool, our suite had a dining area kitchenette and living space separate from the main bedroom. Restaurant on site was good and walking distance into town and lots of other places to eat and drink. Our son was 9 mo when we went but could see I working with him now even though a bit older.

[Audrey]

Snowboarder - Have you thought about a house swap? Absolutely its not for everybody, but might help stretch the budget seeing as you want something good for your last out-of-school-holiday holiday. Friends swapped their place in Walthamstow for a place in Norway and had an amazing time seeing the northern lights last year, which otherwise would have been mega expensive. I don't know about the finer details but there are loads of websites on it .....

Alternatively airbnb.com is good, but may be more useful for city accommodation. We used it last year and had a great place in Amsterdam. Its reasonable as your staying in peoples places and communicating with them direct(they are most certainly NOT there at the same time...!)

[RichJ]

Scareyt and snowboarder - we went to Caserio del Mirador in Sept 2011 with our then 15-month year old son and absolutely loved it. Would definitely recommend. There is the opportunity for some socialising but it is optional - you (or Mr scareyt) could easily keep yourselves to yourselves if you wanted to. Last year we went to the Porto Sani Village in Greece, which was also great (although a bit pricey). Having our kitchen done this year so trying to drastically scale down the budget - am thinking Normandy or Brittany but have never been to either before so not sure where to start....

[JBoylen]

We stayed here in cancale for our trip to Normandy: http://www.flipkey.com/cancale-farmhouse-rentals/p353348/?open_review_confirmation=previous

Loved the location and the house!