Mark Warner and/or alternatives

[david_carnell]

While my natural inclination is for a holiday that has a bit more....sophistication, the desire for some organised activities and child-care for mini-d_c means that for the first time we're considering a Mark Warner style holiday.

Has anyone done one (surely yes)? Thoughts?

Are there alternative companies doing the same thing better/cheaper? Neilson, Sunsail?

I'm not that fussed about sailing, mountain-biking and the like but want good food and not to be stung for extras at the end.

Mini-d_c is 2.5 now and we'd look to go out of season (probably late-Sept early-Oct) to avoid crowds (so he'd be 2.75 then), keep prices down but still get southern med sunshine and temps. We did Crete last year at this time and it was perfect but keeping a toddler occupied on holiday for a week stops it being much of a holiday for us sometimes.

[snowboarder]

We're going here - http://www.simpsontravel.com/greece-holidays/lefkada/villas/mousses-creche-and-childrens-club - for me it struck a happy balance of being a bit sociable and with some kids activities on offer, and there is a small bar/restaurant, but not full on hotel style big scale type place. We like to self cater and like to have a room for us and for the kids. I think they might have been offering free childcare in sept/oct?

I can update after we've been in a couple of weeks!

[Belle]

If you can go out of season your options are much broader. Martinhal (Portugal) looks amazing, and your little one would be big enough for the kids' club if you wanted a bit of time off...

There are also lots of options if you search on babyfriendlyboltholes.

I hear you re holidays! it gets easier when they're a bit bigger as they want to make friends by the pool etc. I never thought I'd go for the kids' club type option but we're off to Crieff for the second time, in August - it's a hotel in Scotland with free kids' club, and loads to do. Guessing you'd prefer abroad but worth keeping in mind.

[mima08]

Hiya,

we're just back from a holiday with Pierre & Vacances in Fuerteventura (http://www.pierreetvacances.com/gb-en)- it's like a centre park but in the sun and the prices were nothing like centre park. Kids' club, sporting activities, loads of swimming pools and a free splashpark, great fun.

[buggie]

We're off to Sensotori Tenerife in September for the 2nd time

http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/sensatori/sensatori.html

Having never done a "fly & flop" before, this converted us & bugglet (who would've been about the same age as mini D_C will be) loved it. We paid for a "nursery/cr?che" place for her thinking we'd use it once or twice & ended up with her going daily, having pretty well 1-1 attention & bringing home a whole folder of artwork (meanwhile I read 2 books in a week - unheard of since becoming a mum!).

[Monkey]

We went to the Sea Gardens in Turkey with Mark Warner and loved it. The resort is not managed by MW but by a Swiss company. The place is beautiful, spotless and the food gorgeous.

Last year we went to a MW resort managed by MW themselves (Praia da Luz, Portugal) The food was dreadful, the worse I have had. We were lucky with our accommodation but a friend of ours had a flat that was really tired.

All this to say that you should be careful before travelling with Mark Warner.

[SarahG]

I've worked a number of seasons for Neilson in Dabab, Porto Heli, Lemnos and Vassiliki. I've worked as kids club staff, windsurf instructer and freelance photographer! Feel free to ask any questions you may have!