Summer holiday - recommendations please!

[Pickle]

We are terrible at booking holidays, so are only just thinking about somewhere to go for a week this summer.

Last year we spent a week in a resort in Portugal, which was lovely. We've previously been to Devon, and to the Kent coast (lovely given it's only an hour away), but we are struggling to come up with inspiration this year. We spend a lot of time in New Zealand and Scotland visiting family, so thinking of "proper" holidays isn't something we do very often.

Kids will be 8, 7 and 3.5.

Happy to fly, equally happy to drive. Requirements would be:

Warm

Pool and/or beach safe for kids

Opportunity for relaxation for parents, as well as fun for kids

Flexible budget

Help!

[Pickle]

Lunchtime browsing for inspiration has led me to Guernsey - anyone been?

[Azalea]

Crete is so lovely , two airports and lots of family friendly places to choose from. It's a big island. The North is windier than the south. The Northeast near Heraklion is more touristy. I like the Chania area. Lots of sandy beaches.

[Yak]

Pickle, Guernsey is very very small. If the weather is rubbish it is pretty tough going (though we only had one when we went and was in an "almost walking but not quite" phase which is different to your setup). I have only ever been to one soft play centre and that was on Guernsey and it occupies a special place of utter hell seared into my brain.

Having said that, the beaches are great, and a boat trip to Harm is a lovely day trip. It's not cheap but buses are reliable and quite cute.

Have you thought about Corsica? I think of it as Scotland in the Med, but with French people who love the English living there. Should be ok if you avoid August when it gets super busy / hot. Ditto Sardinia...

[Lmcg46]

Given the age of your kids, I suspect avoiding August isn't an option, sadly. Eurocamp style campsite with mobile homes on the west coast of France are a good bet with kids. Some are very close to the beach and got pools and activities onsite - but still close enough to lots of lovely more cultured stuff offsite if you feel like venturing out. The kids hopefully make friends which can ease the pressure a bit. Cost isn't horrific. Weather fairly reliably good without roasting.

[Pickle]

No, we can't avoid August. Mr Pickle found an amazing looking place in Greece, only to discover it was ?4,000 (!) more expensive in August than September. Ridiculous!

Thanks for your ideas, will spend the evening browsing.

Yak, I have a similar soft play hell experience, down in Kent - the one rainy day we had we ended up in the same place as half the county. The stuff nightmares are made of, but with bright blue slushies and half cooked, half frozen chicken nuggets thrown in for good measure :)

[snowboarder]

Do you have an approx budget? We had a lovely holiday in Lefkada last yr, but not cheap. This year we're renting an apartment near Malaga having been to a really lovely place in the hills north of there s couple of years ago. I love the Costa de la luz and Tarifa in Spain but the sea is cooler than the med and there are fewer child focused places (good/bad!!).

I spent ages looking at camping and glamping options in France, but in the end went for some guaranteed sun - plus glamping is sooo expensive!

Oh - also - Mallorca is lovely....

[snowboarder]

Ps - Guernsey = cold, from what I remember. Like Cornwall but more exposed....

[ludoscotts]

Hi pippa we stayed at viva menorca hotel last year and it was perfect for the kids and us, your 3 would love the pool, first,holiday in years where I managed to read a book as it felt so safe and such a lively resort. If you want any more info google viva menorca or I can tell you about it at school next week leanne

[EDmummy]

If you fancy Greece again, Almyrida is perfect. We flew into Chania and drove to an amazing villa. Let me know if you want details. Price wise - expect ?4k (for 2 weeks) if you want private villa plus airfair but absolutely worth every penny. A little bit of heaven!

[Pickle]

We have decided to take a punt on Guernsey this time round - my history mad 8 year old will love it, and if we get nice weather (late August, so fingers crossed) there's a lovely beach just across the road from our accommodation.

Loads of great ideas here though, thank you - will store it all away for future holidays.

[hind]

Marriot beach resort in Marbella is amazing. you can rent a 'flat' for a week. you have all usual Marriott amneties [amazing pool, restaurants, health club and kids club]. very family friendly. cost is per flat not per person,